Houston’s Berg Hospitality Group is making a major push into downtown by developing two new restaurants for one office tower and taking over operations at two establishments in another. The moves will bring one of the company’s most popular brands to the downtown tunnels and introduce two new concepts at a theater district high-rise.
First, the company has partnered with Bill Floyd Concepts to manage its properties at Enterprise Plaza at 1100 Louisiana, the 55-story tower managed by global real estate development firm Hines. Per the agreement, Berg will replace the El Real Tex-Mex restaurant in the tunnels with B.B. Lemon, its New York-inspired burger joint and comfort food restaurant. In addition, Berg will begin operating Real Agave, the cocktail bar and lounge that Floyd opened in 2022.
Real Agave will continue to serve upscale Mexican fare and agave cocktails in its existing space on the building’s ground floor. Berg’s plans include upgrading the dinner menu and adding lunch service.
B.B. Lemon’s familiar green-and-yellow branding will soon replace El Real’s signage in the tunnels. Similarly, its menu of burgers, sandwiches, and salads will replace El Real’s Tex-Mex fare. As part of the rebrand, Berg will introduce breakfast service and add catering options for the adjacent offices.
Floyd is a Houston hospitality veteran who’s best known as the co-founder of Reef, the groundbreaking Midtown seafood restaurant that closed in 2019. More recently, he’s opened two locations of Porta’Vino, a BYOB restaurant with an Italian-inspired menu.
“It’s an honor to be entrusted with these two venues,” Berg Hospitality CEO Ben Berg said in a statement. “With Bill Floyd’s extensive experience managing 32 Houston restaurants, he has set a standard of excellence in the industry. We aim to honor his vision and do him proud downtown.”
The changes at 1100 Louisiana are only one part of Berg’s downtown projects with Hines. The company will also open two new restaurants at the Texas Tower, the developer’s 47-story office building on the site of the former Houston Chronicle building at 845 Texas Avenue.
First up will be The Sylvie, a French-inspired restaurant on the ground floor. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the restaurant will take significant inspiration from Annabelle Brasserie, Berg’s French restaurant in the Autry Park mixed-use development, with some touches from Trattoria Sofia, its Italian restaurant in the Heights, Ben Berg tells CultureMap. It is expected to open this summer.
In the morning, The Sylvie will have grab-and-go pastries and coffee for those heading upstairs to their offices along with dishes for those dining in. Lunch will feature salads, sandwiches, and pizzas. Dinner will feature both a full menu of entrees as well as cocktails and snacks designed for people going to performances in the theater district.
Following The Sylvie, Berg will debut Dune Road, its previously-announced New England-inspired seafood restaurant. The menu will center around New England favorites such as chowder (both clam and seafood), lobster bakes, fried clams, and lobster rolls.
New York-based ICRAVE will design both new restaurants. The Sylvie will feature a “whimsical, visually stunning environment,” according to a release, and seat 85 people. Dune Road will have a nautical look with polished metals, lacquered wood, and shiplap-inspired elements. It will feature a 56-seat, circular bar along with a 44-seat patio as part of a total capacity of over 200 people.
“The Sylvie marks the beginning of a dynamic partnership with Hines that will bring two unique restaurants to Downtown,” Berg added. “Together, we're set to elevate the culinary landscape and invigorate the vibrant heartbeat of our city that is Downtown."
Berg Hospitality has opened four new restaurants in less than a year — upscale Chinese restaurant Benny Chows; French-inspired Annabelle Brasserie; posh Italian restaurant Tavola; and, most recently, Prime 131, a live fire steakhouse in Timbergrove. In addition to its downtown projects, the company plans to open Turner's Cut, a luxurious steakhouse next to Annabelle Brasserie; Buttermilk Baby, a retro-inspired diner serving burgers, biscuits, and Carvel ice cream in the Heights M-K-T development; and a still unnamed fine dining restaurant in the former La Table space above Tavola.
Courtesy of Berg Hospitality
The Sylvie will be open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
