another heights shutter

Heights Vietnamese restaurant lauded for inventive fare set to shutter

Dinette will close on Sunday.

Dinette/Facebook

An innovative Vietnamese restaurant will soon serve its last meals. Dinette announced it will close after service on Sunday, February 4.

Located in the Heights, Dinette opened in 2022 to some acclaim, including a nomination for Best New Restaurant in the 2023 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards. Opening chef Cole Hoang crafted a menu of North Vietnamese-inspired dishes that also drew on his experiences working for James Beard Award finalist Christine Ha at both The Blind Goat and Xin Chao. It included updated takes on Vietnamese staples such as egg rolls, banh xeo, and bo luc lac.

Last year, the restaurant added a bakery serving sweet and savory Vietnamese pastries, which its also closing.

Owners Raymond Chan and Jason Andaya also operate Hando and Kanpai Club, the sushi hand roll concept and cocktail bar with locations in the Heights and Spring Branch. They plan to replace with Dinette with something more similar to those establishments. Details on the new restaurant will be released at a later date.

“We recognized a need to focus on growing the Hando and Kanpai Club brands, and we believe that closing Dinette will help us accomplish our expansion goals,” Andaya said in a response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision to close Dinette. “That being said, there are plans to reconcept the Shepherd Row space into something that feels like an organic progression, building on what people already love about Hando and Kanpai Club.”

“Despite today’s announcement and the closing of this chapter, we are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished with Dinette, and we look forward to developing a new concept to open in the current space,” Chan added in a statement. “We invite everyone to come in and enjoy their favorite meals one last time this week.”

Although Dinette’s time is coming to an end, the Heights and its nearby neighborhoods offer a number of options for contemporary Vietnamese cuisine. They include Moon Rabbit, Les Ba’get, and Xin Chao

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blinded with science

New York's science-themed holiday bar shakes up the Museum District

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

A taste of Manhattan has made its way to Houston with the immersive LIT-Mas Spectacular holiday pop-up. From now until January 12, Houstonians can discover the hype behind New York City’s The Drunken Lab that's known for its unique blend of science and cocktails.

This pop-up marks the first expansion for The Drunken Lab’s parent company, Science and Sip, a concept created to make science accessible and unforgettable. Attendees can dive into holiday-themed science experiments — including explosive endothermic reactions — while enjoying festive cocktails in a winter wonderland setting enhanced with a live DJ. Appropriately, the pop-up is located in the Museum District at 4715 Main Street.

“Houston was the perfect next step for Science and Sip,” founder Cautney Nelson said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culture, love of celebration, and ties to science through world-famous programs like NASA aligns beautifully with our mission to blend entertainment with discovery.”

Visitors enter a world filled with larger-than-life gingerbread decor and candy-inspired installations where light bulbs and laboratory flasks have been transformed into quirky beverage containers. Admission includes one cocktail or mocktail, a lab coat and goggles, and two to three science experiments. Add-ons like cocktail-filled ornament “Booze Balls” and Grinch-inspired pouches in festive red and green add an extra dose of holiday charm.

“We’re thrilled to host guests for an immersive holiday experience that merges festive fun with curiosity,” Nelson added. “With each pop-up, we aim to create a space where a great party and exploration come together, and we’re excited to see how Houston embraces The LIT-Mas Spectacular.”

A portion of the proceeds from LIT-Mas will benefit Millennial Scnce, a nonprofit founded by Nelson that provides students with accessible STEM resources and educational opportunities.

Tickets are available for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with showtimes at 2:30 pm, 6 pm, and 9 pm. Private party and group bookings are also available.

Courtesy of Drunken Lab

Conduct holiday-themed science experiments at the LIT-Mas Spectacular.

cocktails holidays museum district nightlife