ride the wave

Fresh new Galleria seafood restaurant opens with surf-inspired, midcentury modern vibe

Galleria-area diners have a fresh new option for seafood. Balboa Surf Club has opened for lunch and dinner daily.

Courtesy of Western Addition

Balbao Surf Club is now open for lunch and dinner.

Located in the former Masraff’s space at 1753 Post Oak Blvd., Balboa Surf Club is the latest concept from Western Addition, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind il Bracco, the Italian restaurant that is also located in the Post Oak Plaza shopping center. Western Addition vice president of design Mary Lucille Quick teamed up with Texas-based firm the Michael Hsu Office of Architecture to transform the 7,200-square-foot space.

Like il Bracco, Balboa Surf Club has a midcentury modern design that uses port windows and skylights to add natural light to the dining room. It also takes some inspiration from Brazilian brutalist design for its dramatic entryway and surf bungalows with its plant life throughout the space, according to press materials.

A 1,200-square-foot patio features a concrete fire pit and a 60-foot fountain. Artwork comes from the personal collection of Mary Lucille Quick and her husband, Western Addition president and CEO Robert Quick.

Turning to the menu, Balboa serves a menu of classic American seafood with a few global touches. Meals begin with dishes such as seafood cocktail, shrimp cocktail, or fried oysters. From there, diners may opt for sushi rolls — including a decadent king crab hand roll — or salads including a wedge, endive, or a Louie with shrimp and crab.

Entree selections start with seafood options such as a crab cake, grilled scallops, miso salmon, and grilled halibut. Non-seafood lovers will find a ribeye, a filet, and roasted chicken. Lunch features more entree-style salads as well as a cheeseburger and a fried grouper sandwich.

"We're dedicated to quality, freshness and attention to detail," COO Matt Gotlieb said in a statement. "Sushi rice is prepared fresh every 45 minutes, tortillas are made in house and then fried into tostadas to be served warm alongside made-to-order guacamole. Our burgers are a labor of love. Everything from the freshly baked bun, to the meat ground for service that day, even the cut size of the lettuce, freshness of the tomato, and thickness of the cheese has to be consistent for the perfect bite, every time."

Since it opened last year, il Bracco has been a hit, earning a CultureMap Tastemaker Award nomination for Best New Restaurant. By applying the Western Addition formula to seafood, Balboa seems poised to follow in its footsteps.

openings news-you-can-eat

hidden omakase returns

Damaged Houston sushi restaurant finds temporary home at Uptown bar

Marcos Juarez Hidden Omakase tuna breakdown

Photo by Abante Photography

Chef Marcos Juarez breaks down a whole tuna.

Houston sushi restaurant Hidden Omakase has found a temporary home after a car accident caused substantial damage to its dining room. The Michelin-recommended sushi restaurant will host a summer residency at Bar Moon, The Bastion Collection’s stylish bar above its Italian restaurant Tavola.

Beginning Tuesday, June 16, chef Marcos Juarez and the Hidden team will be serving diners Tuesday through Saturday. Limited to just 12 people per seating, Hidden Omakase will offer reservations at 6:30 pm and 8 pm. Moving to Bar Moon means Hidden Omakase remains in the Uptown neighborhood, approximately one mile from its permanent location.

"While this wasn't the path we originally anticipated, we're incredibly grateful for the support we've received from our guests and the Houston community," chef Juarez said in a statement. "This residency allows us to continue doing what we love while creating an exciting new experience alongside the team at Bastion Events. We look forward to welcoming both longtime guests and new diners throughout the summer."

Open since December 2020, Hidden Omakase is known for serving tastings of more than a dozen courses. Its theatrical presentation style includes showing diners the whole fish used in their meals. Hidden is one of only two Houston sushi restaurants included in the Michelin Guide and the only one that’s currently open to the public (Neo remains closed for renovations).

The restaurant has been closed since last month when a car drove through its dining room and caused significant damage. At this time, Hidden has not announced how long repairs will take or when the original location will reopen. Thankfully, Bastion Events, the catering arm of the Bastion Collection, was able to offer it a temporary home.

"One of the things that makes Houston's hospitality community so special is the willingness to support and elevate one another," said Chris Nguyen of Bastion Events. "When the opportunity arose to help Hidden Omakase continue serving guests, the decision was easy. Chef Marcos and his team have built something truly special, and we're honored to welcome them into our family while creating a memorable experience for Houston diners."

Hidden Omakase will celebrate its temporary move to Bar Moon with a bluefin tuna breakdown on Sunday, June 14. Tickets, priced at $325, are available on Resy.

Photo by Abante Photography

Chef Marcos Juarez breaks down a whole tuna.

news-you-can-eat openings chefs