But Deshaun is a righty

Famous cheesesteak restaurant teams up with Deshaun Watson for new Houston locations

Decadent cheesesteaks are coming to Houston from Detroit. Not only does Lefty's Famous Cheesesteaks Hoagies & Grill have plans to open at least five stores in the Houston market, but it will do so in partnership with Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Lefty’s has already leased a former Dunkin' Donuts at 1000 Federal Rd. and will sign this week on a former Freebirds at 8057 Kirby Dr., Eric Broussard, Commercial Advisor for commercial real estate firm RESOLUT RE, tells CultureMap. The Houston restaurants are part of a plan Lefty’s announced in April to open locations in Florida, California, and Texas.

“They had been exploding in Detroit,” Broussard tells CultureMap. “They were piqued by one of my blasts and wanted to know more about the Houston market. I told them what’s going on in Houston with all the growth and development. They decided this would be one of their initial rollouts.”

Founded by Sam Berry, Lefty’s features cheesesteaks named for left-handed celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Sylvester Stallone, and the Notorious B.I.G. In addition, diners may opt for corned beef, cold sandwiches, burgers, or salads. Appetizers such as cheesesteak egg rolls and fried mushrooms round out the menu.

The restaurant has been a hit in the Detroit area, where it has grown to 15 locations. Berry recently partnered with franchisor and CEO Allie T. Mallad to take the concept national. Mallard has operated a number of successful franchises, including Little Caesars, Applebees, and Golden Corral.

Berry announced his partnership with Watson in August and has already introduced a Deshaun special: a cheesesteak topped with mac and cheese and Hot Cheetos. If that’s not enough mac and cheese, Lefty’s also offers the cheesy pasta as an egg roll filling. The Kirby Dr. location will be "Deshaun's store," Berry said on Instagram, which seems fitting given its proximity to NRG Stadium.

CultureMap has contacted both Lefty’s and a representative for Watson for more information about the company’s plans. We will update this story if they respond.

Lefty's features cheesesteaks named for left-handed celebrities.

Lefty's Famous Cheese Steak Hoagies Grill/Facebook

Lefty's features cheesesteaks named for left-handed celebrities.

openings news-you-can-eat houston-texans

and the nominees are...

12 Houston restaurants score James Beard Award semifinalist nominations

Zaranda restaurant Tracy Vaught Hugo Ortega Sophia Ortega

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega are this week's guests.

Houston is well represented on the list of semifinalists for the 2026 James Beard Awards. Overall, Houston received eight nominations in national categories and four nominations for Best Chef: Texas.

The national nominees are:

Outstanding Restaurateur: Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught, H-Town Restaurant Group
Outstanding Chef: Manabu Horiuchi, Katami
Emerging Chef: Max Lappé and Jacques Varon, Baso
Emerging Chef: Adrian Torres, Maximo
Best New Restaurant: Agnes and Sherman
Best New Bar: Lee's
Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: June Rodil, March
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service: Kristine Nguyen, Bludorn

Houston's Best Chef: Texas nominees:

Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk
Kent Domas and Seth Siegel-Gardner, Milton's
Evelyn Garcia and Henry Lu, JŪN
Shawn Gawle, Camaraderie

Considered the Oscars of the food world, the awards recognize excellence by chefs and other culinary professionals in a wide range of categories ranging from Outstanding Chef to Best New Restaurant. The James Beard Foundation added three new categories last year to recognize the beverage side of hospitality: Best New Bar. Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service, and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service.

Elsewhere in Texas, Dallas boasts eight nominees, San Antonio has seven, and Austin received nine. Notably, only two of last year’s Best Chef: Texas finalists — Emil Oliva and Michael Serva — return as semifinalists for 2026, which means Houston’s Emmanuel Chavez of Michelin-starred Tatemó is off the list after being named a finalist in 2024 and 2025. Amosu and Jūn chefs Garcia and Lu were also semifinalists in 2025.

Houston is looking to build on last year’s victory by Thomas Bille of Belly of the Beast in Spring, who became the city’s second Best Chef: Texas winner, joining Benchawan Jabthong Painter of Street to Kitchen. Houston’s other regional chef award winners include Robert Del Grande (Cafe Annie), Chris Shepherd (Underbelly), Justin Yu (Oxheart), and Hugo Ortega (Hugo’s). Houston cocktail bar Julep won the award for Outstanding Bar Program in 2022.

“We are thrilled to congratulate this year’s semifinalists as we mark another major milestone — 40 years of the James Beard Foundation,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “For four decades, the Foundation has recognized culinary excellence while championing the independent chefs and restaurants that are vital to our communities, economy, and culture. It is an honor to celebrate the 2026 semifinalists, whose work reflects the incredible dynamism, talent, and achievement defining our industry today.”

Finalists for the Restaurant and Chef Awards will be announced on March 31. Nominees for the Foundation’s Media Awards will be announced on May 6. The Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony will be held at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on June 15.

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Tracy Vaught and Hugo Ortega, seen here with their daughter Sophia, are James Beard semifinalists.

news-you-can-eat awards james beard awards