hidden omakase returns

Damaged Houston sushi restaurant finds temporary home at Uptown bar

Houston sushi restaurant Hidden Omakase has found a temporary home after a car accident caused substantial damage to its dining room. The Michelin-recommended sushi restaurant will host a summer residency at Bar Moon, The Bastion Collection’s stylish bar above its Italian restaurant Tavola.

Beginning Tuesday, June 16, chef Marcos Juarez and the Hidden team will be serving diners Tuesday through Saturday. Limited to just 12 people per seating, Hidden Omakase will offer reservations at 6:30 pm and 8 pm. Moving to Bar Moon means Hidden Omakase remains in the Uptown neighborhood, approximately one mile from its permanent location.

"While this wasn't the path we originally anticipated, we're incredibly grateful for the support we've received from our guests and the Houston community," chef Juarez said in a statement. "This residency allows us to continue doing what we love while creating an exciting new experience alongside the team at Bastion Events. We look forward to welcoming both longtime guests and new diners throughout the summer."

Open since December 2020, Hidden Omakase is known for serving tastings of more than a dozen courses. Its theatrical presentation style includes showing diners the whole fish used in their meals. Hidden is one of only two Houston sushi restaurants included in the Michelin Guide and the only one that’s currently open to the public (Neo remains closed for renovations).

The restaurant has been closed since last month when a car drove through its dining room and caused significant damage. At this time, Hidden has not announced how long repairs will take or when the original location will reopen. Thankfully, Bastion Events, the catering arm of the Bastion Collection, was able to offer it a temporary home.

"One of the things that makes Houston's hospitality community so special is the willingness to support and elevate one another," said Chris Nguyen of Bastion Events. "When the opportunity arose to help Hidden Omakase continue serving guests, the decision was easy. Chef Marcos and his team have built something truly special, and we're honored to welcome them into our family while creating a memorable experience for Houston diners."

Hidden Omakase will celebrate its temporary move to Bar Moon with a bluefin tuna breakdown on Sunday, June 14. Tickets, priced at $325, are available on Resy.

Marcos Juarez Hidden Omakase tuna breakdown

Photo by Abante Photography

Chef Marcos Juarez breaks down a whole tuna.

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rolling into Town & Country

Buzzy East Coast bagel bakery sets opening date for first Houston shop

Photo by Jen Goldberg

PopUp Bagels will open on Friday, June 12.

A rapidly-growing East Coast bagel chain has set an opening date for its first Houston location. PopUp Bagels will open on Friday, June 12, the company announced.

Located at 700 Town and Country Blvd (suite 2640), PopUp Bagels teased its Houston plans with a window wrap in February. It joins two locations in Dallas. Overall, Texas franchisee Lone Star Bagels plans to open more than 10 locations statewide, according to press materials.

PopUp Bagels has a somewhat unusual business model. Unlike most of Houston’s locally-owned bagels shop, it doesn’t serve bagel sandwiches — or even toast or slice bagels for its customers. Instead, customers are encouraged to “grip, rip, and dip” their bagels directly into the spreads.

Similarly, PopUp Bagels only offers five options: plain, salt, poppy, sesame, and everything. They can be matched with one of six spreads: plain cream cheese, salted butter, scallion cream cheese, and rotating options that currently include truffle cream cheese and hot pickle butter.

Finally, PopUp bagels doesn’t sell individual bagels. Diners must purchase a minimum of three bagels and a schmear for $15. A dozen bagels and two schmears costs $46. As a point of comparison, bagels at Houston’s Bagel Shop Bakery can be purchased individually for $2 each or $25 for a baker’s dozen (13 bagels) with two 8-ounce containers of cream cheese.

Despite these policies, PopUp Bagels has amassed a devoted following for its crispy texture, airy interior, and dense coating of seeds. Its won “Best Bagel” at the Brooklyn Bagel Fest in 2021 and 2022 and is ranked as one of the 17 best bagels in New York by the New York Times. Since being acquired by equity growth firm Stripes in 2023, it has announced plans to open more than 300 locations nationwide and counts a number of celebrities, including Houston Texans legend JJ Watt, among its investors.

PopUp Bagels will celebrate its grand opening from 8-11 am on Friday, June 12, The event will feature a DJ and a limited edition spicy queso cream cheese. In addition, 50 percent of proceeds will be donated to the JJ Watt Foundation.

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