major chef shakeup

Celebrated Houston Top Chef finalist and Olympian suddenly departs anticipated new Midtown restaurant

Southern Smoke Festival 2022 Dawn Burrell

Chef Dawn Burrell at the 2022 Southern Smoke Festival.

Photo by Emily Jaschke

A quiet shakeup has taken place at one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated new restaurants. Chef Dawn Burrell is no longer involved with Late August, the new restaurant coming soon to Midtown’s the Ion mixed-use development.

Lucille’s Hospitality Group, the company behind the restaurant as well as Midtown staple Lucille’s, the Third Ward’s historic Eldorado Ballroom, and the Lucille’s 1913 non-profit, provided the following statement in response to CultureMap’s request for comment.

"Chef Dawn is no longer an employee of Lucille’s Hospitality Group, and we wish her the best in her future endeavors. Late August — which was created as culinary tribute honoring the legacy of the historic Sears Building — will continue under the LHG umbrella, pushing forth our group’s mission to create concepts that feed the future while serving the past. The restaurant is slated to open later this year.”

First announced in 2021, Late August planned to utilize Burrell’s experience with both African and Asian flavors. The chef, a former Olympian-turned-chef who reached the finals of Top Chef season 18 and competed on Top Chef’s recent World All-Star season, planned to draw upon her experiences at Kulture, the downtown restaurant where she earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination, and at Japanese-influenced restaurant Uchi.

Burrell provided the following statement in response to CultureMap's request for comment.

I am so grateful for my friendship with Chris Williams and the entire Lucille’s Hospitality Group. I am proud of what we accomplished together and remain 100-percent supportive of their goals and vision, just as they’ve been incredibly supportive of me and my journey as a chef, entrepreneur, and ambassador for the great city of Houston.

In the last two-plus years, I’ve been fortunate to receive many opportunities to work with some of the greatest chefs in the country, and the chances to keep traveling and discovering are leading me in a different direction at this time. I look forward to collaborating with Lucille’s in the future as a friend and colleague and will count my time as a partner with this organization as one of the most formative and important eras of my life.

In addition to Late August, Lucille’s Hospitality Group is also in the process of opening Rado Cafe & Market, a new restaurant at the Eldorado Ballroom. Expected to open soon, it will serve sandwiches, salads, and other dishes using ingredients such as collard greens, okra, and tomatoes sourced from local farms. In addition, Lucille’s will contribute fermented and pickles items from its preservation program. The retail shop will feature products from minority vendors along with a selection of wines.

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another surprise shutter

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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