it's just my type

Crafty Houston Lebanese restaurant opens second locale in West U with patio dining and expanded menu

An acclaimed Houston Lebanese restaurant will soon open its second location. Craft Pita’s restaurant in West University Place opens this Saturday, November 19 at Plaza in the Park, the Kroger-anchored shopping center at the corner of Buffalo Speedway and Westpark.

First opened in Briargove in 2019 by chef-owner Rafael Nasr and his mother Claudia, Craft Pita has earned a devoted following for its flavorful Lebanese-inspired dishes. The menu includes pita sandwiches, bowls, and salads paired with proteins such as rotisserie chicken, beef kafta patties, and falafel, many of which are made with locally sourced ingredients such as Naked Truth chicken and akaushi beef from HeartBrand Beef. Cafe Pita’s olive oil comes from a family-owned orchard in Lebanon.

“West University is the perfect place to expand on what we have built with the Craft Pita community,” Nasr said in a statement. “We are a family-owned restaurant and look forward to serving the families of West University. The proximity to areas like Greenway Plaza and the Medical Center will also allow us to expand our catering and delivery opportunities.”

Nasr has stepped up the food offerings at the new location with some menu items that aren’t available in Briargrove. They include chicken and beef kebabs, a chicken shawarma pita, and a beef gyro pita. A mezze dinner for two — appetizers, entrees, and desserts for $60 — pairs well with the new location’s expanded selection of Lebanese wines.

"Kebabs are definitely popular now. It's also the average person's first exposure to Mediterranean food," Nasr said on a recent episode of CultureMap’s “What’s Eric Eating” podcast. "I think that and hummus and number one and two on the list. The nice thing about kebabs is when you use lean proteins it's a healthy option. Our akaushi kafta, when it has that kiss of a flame, it will take it up a few notches for sure."

Craft Pita has developed a significant following for both its quality food and friendly service. Yelp named it one of America’s top 100 places to eat in 2020, and the Houston Chronicle recently included it on its list of the city’s top 100 restaurants.

At 2,500 square feet, the new restaurant is considerably larger than the original. It also features a larger patio for outdoor dining. It joins a second location of Adair Kitchen as a new addition to Plaza in the Park.

Photo by Rebekah Flores

Craft Pita's Lebanese cuisine has arrived in West U.

Craft Pita will celebrate its grand opening at 11 am Saturday, November 19. The first 25 customers will receive a free pita, and the first 50 will receive a golden ticket that enters them into a raffle.

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Coastal-inspired Houston restaurant will shutter after 3 years in Montrose

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

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A Montrose restaurant devoted to fresh and healthy fare will soon serve its final meal. Graffiti Raw will close on December 31.

Located next to Uchi in the Montrose Collective mixed-use development, Graffiti Raw opened in early 2023. It is part of the Big Vibe Group, the hospitality company behind Coppa Osteria in Rice Village and Flora, the stylish Mexican restaurant in Buffalo Bayou Park.

Graffiti Raw took inspiration from coastal destinations such as Big Sur, Mexico, and the Mediterranean. True to its name, the menu included raw items such as tartare and ceviche alongside classic fare such as steak frites, chicken schnitzel, and crab fried rice.

“Since opening, Graffiti Raw has been a place for connection — from shared meals to vibrant

nights that reflected the creative energy of Houston. The Big Vibe Group is grateful to the

guests, team members, partners and the Montrose Collective community who helped shape the experience,” the company said in a statement.

Big Vibe emphasizes that both Coppa Osteria and Flora “remain central to the company’s long-term vision, with an emphasis on growth, consistency, and elevated hospitality.” It made a similar commitment to those concepts when it closed Gratify, a neighborhood bistro in Rice Village, back in 2024.

Montrose has seen a number of openings and closings, with additions such as jazz supperclub Doc’s and wine shop/bar Montrose Grocer. Paulie’s, a neighborhood staple for more than 25 years, will also close on December 31.

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