Black Lab Will Shutter

Mainstay British pub and jazz cafe will shutter after 33 years in Montrose

The Black Lab will close December 15.

Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau

UPDATE: This article has been updated below with a statement from the University of St. Thomas, which owns the building at 4100 Montrose.

A Montrose institution will shutter next month. The Black Labrador Pub will close December 15, the restaurant announced.

For 33 years, the Black Lab has served an appealing mix of classic British pub fare with a full range of English beers. The closing will leave Houstonians with one fewer option for dishes like fish and chips, bubble and squeak, and steak and kidney pie.

In a statement, the restaurant thanks its employees, customers, and veteran general manager, Armando Vazquez, "for his dedication and service." Customers who purchased monogrammed mugs from the pub are encouraged to make one last visit for a free pint of their favorite brew.

The announcement doesn't reference the status of Cezanne, the jazz bar that operates upstairs from The Black Labrador, but the restaurant's representative confirms that it will also close.

While the pub's closing will certainly leave a hole in the market, fans of English food will find solid versions at places like the Red Lion Pub and the Richmond Arms. Jazz plays on at Cafe 4212 in the Third Ward.

Expect more changes to the space at 4100 Montrose. The Montrose branch of the Houston Public Library that's currently at the property could move to the new Montrose Collective mixed-use development that's slated for 888 Westheimer.

In response to CultureMap's request about the building's future, Jeff Olsen, the University of St. Thomas vice president of marketing, communications, and university relations, provided the following statement: “This a time of great growth and change at University of St. Thomas. Although the Black Lab will be missed, the vacancy presents us with an opportunity to engage with our students and the community in new and exciting ways. As we develop plans, those factors will play an important role.”

closings

steakhouse switcheroo

River Oaks restaurant fields a new menu devoted to prime and wagyu steaks

Courtesy of Fielding's Steak

The new menu includes steak and sides such as onion rings.

A River Oaks restaurant is switching things up. After a year of operations, Fielding’s River Oaks has rebranded as Fielding’s Steak with an all-new menu that will launch on Tuesday, January 27.

While the restaurant has always served steaks from Texas ranch 44 Farms, Fielding’s Steak leans more heavily into beef with more cuts and more kinds of beefs, including both American and Japanese wagyu. Similarly, diners can pair their steaks with steakhouse sides such as lobster mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and onion rings.

The new menu starts with four prime steaks — filet, ribeye, NY strip, and bavette — along with a dry-aged cuts including a 35-ounce cowboy ribeye, a porterhouse, a 12-ounce bone-in ribeye, and a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye. Those seeking the most luxurious experience may opt for a wagyu tasting that features four ounces each of Japanese, Australian, and American striploin.

Appetizers and salads include a number of familiar dishes, such as lobster bisque, wedge salad, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail, and an imperial crabcake. Non-steak entrees include maple-brined salmon, lobster risotto, lamb chops, and a grilled Kurobata pork chop with apple mostarda.

Fielding’s River Oaks opened in December 2024. Part of Fielding’s Culinary Group, The Woodlands-based hospitality company behind Fielding’s Local Kitchen & Bar and Fielding’s Wood Grill, the restaurant served a European-inspired menu that included pizzas, pastas, steaks, and seafood.

“Fielding’s Steak represents the natural evolution of who we are and where we’re going,” said CEO Cary Attar said in a statement. “We wanted to create a true steakhouse experience — one that’s chef-driven, ingredient-focused, and worthy of the River Oaks dining scene — while still feeling warm, welcoming, and unmistakably Fielding’s. This new menu allows us to showcase exceptional proteins, refined flavors, and a level of execution that reflects our passion for hospitality and culinary excellence.”

Fielding’s Steak will be open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch from 11:30 am-3 pm and dinner beginning at 5 pm. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

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