Washington's new patio bar

New beer garden, cocktail bar, and coffee spot opens on Washington Ave with BBQ bites and patio scene

The Kirby Group, the successful hospitality company behind Heights Bier Garten, Holman Draft Hall, and others, has debuted its newest patio bar. Bayou Heights Bier Garten is now open on Washington Avenue with coffee in the morning and drinks all night.

Located on the site of a former drive-thru bank near the intersection of Washington and Yale (3905 Washington Ave.), Bayou Heights adds a couple of new twists onto Heights Bier Garten’s successful formula. Like HBG, Bayou Heights offers a dedicated cocktail bar and a separate craft beer and wine bar that are united by a common patio.

At Bayou Heights, the cocktail bar features a 36-foot long bar, lounge-style seating, and a list of 28 drinks in categories such as “Refreshing & Balanced,” “Spirit Forward,” “Refreshing & Spicy,” and “Tropical & Tiki.” The wine and cocktail bar, located in the adjacent silo, features 74 beers and 16 wines selected by beverage director Joel Ramirez and general manager Dave Minda.

Where the new bar distinguishes itself is a third building that’s devoted to coffee. Open daily beginning at 8 am, it serves all the usual drip and espresso options, including some flavored with housemade syrups, along with pastries that are also baked onsite.

Similarly, the food offerings have received an upgrade courtesy of chef Teddy Lopez, who spent several years as a top chef at Ronnie Killen’s restaurants such as upscale steakhouse Killen’s STQ, Tex-Mex concept Killen’s TMX, and comfort food restaurant Killen’s. At Bayou Heights, Lopez’s menu includes shareable snacks such as smoked chicken wings, sweet potato tots, smoked queso, and a flatbread topped with vegetables and hummus.

Fittingly for a Killen’s Restaurants veteran, his offerings also includes a limited barbecue menu with meats such as beef brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, and five different sausages. Those meats can be served as plates or sandwiches and paired with barbecue-style sides like queso mac and cheese, German potato salad, and crispy Brussels sprouts.

Lopez’s menu is available beginning at 3 pm on weekdays, when the beer bar opens, until 10 pm with a few items served as late as midnight on Friday and Saturday. A separate brunch menu is served Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm (both bars also open at 11 am on weekends).

Bayou Heights is only the Kirby Group’s first opening of 2023. This spring, the company will launch Verde Garden, a Mexican-themed bar that will be part of the Harlow District, which is the new name given to the Montrose property that previously housed Italian restaurants Nino’s and Vincent’s.

Photo by Dustyn Zenner

Bayou Heights Bier Garten is now open on Washington Avenue.

openings cocktails craft-beer coffee news-you-can-eat

riel returns

Shuttered Houston restaurant revived for 1 night only at Canada Day pop-up

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

One of the saddest restaurant closures of 2025 will get a one-night-only revival. Favorite dishes from Riel will return at Chardon on Sunday, June 28 for an event being called “Booze Can Sunday.”

While a French fine dining restaurant might seem like an unlikely host for a Riel revival, Chardon executive chef E.J. Miller once served as Riel’s opening sous chef. Miller invited his former boss, Riel chef-owner Ryan Lachaine, to join him for a pop-up that honors Canada Day.

Together, the duo will serve some of Riel’s most popular dishes, including:

Truffle and Caviar Pierogies
Steak Au Poivre Poutine with Cheese Curds
Deli Dog
Montreal Smoked Meat Sliders
Torche Kolaches
Mushroom Empanadas
Gator Karaage
Maple Whiskey Soft Serve with Foie Caram

The day will also feature drink specials such as Canadian Jell-O Shots, Molson X, Canadian Club, Old Grand-Dad, and more. Robin Wong, a co-owner of Blood Bros. BBQ and a successful DJ, will spin throughout the event.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The pop-up will serve Riel's caviar and truffle pierogi.

"Riel was a special place for a lot of people, and Booze Can Sunday was always one of the most anticipated events of the week," said Miller. "Ryan and I wanted to bring back that energy for one day, celebrate the restaurant that meant so much to us, and give guests a chance to revisit some of the dishes and memories they loved."

Riel Restaurant Ryan Lachaine E.J. Miller A vintage picture of chefs EJ Miller and Ryan Lachaine. Photo by Eric Sandler

Riel opened in January 2017 and closed in August 2025. In between, it earned wide acclaim for the way Lachaine blended his Canadian upbringing and Ukrainian heritage with the modern Gulf Coast cuisine he learned while working at restaurants such as Reef and Underbelly.

Currently, Lachaine works as the executive chef at River Oaks restaurant State of Grace. He added two Riel signatures to State of Grace’s menu — the caviar tater tots and signature butter burgers.

Chardon, which earned a Best New Restaurant nomination in the 2026 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for its blend of classic French fare with Texas ingredients, opened in February 2025. In addition to Riel, Miller’s resume includes SaltAir Seafood Kitchen, International Smoke, and Muse.

Booze Can Sunday takes place from 3-9 pm. Attendees are encouraged to register on Eventbrite.

news-you-can-eat