a welcome yankee

Montrose's newest craft beer spot serves up choice lagers, IPAs, and pub bites

Southern Yankee Crafthouse is now open in Montrose.

Courtesy of Southern Yankee Crafthouse

A new brewpub recently opened in Montrose. Southern Yankee Crafthouse began serving pizza and beer in the former Good Dog Houston space (1312 West Alabama St.) last month.

Known for beers such as the ¿Qué Pablo? (Mexican Lager) and Paramount Pilsner (Czech Pilsner), Southern Yankee has been winning fans since 2018. Expanding to Montrose allows the growing company to expand its reach while building on elements that have been successful at the original location.

“We knew we wanted our second location to have a comfortable atmosphere and 1312 West Alabama was a great fit," managing owner Alex Porter said in a statement.

Renovations to the space are extensive. Southern Yankee installed a 3,000-pound, 6-foot brick oven to fuel its kitchen. In addition, the interior has been opened up, reclaimed wood floors have been installed, and the patio features a new cover.

Chef Matt Baum’s (Common Bond, Grace’s) menu begins with pizzas that are similar to those served at the original location, but the Crafthouse features a more extensive menu of shareables and entrees. Options include beer battered fish and chips, a half-pound cheeseburger, and wood-fired beer can chicken. Crispy smoked pork belly bites, truffle fries, and the spicy goat pizza (prosciutto, goat cheese, arugula, mango-habanero glaze) are providing to be early customer favorites, according to a representative.

As for the drinks, the Crafthouse offers 11 taps of Southern Yankees brews as well as cocktails and wine. Drinkers can expect a range of styles that range from a Berliner Weisse to a porter and several different IPAs. New barrel-aged beers will be released in the near future.

“We brew a combination of traditional and creative style beers,” head brewer Sydney Porter Bradley said. “Our goal is a high-quality, variety of beers to suit many different tastes. We want to find a beer for every person that walks through our doors."

Currently, the Crafthouse is open for lunch and dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am-10 pm. The brewpub will expand to daily service in the coming weeks.

craft-beer openings news-you-can-eat

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.