time for one last martini

Gin-obsessed Heights seafood restaurant and happy hour spot announces closing date

1751 Sea & Bar will close in March.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

One of Houston’s best seafood restaurants will close next month. 1751 Sea & Bar will serve its last shellfish tower on March 4, owner Sambrooks Management Company announced.

Named for the Gin Act of 1751, the Heights-adjacent restaurant offered an extensive menu of globally inspired shareable plates along with a comprehensive raw bar and a few center-of-plate entrees. A gin-forward cocktail program and well-priced wine list have made the restaurant a popular happy hour destination.

Opened in 2019, 1751 evolved out of Star Fish, a restaurant Sambrooks Management inherited when it purchased some of the assets of Cherry Pie Hospitality. Executive chef Matt Young, a nominee for the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards Rising Star Chef of the Year, will transition to a corporate role with the company.

“We love the food and concept at 1751, but with our lease expiring mid-year and a lot on our plate with Andiron and The Pit Room 2, we made the business decision to close 1751 for now,” owner Michael Sambrooks said in a statement. “We certainly hope we can bring this concept back to life at a later date, but for now we would like to thank our customers who enjoyed 1751’s progressive small plate dining experience for a great run.”

Despite the closure, Sambrooks Management continues to expand throughout Houston. It will open Andiron, its luxurious live fire steakhouse, in late March. A second location of The Pit Room, its well-regarded Montrose barbecue restaurant, will open in the Memorial area this fall.

“We are happy that due to our expansion we can offer jobs to all of our great 1751 employees at our new or existing locations,” Sambrooks added. “We hope our loyal customers and fans will come out for one final meal in our remaining two weeks of service.”

closings the-heights news-you-can-eat

there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.