3 new downtown restaurants

Ben Berg bringing 3 new restaurants to 2 downtown office buildings

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.

Rendering by ICRAVE

Dune Road will open in the Texas Tower.

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say hey to Hypsi

Houston chef's hip new Italian restaurant now open in Heights hotel

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

A new Italian restaurant is now open in the Heights. Located within the newly opened Hotel Daphne, Hypsi marks chef Terrence Gallivan’s return to professional cooking in Houston.

Known for his time as the co-execuive chef of The Pass and Provisions and owner of ElRo Pizza and Crudo, Gallivan brings strong culinary credentials to Hypsi. Although he isn’t known explicitly for Italian fare, he has significant experience making pizza, pasts, and other Italian-inspired dishes. After closing ElRo last year, the chef says that working for Bunkhouse Hotels, the Austin-based company that operates the Daphne, had a lot of appeal.

“My wife and I always made it a point to stop at their places whenever we’re in Austin. They know how to make cool stuff,” Gallivan says.

Hypsi’s menu includes updated takes on Italian fare begins with starters such as lamb meatballs, black truffle arancini, and Caesar salad. A selection of house-made pastas include squid ink radiatori with rock shrimp, butternut squash tortellini, and lumache with vodka sauce that gets a little heat from nduja. Entree choices include a roast chicken, pork Milanese, and roasted snapper with salsa verde.

The restaurant is also open for breakfast during the week and brunch on the weekends with items such as a panatone waffle, frittata, and breakfast sandwich. Lunch will follow in January.

“We took inspiration from tradition without being traditional,” Gallivan says. Later, he adds, “For me, it’s about balance. You try to please everybody. I want my mom to enjoy herself as much as a 25-year-old foodie. It’s important to hit as many marks as you can.”

One of the restaurant’s signatures will be the mozzarella cart that rolls through its dining room. Gallivan says he’s sourcing a mix of both American and imported Italian cheeses that will rotate every week or two. The cheese is served with a range of pickled fruit and vegetables, olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, focaccia, and more. Of course, seeing a cart immediately grabs diners’ attention, making them want whatever is on offer.

“That’s the beauty of carts,” Gallivan says. “It’s a fun thing to do. I think sometimes we get a little too serious in restaurants. It’s supposed to be fun. People are here to enjoy themselves.”

All that eating and drinking takes place in a dining room that’s inspired by Prohibition-era speakeasies, according to press materials. Details include blueberry lava stone on the bar, vintage velvet chairs, and custom Carimate dining chairs by Vico Magistretti. An outdoor patio features brick pavers, mosaic tables, and sculptures.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Hypsi serves pasta and other Itaian-inspired dishes.

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