NYC VIBE IN RICE

Australian-inspired, NYC-based coffee shop brews up third Houston locale in Rice Village

Australian-inspired, New York City-based coffee shop and cafe Bluestone Lane has opened its third Houston-area location in Rice Village. Located just around the corner from Navy Blue at 2412 University Blvd., the new cafe joins outposts in the Heights and the Galleria area.

Among the largest of Bluestone Lane’s nearly 60 locations, Rice Village features both indoor and outdoor seating. The exterior features a mural by local artist Houston artist Shelbi Nicole, and the interior has a coastal vibe.

Bluestone Lane Rice Village mural Artist Shelbi Nicole painted the location's mural.Courtesy of Bluestone Lane

Bluestone Lane takes its inspiration from coffee shops and cafes in founder and CEO Nicholas Stone’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia. Among other innovations, it takes credit for being one of the first coffee shops in America to introduce two Australian staples: smashed avocado toast and the flat white. It also roasts coffee and offers an array of lifestyle products.

“The booming city of Houston is a natural fit for Bluestone Lane given the community is so passionate about delicious coffee, food and hospitality,” Stone said in a statement. “Our cafes have quickly become a beloved part of our locals’ daily rituals, thanks to the airy, inviting aesthetic, smooth, well-balanced coffee, and nourishing menu items.”

More than a coffee shop, Bluestone Lane operates as a full service restaurant with a substantial coffee program. In addition to several toast options, diners will find a range of dishes including bowls, salads, and sandwiches. While coffee takes the lead, the cafe also serves tea, juices, and smoothies.

“Rice Village is excited to welcome Bluestone Lane as our newest tenant,” Rice Management Company executive Morgan Lera added. “Our mission at Rice Village is to continue to attract high-quality tenants that better serve the needs of the Houston community. We are thrilled that Bluestone Lane has decided to call Rice Village home.”

Bluestone Lane opens daily at 7:30 am.

Bluestone Lane Rice Village avocado toast

Courtesy of Bluestone Lane

Smashed avocado toast is one of Bluestone Lane's signature dishes.

breakfast coffee openings rice village news-you-can-eat

ride the wave

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

Courtesy of Western Addition

Balbao Surf Club is now open for lunch and dinner.

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