8 things to know

8 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, closings, and a new Heights patio bar

Highline Park has debuted at M-K-T in the Heights.

Photo by Tyler Barrera

Editor's note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.

Openings

The M-K-T development in The Heights recently welcomed a new patio bar. After a quiet soft opening during the World Series, Highline Park made its official debut on December 3. Owned by Wicklow Heights proprietors Roland Keller, Keith Doyle, and Tyler Barrera, Highline Park features an expansive, covered patio with seating for 100 and plenty of interior space, too.

The cocktail menu offers creative twists on classic drinks, such as a gin and tonic that gets a floral note from Violet liqueur and a prickly pear margarita. Food options include a queso-dipped corn dog, fried shrimp in sweet chili sauce, and an on-trend smash burger.

“We’re thrilled to be opening Highline Park at M-K-T Heights just a few short months after the debut of Casa Nomad next door,” Keller said in a statement. “While Casa Nomad embodies our favorite parts of our travels through Mexico, Highline Park is a casual, big patio bar like Wicklow Heights with the addition of the chef-driven food menu we’ve always wanted to do.”

Speaking of M-K-T, the development will also welcome Mendocino Farms on December 14. The California-based restaurant is known for its creative salads, bowls, sandwiches, and sides. Look for options such as the Avocado and Quinoa Superfood Ensalada and the Chimichurri Steak & Shishito Bowl along with favorites like the farm club and chicken pesto caprese.

Opening in The Heights gives Mendocino Farms four Houston-area locations, joining restaurants in Rice Village, Uptown Park, and downtown. A second downtown location will open in the Allen Center early next year.

“The Heights’ vibrant character and culinary scene makes M-K-T a prime spot to open our doors after the success of our other Houston locations,” CEO Kevin Miles said. “We envision this new location as a go-to destination for enjoying a Mendo culinary adventure, whether it’s lunch with co-workers, dinner with family and friends, or a nourishing break for those enjoying the nearby Heights Hike and Bike Trail. It’s an exciting moment for our brand to invite more Houstonians to Eat Happy.”

BB’s Tex Orleans has opened its 11th Houston-area location in Kingwood (25635 US-59). Diners will find all their BB’s favorites, including po’ boys, gumbo, and etouffee. When crawfish season starts, count on BB’s for well-cooked, spicy mudbugs.

Build-your-own salad chain Salata has reopened its location in the Galleria. Find it near the ice rink in the food court. Salata offers five lettuce bases, more than 50 toppings, and 11 gluten-free dressings. Mall employees receive a 10-percent discount.

Freebirds World Burrito will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in Spring on December 15. Expect giveaways, swag, and samples. The first 25 people in line will receive free burritos for a year (one per week for 52 weeks). Find Freebirds at 2825 Riley Fuzzel Rd.

Closings

Houston’s remaining location of Dallas-based pizzeria Cane Rosso closed last month. Chief marketing officer Jeff Amador tells CultureMap in an email that several factors contributed to the decision, including the location’s volume of business and difficulties finding sufficient staff.

Cane Rosso entered the Houston market with a Montrose location in 2016. The Heights outpost followed shortly thereafter. Its closure marks the end of Cane Rosso’s efforts to expand to Houston and Austin. Pizza lovers in the Dallas-Fort Worth have six Cane Rossos to choose from along with their affiliated concepts Zoli’s Pizza and Thunderbird Pies.

Seminal Houston Thai restaurant Kanomwan has been closed since September, but it might make a comeback in 2022. Patarawan Charoenrat, daughter of founders Yuthana and Darawan Charoenrat, tells Houston Food Finder that her mother simply needed a break from the business and may resume operations next year. That would be good news for the East End favorite, which has served classic Thai soups, curries, and more since the mid-80s.

Coming Attractions

Ybarra Investments Inc. has purchased land in the Conroe Waterfront Center for a new Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen that will open in late 2022 or early 2023. Gringo’s joins Cheddar’s at the development; it also contains 300 apartments with more residential construction slated to begin soon.

the-heights closings news-you-can-eat openings

firing up Montrose

New Houston seafood restaurant adds live-fire flair to Japanese flavors

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.

An ambitious new seafood restaurant is coming to Montrose next week. Casa Kenji will open on Tuesday, December 9.

Located in the former Andiron space (3201 Allen Pkwy), Casa Kenji is the first Houston project for New Orleans restaurateur Malachi DuPre, a former LSU standout who played briefly in the NFL before establishing Kenji and Kenji Kazoku restaurants in New Orleans. Together with former LSU teammate John “B-John” Ballis and Houston chef Bigler “Biggie” Cruz, Casa Kenji will blend Latin and Japanese influences while also incorporating live-fire elements into the restaurant’s dishes. Cruz, whose resume includes a lengthy stint at Uchi as well as working at critically acclaimed Houston seafood restaurant Golfstrømmen, tells CultureMap that Casa Kenji’s approach is the first time he can be himself in the kitchen.

“My perfect restaurant was always based on the live fire and sushi combination,” Cruz says. “My mom cooked with wood for my entire life. The live fire creates completely different flavors. The smoky flavors, the sear from the charcoal — they create a different type of memory for me.”

The use of live fire techniques will permeate Casa Kenji’s menus in ways both big and small. For example, diners will be able to feast on prawns grilled directly on charcoal and served with yuzu chili garlic, or savor lightly seared Japanese wagyu tataki paired with mushrooms. Even raw dishes will benefit from the restaurant’s wood-burning grill and stove.

“Every vegetable we peel, we make into an ash that’s a topping for the dishes. It adds a different layer of flavor,” Cruz says. Look for it in the scallop aguachile, among others.

Even vegetables get a smoky component, as in a cabbage dish that’s braised with dashi and soy sauce before being roasted and served with an onion soubise that Cruz says he developed based on techniques he learned from Golfstrømmen chef Christopher Haatuft.

“It’s rich, super savory, with smoky layers, and you get brightness from the shiso gremolata. I think it will be a signature dish for us,” the chef says.

One change to the interior is the addition of a six-seat omakase counter that looks into the kitchen. Cruz promises those diners will have an even more elevated experience than the restaurant’s regular menu, including ingredients such as Japanese wagyu and premium fish flown in from Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market.

Beyond its cuisine, Casa Kenji hopes to stand out with its spacious outdoor patio. Since very few Japanese-inspired restaurants in Houston offer outdoor seating, it should appeal to diners who want a little vitamin D along with their tuna crudo.

“We’re proud to showcase the craft and creativity that defines Casa Kenji,” co-founders Cruz, Ballis, and DuPre said in a statement. “With chef Bigler Cruz at the helm — blending live-fire technique with the discipline of Japanese tradition — we’re equally honored and excited to share a unique concept that is truly rooted in passion, culture, and community.”

Casa Kenji will be open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 4 pm. Reservations are available on Resy.

Photo by Becca Wright

Spanish sea bass, scallop crudo, nigiri, bluefin binchotan, and bluefin crudo.