Even though 2017 is drawing to a close, the pace of Houston restaurant openings shows no signs of slowing down. While Francophiles are checking out Maison Pucha Bistro and restaurant industry insiders are heading to EaDo to visit Nancy's Hustle, all of Houston's see-and-be-seen type have been waiting for one place in particular — and it opens Friday night.

That restaurant is Mastro's Steakhouse. It's the first restaurant to open at The Post Oak, Landry's luxurious new hotel that will open early next year.

After all, how often does Tilman Fertitta, the reality TV star billionaire who recently acquired the Houston Rockets, bring a new concept to his hometown? While Landry's owns a number of steakhouse brands, including Vic & Anthony's, Brenner's Steakhouse, and Morton's the Steakhouse, Mastro's offers something more than USDA Prime beef cooked to a proper medium rare, elaborate seafood towers, and a 20,000 bottle wine cellar.

As Fertitta told CultureMap back in June, Mastro's aims to offer diners a memorable experience with their crispy shrimp and scallop bird nest dumplings, lobster mashed potatoes, and shiso jica-machi sashimi.

“It’s just a different level,” Fertiita said at the time. “It’s the quality of the food. It’s the quality of the service. And just now Houston is starting to see these types of restaurants. We’ve been behind the curve on these big restaurants with good food and good service that just reach everybody.”

Towards that end, Mastro's touts all of the following in its opening announcement: "live Top 40 entertainment daily in its Piano Lounge, the see-and- be-seen bar area;" "Mastro’s signature smoking Lemon Drop and Cosmo martinis;" and "Mastro’s garden terrace surrounded by The Post Oak’s lush greenery, oak trees, and tranquil water fountains."

Pretty snazzy, right?

Comparisons with Steak 48 are inevitable. After all, Steak 48 owners Jeffrey and Michael Mastro founded the original Mastro’s Steakhouse chain back in 1998. They sold it to a private equity firm in 2007 before Landry's acquired it in 2013. Since it opened last year, the River Oaks District destination has posted mixed beverage tax receipts that rival nightclubs.

Out Mastro-ing the Mastro brothers won't be easy, but Fertitta is going all out to make Mastro's the best it can be. "There's not another restaurant like this in Houston," he told the Chronicle.

Now it's up to diners to decide whether they agree — and whether Mastro's will be Houston next hotspot.
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Mastro's Steakhouse; 1600 Post Oak; Monday through Saturday 5 pm to 11 pm, Sunday 5 pm to 10 pm.

Sliced porterhouse with baked potato.

Courtesy of Mastro's Restaurants

Sliced porterhouse with baked potato.