New All Night Restaurant

Houston finally gets a worthy 24-hour restaurant? Popular Montrose spot makes a bold move

As it prepares to celebrate its seventh anniversary on Black Friday, local Cajun chain BB's Cafe isn't looking to rest on its laurels. Having successfully opened outside the Loop with a restaurant in Briar Grove, owner Brooks Bassler is looking even farther west in 2015 — to Katy. As for the original location in Montrose, Bassler reveals it will be moving to 24 hour operations.

"At the end of the day, we’re giving that location what we feel it deserves, and that’s a little more love," Bassler says of the Montrose location. "It’s been a pretty good deal for us. It got us started, got the name out there. Just an awesome neighborhood that people are dying to get into."

"It will have a more hand-crafted approach to the menu and really strive to be one of the leaders in the city for 24 hour dining."

BB's 24, as Bassler is tentatively calling it, will feature 14 breakfast items as part of a 50 item menu. Additions include fresh baked buttermilk biscuits and, in a first for the concept, hamburgers and hand-cut fries. If all goes according to plan, it could begin as soon as New Year's Eve.

"Obviously, we’re remaining true to BB’s, but it will have a more hand-crafted approach to the menu and really strive to be one of the leaders in the city for 24 hour dining," Bassler says. "Although there are some good options, I still feel like, for being one of the biggest cities in the country, they could be better."

In addition to his belief in the concept, Bassler made the decision because, in terms of staffing, the Montrose location is only about 50 hours a week from already being a 24 hour operation. "From a sheer business standpoint, if we can increase our revenue by 30-percent, which is what I think we’re going to do, and our fixed costs remain the same and our controllable labor costs only go up a little bit, it’s a no brainer. It’s just economics," he says.

As for the Katy location, it follows the formula the company has developed with its other four locations of finding a closed restaurant space in a good area. In this case, a spot on the Grand Parkway about an eighth of a mile from the newly opened Costco that's been home to two other Cajun restaurants: Swampy's Cajun Shack and Katy Cajun. "The third time's a charm," Bassler says with a laugh.

The company signed a lease on the space in September and hopes to be open in February — in time for the start of crawfish season. In addition to the usual cosmetic changes, the Katy location will feature BB's first ever children's play area.

"I feel like the concept is going to be well-received . . . . Of our 20,000 Facebook followers, about 3,900 are in Katy," Bassler says. "I think it has the potential to be a really high performing store for us."

In addition to the expansion, Bassler has also made changes to the menu in the wake of a dressing down by Chronicle critic Alison Cook. "That was a time where she kinda caught us with our pants down," Bassler concedes. "Most of the things she brought up I completely agreed with . . . . We took it on the chin and used it as constructive criticism and really did improve from a lot of her findings."

Bassler says BB's changed the way it prepares its campechana and seafood enchiladas as a result of the review. "Our fried shrimp, she was right on about that, they were a little small. We increased the size a little bit."

On a more positive note, he's optimistic about an early start to crawfish season. "Temps are a little higher than they were at this time last year. Farmers are bullish on it right now," Bassler says. "We’re keeping our fingers crossed for mid-February."

Whether someone is eating crawfish in Katy, or at 3 a.m. in Montrose, that's certainly good news.

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true to forme

Beard-recognized Houston chef's rooftop restaurant now open in Midtown

Photo by Rebekah Flores

The Branch serves breakfast daily.

A two-time James Beard Award finalist has opened his latest project. The Branch, a new concept from chef Chris Williams, officially opens this Thursday, October 1.

Part of Williams’ Lucille’s Hospitality Group, The Branch is intended to be a wellness-focused concept that utilizes seasonal ingredients and a rotating raw bar. Located on the 12th floor of the Forme, a luxury high-rise at 5501 La Branch, the 20,000-square-foot space offers both dining and lounge spaces along with a rooftop patio. It’s open for breakfast daily along with lunch and dinner Thursday-Sunday.

In the morning, diners may opt for the Harvest Table, a $20, Continental-style breakfast that includes pastries, a yogurt and honey bar, cheese, charcuterie, and fresh fruit. A la carte selections consist of staples such as chilaquiles, avocado and tuna toast, a crab cake Benedict, a Southwest omelet (black beans, corn, and avocado topped with pico de gallo, crema, and arugula salad), and more.

At lunch and dinner, the raw bar menu starts with a daily crudo special, oysters with bourbon mignonette, a tuna toastada, shrimp cocktail, and more. From there, diners turn to the “Fresh & Pressed” section of sandwiches, including Williams’ take on a club, Cuban, and a vegetarian pressed sandwich. Salads, wings, cheese, and charcuterie round out the daytime selections.

They’re paired with a number of house cocktails, beer, and wines by-the-glass. Two desserts complete the experience. Many of the cocktails are low ABV and can be made spirit-free.

Lucille’s Hospitality Group is known for its Southern-inspired Museum District restaurant Lucille’s and Lucille’s 1913, a nonprofit that operates farms that provide access to fresh food in underserved areas.

“We’re excited to partner with The Forme,” Williams said in a statement. “It’s not only an opportunity to utilize our culinary toolkit through room service and an entirely different dining experience across the street from Lucille’s, but it’s also another opportunity to create equity in one of the country’s most dynamic culinary cities. The space itself is truly special, with some of the best views in Houston and a setting unlike anything else in the city. We’re excited to create an experience that complements the neighborhood that has been our home for the past 17 years.”

The Forme is a 33-story high-rise that’s focused on wellness, productivity, and community. In addition to The Branch, its amenities include a 20,000-square-foot fitness and recovery area, a 9,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck with pool and expansive hot tub, and 20,000 square feet of flexible coworking space.