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    Foodie News

    A harvest of restaurants: November's new eateries

    Sarah Rufca
    Nov 28, 2009 | 6:00 am
    • Hearsay Gastro Lounge
      Photo by Julie Soefer
    • At Branch Water Tavern, bacon-wrapped prawns and cheddar grits over a poachedegg
      Photo by Kimberly Park
    • Byrd's Market & Cafe
      Adam Brackman
    • Bistro Alex
      Photo by Bill Olive

    It's a recipe for a fabulous fall: new restaurants opening so fast it's hard to keep them straight. Here's the skinny on the newest eateries to find yourself at... until next week, at least!

    --

    Youssef Nafaa made his name bringing Spanish tapas to Houston in the 1990s with Rice Village's Mi Luna (he sold it a few years ago and it's never been the same since), so his new Andalucia Tapas and Taverna at Houston Pavilions is kind of like going back to basics. In addition to a plethora of hot and cold tapas, Andalucia also offers up Spanish-style sandwiches, Mediterranean-classic entrees, a serious wine list and flamenco dance on Thursdays.

    Twin concepts from Brennan's Alex Brennan-Martin at Hotel Sorella, Bistro Alex offers a mix of modern and traditional bistro fare in a gorgeous setting, and Café Rose is a European-style venue with coffee, sandwiches, light bites and wine.

    A modern-American tavern in the former Cue & Cushion spot, Branch Water Tavern serves up seasonal and local ingredients in dishes by exec chef David Grossman that range from classic to current; as well as cultured cocktails, beers and wine by beverage director Evan Turner. Did we mention the kitchen will stay open 'til 2 a.m. on weekends?

    With Byrd's Market & Café (opening this week) at long last a market has come to the historic district of downtown, with organic produce, artisan breads and an extensive wine selection. The café will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, (with a particularly great and varied burger menu) and everything, down to the condiments, is made in-house.

    Those in the know are already hip to Hearsay, a swank new downtown speakeasy-style spot in the second-oldest building in Houston. With a modern Gothic vibe like no place else in town, old-school cocktails by master mixologist Britton Douglass and noshes by Grille 5115's Pedro Silva, it's smarter than the average bar.

    At The Rockwood Room, chef/owner Michael dei Maggi, last seen at Max's Wine Dive, and co-owner Robert Hall III take a page from the Mad Men era with robust American favorites and Rat Pack–ready décor.

    A culinary A-Team of Bill Floyd, exec chef Bryan Caswell, Justin Basye (of Voice) and Dave Poss (last at Vic & Anthony's) make up Stella Sola in the former Bedford spot, dedicated to Texas ingredients (dry-aged cuts of beef, fresh catch from the Gulf, pasta made in-house daily) and the flavors and influence of Northern Italy, as well as desserts by Rebecca Masson and a drinks menu by Anvil's Bobby Heugel.

    A funky beach house with a laid-back vibe and fresh, south of the border eats, Yelapa Playa Mexicana is the latest incarnation from industry vet Chuck Bulnes. Chef L.J. Wiley serves up flavorful, seafood-oriented botanas, tacos and entrees, including ceviche, tiradito and a kick-ass campechana.

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    HIGH STEAKS COMPETITION

    2 Houston-born steakhouses named among top fine dining restaurants in U.S.

    Brandon Watson
    Sep 21, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    Brenner's on the River Walk
    Brenner's on the River Walk/Facebook
    Brenner's on the River Walk is the only Texas restaurant to win a Traveler's Choice Award.

    For all of the diversity in Houston’s dining scene, the city’s steakhouses remain one of its culinary strengths. So much so that two concepts that are Bayou City born rank among the country’s best fine dining restaurants, according to the 2026 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards.

    Notably, the awards don’t recognize the original, Houston locations of either restaurant. Instead, diners selected the San Antonio location of Brenner’s (No. 8) and the Lake Charles (No. 9) and Las Vegas (No. 19) locations of Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse. No other Texas restaurant made it to any of the top 10s on the site’s other ranked lists that cover everything from viral sensations to culinary tours.

    The awards are calculated based on both the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings collected by Tripadvisor over over 12 months, July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The review platform also says a mysterious “additional editorial process” contributes to the final rankings. Whether that affects review bombing or not is left unsaid.

    "Food is at the heart of how we experience a destination, and these awards recognize the restaurant and culinary experiences travelers consider among the very best," offered Laurel Greatrix, Chief Communications Officer, Tripadvisor Group, in a release.

    Brenner’s is a relative newcomer to the River Walk, opening in summer 2023, joining its two Houston locations in the Energy Corridor and along Buffalo Bayou near Memorial Park. Like Vic & Anthony’s, it’s part of Landry’s, the hospitality conglomerate owned by Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta.

    Named for Tilman Fertitta’s father and uncle, Vic & Anthony opened in downtown Houston in 2003. It expanded to Las Vegas in 2006 and Lake Charles in 2014 — both inside Golden Nugget casinos.

    Although Tripadvisor did not provide context in the award announcement, over 350 of the site’s users have rated Brenner’s as “excellent.” Similarly, Vic & Anthony’s in Lake Charles has more than 700 “excellent” reviews, with the bustling Las Vegas location earning more than 1,900 “excellent” reviews.

    All three restaurants enjoy enviable ratings of 4.6 or higher, although Brenner’s dipped slightly from its No. 6 ranking in 2025. Somewhat surprisingly, on a list dominated by steakhouses, the top fine dining restaurant was long-running Italian staple Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands, North Carolina.

    ----

    Eric Sandler contributed to this article.


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