Harwood Grill Shutters

Recently opened River Oaks steakhouse shutters just as road construction nears end

Harwood Grill will shutter on December 12.

Photo by Eric Sandler

Fans of akaushi beef only have a week to get their fix at Harwood Grill. The River Oaks steakhouse that replaced 60 Degrees Mastercrafted announced on Thursday that it will close on December 12, approximately seven months after opening.

The restaurant released the following statement about the sudden closing:

To the friends and fans of Harwood Grill:
Harwood Grill’s management team was recently approached by a local restaurant ownership group with a time-sensitive need to relocate their existing operation.
We have accepted their offer and will be closing Harwood Grill on Saturday, December 12th.

Our staff has been notified and we are working to secure employment for them locally, possibly with the hospitality enterprise which will soon occupy our location at 2300 Westheimer.

We are grateful for the loyalty of our customers and the support of our industry colleagues and the media.
Thanks for a great ride!
The Harwood Grill Team

According to a representative, owner Raymond Gibson and his business partner have "returned their focus" to Hell Fighter's Kitchen, a catering company that specializes in serving oilfield workers. CultureMap has reached out to determine whether the closing of this location means that Gibson's plans to open multiple locations of Harwood Grill have also drawn to a close.

Perhaps the biggest shame of the situation is that the construction on Westheimer that helped sink 60 Degrees and surely undermined Harwood Grill is drawing to a close. Whatever unnamed restaurant group is taking the plunge on the troubled space will surely benefit from diners having an easier time accessing the building.

Harwood's closing comes at a time when steakhouses are flying high overall. B&B Butchers has made a splash on Washington, the downtown location of Pappas Bros. Steakhouse has opened to wide acclaim and Hunky Dory is offering a British-American perspective on classics like chateaubriand.

closings

What's Eric Eating Episode 285

Meet the gifted chef showcasing authentic, home-grown Greek fare to Houston, plus hottest food news

Photo by Ajna Jai

Chef Mary Cuclis is this week's guest.

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," chef Mary Cuclis joins CultureMap food editor Eric Sandler to discuss Kriti Kitchen. The Pondicheri veteran opened the family-friendly Greek restaurant in January.

The conversation begins with Cuclis explaining how she entered the world of professional cooking. Prior to opening Kriti Kitchen, she trained at Bo Innovation, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Hong Kong, and spent 10 years working for James Beard Award finalist Anita Jaisinghani at Pondicheri, the acclaimed, Indian-inspired restaurant in Upper Kirby.

At Kriti Kitchen, she honors her Greek heritage by serving dishes she's experienced when visiting family in Greece. Sandler asks her about the ways in which her cooking is different from Houston's other Greek restaurants.

"A lot of the Greek food I found in Houston was very delicious but very much street food. The kind of food I'm wanting to portray is more homestyle, things that I eat with my relatives," she says.

"For example, when you go to a taverna in Crete, a lot of times it's a couple running the whole thing. They invite you back into the kitchen to smell the stew. It's stewed meat and a lot of fresh vegetables with beans and lentils. I don't think too many people see that side of Greek food. I wanted to share a little bit of what I see with my family and what we eat when we're there."

Listen to the full interview to hear Cuclis explain why Kriti Kitchen offers both dine-in options during the day as well as heat-and-serve options that customers can pick up for dinner. She also discusses her goals for the future.

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Rebecca Masson, chef-owner of Fluff Bake Bar, discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: Nobie's owners Martin and Sara Stayer's plans to open a new pizzeria; Roswell's Saloon opening in Montrose; New York City's Lady M establishing a permanent presence in the Galleria; and Masson's experiences during Austin's Hot Luck food festival.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Masson share their thoughts about meals at two new Italian restaurants. First, they recount the highs and lows of a meal at Triola's Kitchen. Then, they share first impressions of Bari Ristorante, a new restaurant in River Oaks District that serves classic Italian dishes.

Photo by Ajna Jai

Chef Mary Cuclis is this week's guest.

-----

Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturdays at 2 pm on ESPN 97.5.

podcasts chefs news-you-can-eat