Five things to know

5 things to know in Houston food right now: Openings, kudos, and a must-hit Anti Burger Club night

Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. Even with ace food editor Eric Sandler enjoying a well-deserved vacation, we’d hate CultureMap readers to miss anything — so here’s all the latest news to know.

Openings and closings

7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee recently opened up shop in Spring's Town Center at 21420 Kuykendahl Rd. The brand looks to change how people think about their drive-thru brews, elevating the experience to include premium coffee selections, hand-crafted beverages, and exceptional service.

Photo of chef Willet Feng holding a double burger with lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, bacon and onion strings.

Photo courtesy of burger-chan

burger chan's Chef Willet Feng is partnering with Hidden Omasake for the next Anti Burger Club event, featuring a multi-course menu in an exclusive experience.

“Our goal is to bring joy and make a connection with every guest. As 7 Brew expands throughout Texas, we are excited to make lasting friendships with every drink we serve," said Lauren Farris, 7 Brew's general manager, in a release marking the opening.

The brand plans to open 80 locations across Texas. Java lovers can expect not only a wide selection of coffees, lattes, and hot and cold drinks, but opportunities to engage with the brand on upcoming "Community Hours" and "Charity Days." These activites are tied to 7 Brew's mission of making an impact in communities where it operates.

Tacos Y Tortas Adrian, long a Katy favorite for authentic Mexican street food, just opened a new location in Cypress at 20323 FM 529. The grand opening bash featured both a DJ and live band, along with the restaurant's signature dishes, free queso and giveaways. The new location marks the restaurant's sixth imprint and its first in the Cypress area.

“I love sharing my passion for the flavors of authentic Mexican street food and excited to bring those traditions to the Cypress area,” said Miguel Jimenez, the owner, in a press release announcing the opening. “We have been serving the Katy area for almost 20 years and the whole Adrian’s family is excited to be opening our first location in Cypress. We are looking forward to celebrating our grand opening with our new neighbors.”

Ono Poke, one of Houston's first poke spots, served its last dish on Saturday. Seven years ago, the restaurant opened in on Richmond Avenue in what was the former Bowl Cafe space. Serving up raw fish salads and signature bowls with rice, proteins and sauces, Ono offered serious poke at a reasonable prices. The restaurant announced the closure on its Instagram, noting that the One Allen location in downtown remains open for those needing a poke fix and teasing that its new concept was nearing its soft opening.

Upcoming events

Former Good Morning America “United States of Burgers” finalist and Galleria-area fave Burger-Chan is hosting a one-night Anti Burger Club event at at 6:30 pm August 16.

This exclusive dining experience is in partnership with Burger-Chan's neighbor Hidden Omasake; the multi-course menu is designed by Chefs Niki Vongthong and Willet Feng. Expect offerings drawing from the pair's love for Japanese food plus a sprinkling of Southeast Asian influences. The cost is $175 per person and reservations can be made online.

National kudos

Beloved wild game and outdoor dining destination Rainbow Lodge has landed on Southern Living's Legendary Southern Steakhouses list. For 45 years, the Ella Boulevard mainstay has been the go-to for exotic game and seafood, served from its perch along Buffalo — and later White Oak - Bayou. "...[W]ild game like bison and elk take center stage in a log cabin-inspired dining room," noted Southern Living's entry on the restaurant, which also referenced the lodge's popularity as a spot for parties and celebrations.

Ready, set, Relish

River Oaks restaurant opens in Memorial with expanded menu and bold design

Photo by Julie Soefer

Relish's fan favorite lobster roll arrives in Memorial next week.

The wait is nearly over for Memorial residents who are looking forward to visiting the new location of Relish Restaurant & Bar. Its second location in Town & Country Village will open this Monday, December 2.

Located at 12850 Memorial Dr., the new Relish constitutes an enhanced version of the River Oaks location that owners Addie and Dustin Teague opened in 2016. At over 4,800-square-feet, it’s noticeably larger than its sibling, with seating for almost 200 diners. The extra room means the new location has both a dedicated bar/lounge area as well as a seven-seat oyster bar. A 10-seat chef’s table provides a view into the open kitchen.

Design details include antique mirrors and artwork sourced from markets in Round Top, pink terrazzo tiles, and exposed brick.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the team we’ve built and everybody that came together to make this happen,” executive chef and co-owner Dustin Teague said in a statement. “We are blown away by how it all turned out and are so excited to have the community experience our cuisine and hospitality in an absolutely stunning environment.”

Chef Teague worked with chef de cuisine Jack Humphrey on the restaurant’s menu. Of course, Relish favorites such as its fried chicken, lobster roll, and burger are present and accounted for. The chefs have added new items such as roast chicken with harissa and apricot-tomato couscous, vegetable lasagna with pasta that’s made in-house, and tuna tartare with tomato relish. Desserts include bourbon caramel carrot cake and soft serve ice cream that’s made in house. Beverage options include wine and cocktails.

“We’re going to continue rocking the same thing we’ve done at River Oaks with slight tweaks here and there,” Teague added. “At the end of the day, we’ve built this restaurant for the surrounding community and our mission is to always serve you and your family meals you can Relish.”

Initially, Relish will be open for dinner daily at 4:30 pm. Plans for lunch and brunch will be announced in January.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Relish's fan favorite lobster roll arrives in Memorial next week.

news-you-can-eat openings relish restaurant & bar