Roka Akor in Houston

Upscale sushi and steak restaurant will be newest addition to booming River Oaks scene

Another out-of-town restaurant group has plans for Houston. Roka Akor, a steak, sushi and robata restaurant with locations in Scottsdale, Chicago and San Francisco, will be the first restaurant tenant at the newly constructed residential tower at 2929 Wesleyan, according to an announcement from PM Realty Group.

"Roka Akor will be a great complement to the amenities at 2929 Weslayan as we create the perfect feeling of home and luxury living environment," said PM Realty Group president of investments Wm. Roger Gregory, in a statement. "We will continue looking for ways to enhance our residents' experience through retail tenants, property events and amenities."

At 6,951-square feet, the restaurant will be a substantial addition to the area. For those unfamiliar with the restaurant, Roka Akor has earned praise in all three cities it inhabits. In a two-and-a-half star review for the San Francisco Chronicle, restaurant critic Michael Bauer praised Roka Akor's omakase dinner that blends all three aspects of the restaurant's cuisine. He cited uni served with lime and chicharrones, wagyu steak and miso-glazed cod as particular highlights.

The restaurant plans to open in the fall of 2016.

With both State of Grace and SaltAir Seafood Kitchen opening to rave reviews and six restaurants coming to River Oaks District (including Austin-based burger chain Hopdoddy), dining in the area around River Oaks has suddenly gotten a lot more interesting. If Roka Akor maintains the standards it has set in other parts of the country, it will be another welcome addition.

This picture from Roka Akor's Chicago location gives some idea of what the restaurant might look like.

Roka Akor Chicago/Facebook

This picture from Roka Akor's Chicago location gives some idea of what the restaurant might look like.

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farewell, fleming's

Steakhouse chain's Upper Kirby outpost will shutter after 25 years

Fleming's/Facebook

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The Upper Kirby location of a popular steakhouse will soon say goodbye. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will close on April 18.

In response to CultureMap’s request for comment, Elizabeth Daly, director of media & community relations for Fleming’s parents company Bloomin’ Brands, writes that the restaurant chose not to renew its lease at 2405 West Alabama Street.

“Team members will have the opportunity to transfer to another restaurant,” Daly adds. “We appreciate the community’s support the past 25 years and hope to serve them at one of our other Houston-area Fleming’s locations.”

Those other Houston-area locations are in Town & Country Village (788 W. Sam Houston Parkway North) and at The Woodlands Mall (1201 Lake Woodlands Drive, Suite 305).

As Daly notes, Fleming’s opened its Upper Kirby location in 2002. In the early days, it benefitted from the leadership of Maeve Pesquera, who worked for Tony Vallone prior to joining the company. Sam Governale followed, eventually leaving in 2017 to open River Oaks-area restaurant Emmaline.

Between now and April 18, the restaurant’s fans have time to visit for specials such as its Tomahawk Tuesday promotion —a 35-ounce steak with salads, sides, and dessert for $165 — as well as a two-course, Easter brunch on Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 5.

Fleming’s is only the latest Houston steakhouse to close. In January, Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille closed its location in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Last year, Andiron, an upscale steakhouse from the owner of The Pit Room and Candente, shuttered after only two years.

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