Lowbrow Shuttered

Another Houston restaurant suddenly closes: Neighborhood spot serves its last meal

Chris Ray, left, says Lowbrow has served its last meal.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Another Houston restaurant has suddenly closed. Montrose neighborhood spot Lowbrow served its last meal on Sunday, owner Chris Ray tells CultureMap.

Ray and then-partner chef John Sheely leased the space from Creek Group owner Gary Mosley in June with the goal of providing the neighborhood with a casual restaurant that also incorporated some elements of Sheely's former restaurants Mockingbird Bistro and Osteria Mazzantini. Unfortunately, Ray says the restaurant never attracted a sufficient following to be viable.

Sheely departed at the end of October. Ray says that when Sheely's replacement Cody Anderson chose to leave the restaurant for personal reasons, he realized Lowbrow had reached the end of its run.

With a new patio and internal upgrades like a new air conditioning unit, the property should only requirement minor changes before its ready for its next operator. Ray says he's already spoken with people who are interested in assuming the lease, but he made one point clear — whatever comes next for the building that's also been home to Cafe Artiste and Sophia, the new business won't be called Lowbrow.

closings

All-day cafe with boutique hotel vibes coming to downtown Houston

Rendering courtesy of Rebees

Lila's is the newest restaurant to arrive at GreenStreet, the three-block downtown complex.

Downtown Houston is adding a new restaurant to its roster with Lila’s at GreenStreet. Slated to open this fall, Lila’s is envisioned as an all-day New American restaurant that starts the day with coffee and breakfast and ends with dinner and cocktails.

Located at 1201 Fannin Street, Lila's occupies a 5,100-square-foot space in the former lobby of the office tower, with its entrance tucked into an alleyway between McCormick & Schmick’s and The Palm. The restaurant aims to capture the experience of a boutique hotel, without the hassle of overnight guests.

“We’ve spent years thinking about how hospitality can fundamentally change the experience of a place,” Matt Ragan, chief hospitality officer for Rebees, said in a statement. “With Lila’s, we’re taking the level of service, attention to detail, and sense of welcome you expect from a great boutique hotel and applying it to an everyday restaurant. We want someone grabbing coffee before work, meeting a client for lunch or settling in for dinner and drinks to feel equally at home.”

Executive chef Garee Battad will lead the kitchen, drawing on his two decades of experience largely at hotel restaurants such as Nobu at Hotel Crescent Court and Charlie Palmer at The Joule Dallas. His most recent position was as executive chef at Azumi, the elevated Japanese restaurant in River Oaks District.

“Some of the most memorable restaurants where I’ve worked have been gathering places inside great hotels, and that’s the spirit and sense of place we’re bringing to Lila’s,” Battad said. “We want every dish to feel familiar yet unexpected.”

Behind the bar, mixologist Zach Smigiel is crafting an ingredient-forward cocktail program with a focus on seasonal flavors, complemented by a wine list, local beers, and nonalcoholic beverages.

The eatery is the latest endeavor by Rebees, the Houston-based hospitality management firm behind GreenStreet, and its second venture into the culinary world. Its first was Dallas restaurant Billy Can Can, led by executive chef and partner Matt Ford, who will also develop Lila’s menu alongside Battad. Lila’s is named after a French Bulldog owned by Rebees founder Tristan Simon.

This is the hospitality firm’s second endeavor into the culinary world, joining its Dallas restaurant Billy Can Can, led by executive chef and partner Matt Ford. Ford will also be developing Lila’s menu alongside Battad.

Tenants of GreenStreet, the three-block, mixed-use development, will be able to order meals and drinks from Lila’s directly to their offices through a proprietary app.