Have a bol

Houston Chopped champion bowls over Midtown with new casual restaurant

Kahani Social Group Surpreet Singh, Chef Jassi Bindra, Preet paul Singh

Kahani partners Surpreet Singh, chef Jassi Bindra, and Preet Paul Singh are bringing Bol to Midtown.

Courtesy of Kahani Social Group

The team behind Amrina has revealed plans to open a second new concept in a prime Midtown space. In addition to the previously announced Pok Pok Po fried chicken restaurant, the Kahani Social Group will also open a second fast casual eatery.

Dubbed Bol, the new restaurant is described in press materials as an Indian-inspired bowl concept. Diners will be able to assemble their single-serving bowls from a selection of grilled meats, vegetables, and grains topped with condiments such as hummus, sauces, and dressings. Led by Chopped champion chef Jassi Bindra, the restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner.

"With Bol, we wanted to create a concept that blends the vibrant, bold flavors of Indian cuisine with the simplicity and convenience of a bowl,” Kahani Social Group co-founder Preet Paul Singh said in a statement. “It's a fresh take on tradition, designed for modern lifestyles without compromising on quality or taste.”

Bol will occupy part of the same space as Pok Pok Po Chicken Parlor. Announced in May, Pok Pok Po will serve the fried chicken chef Jassi Bindra has offered as an occasional special at Amrina, the elegant Indian restaurant that's been a hit in The Woodlands since it opened in June 2022. Both concepts are expected to open this fall.

Bol and Pok Pok Po will occupy part of the building that had been home to Artisans, the French fine dining restaurant that relocated to a new space in the Galleria area. Medium Rare, a Washington, D.C.-based restaurant that serves steak frites, claimed another part of the former Artisans space and is also slated to open this fall.

Kirby Ice House 5

Houston's modern ice house plans fall opening for new Clear Lake outpost

Courtesy of Kirby Ice House

A rendering previews Kirby Ice House's Clear Lake location.

Houston’s growing chain of modern ice houses is heading to the Bay Area. Kirby Ice House will open a Clear Lake outpost in September.

Located near the Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston at open at 530 Bay Area Boulevard, the new Kirby Ice House will build on the brand’s winning formula — a huge indoor-outdoor bar with an extensive selection of beer and cocktails, lawn games, space for food trucks, and plenty of TVs for watching sports. The Clear Lake location will also offer Kirby Ice House’s daily specials and happy hour discounts.

The bar is customing its interior for Clear Lake. For example, the design will nod to NASA with a neon sign that depicts its signature cowgirl riding a rocket.

“One of the things we enjoy most is creating spaces that reflect the communities they serve,” co-owner Danny Evans said in a statement. “We never want our locations to feel copied and pasted. We want them to have their own personality, and we hope guests feel that from the moment they walk in.”

While the construction team is building the bar, Kirby Ice House has already begun recruiting the 100 or so employees who will be necessary at opening by setting up a hiring facility adjacent to the construction site.

Those employees will be pouring beers from dozens of taps alongside wines by-the-glass or bottle. Kirby Ice House also serves cocktails such as a cucumber-lime Moscow Mule, blood orange paloma, and lemonade Old Fashioned. A rotating roster of food trucks serves customers who want a bite with their beers. Taken together, the extensive selection and massive footprint have helped each location of Kirby Ice House rank among the highest’s grossing bars in Texas.

Over time, the concept has grown to four Houston-area locations in Upper Kirby, Memorial City, The Woodlands, and a Heights-adjacent location that opened last year.

“The Kirby Ice House team is excited to become part of Clear Lake’s vibrant, historic culture,” added vice president of operations Margo Axton. “We’re looking forward to being a neighborhood gathering place that supports local businesses, welcomes casual groups, and gives the community an easy place to meet up before, during, or after whatever the day has planned.”