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    7 things to know

    7 things to know in Houston food right now: Ben Berg's jazzy brunch, 11-course Korean steak dinners, and more

    Eric Sandler
    Apr 28, 2023 | 11:35 am

    Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.

    Openings and coming attractions

    Urban Bird Hot Chicken has opened its sixth Houston-area location in Webster’s Baybrook Passage Shopping Center (19325 Gulf Freeway). The restaurant serves chicken tenders as sandwiches and baskets along with chicken and waffles and fries topped with chicken tenders. Diners may opt for one of six spice levels, everything from “Country” to “Fire in the Hole”

    Twisted Oak Bar + Kitchen will open this summer in Montgomery’s Woodforest development. Co-owner Rommel Gonzalez, a veteran of Brennan’s of Houston and former general manager of Fig & Olive, plans to serve a wide-ranging menu grounded in American classics matched with an extensive selection of wine and spirits. It aims to offer an upscale environment with personal service.

    “My lifelong dream of opening my own concept came to me over the years as I experienced many restaurants, bars and lounges throughout my travels in Europe and South America,” Gonzalez said. “I always wanted to open a concept that’s appealing to our Texas values but also gives you the sense of being anywhere in the world.”

    People on the move

    Minh Nguyen is the new general manager at CounterCommon Beerworks & Kitchen. Best known for his time as the owner of Cafe TH in EaDo, Nguyen steps in for opening chef Ignacio “Iggy” Olivera. One of the brewpub’s co-founders, Nguyen will lead a menu revamp that builds on its goals of serving a diverse menu inspired by Houston’s diverse cuisines.

    “CCBK was created to provide a space in the Bellaire community where folks can share their love of beer and food with their friends and loved ones,” co-founder Jaime Robles said in a statement. “The city of Bellaire has embraced us, and that support is what fuels our ingenuity in the kitchen and brewhouse.”

    Minh Nguyen Countercommon Beer WorksTell Minh that CultureMap says hi.Courtesy of CounterCommon Beer Works

    New menus

    The Lancaster Hotel has introduced afternoon tea service. Served Saturday and Sunday at 12 pm and 2:30 pm, the menu includes “Coronation Chicken” in a phyllo cup, smoked salmon, and cucumber dill. Sweets include freshly-baked scones, petit fours, and chocolate pot de creme. To create the proper experience, dishes are served on William Edwards English bone China.

    Designed to pair well with a matinee in downtown’s theater district, reservations are required to participate. Tea costs $69 per adult and $59 for kids 12 and under.

    Turner’s, Ben Berg luxurious, Galleria-area supper club, has introduced a jazz brunch. Served Thursday and Friday from 11 am - 3 pm, chef Ricardo Cerna’s menu includes Creole favorites such as gumbo, Eggs Sardou, and boudin balls. While diners sip classic New Orleans cocktails such as the Ramos Gin Fizz, Sazerac, and Vieux Carré, they’ll enjoy live jazz music from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm.

    PS21, the new French restaurant in Upper Kirby led by two Frenchmen — chef Philippe Schmit and front of house specialist Sébastien Laval — has added lunch and brunch service to its offerings. Open for dinner since March, the restaurant is now open for lunch Tuesday - Saturday from 11:30 am - 2:30 pm and Sunday brunch from 12-3 pm.

    The menu includes a range of dishes, including Salade Niçoise, lobster salad, a wagyu cheeseburger that’s topped with brie, moules frites, and steak frites. A two-course, $22 business lunch consists of a vegetarian soup followed by a French Bouchon Plate that comes with a petit Croque Monsieur, petite Caesar salad, and risotto.

    “We’re excited to get lunch service underway for the neighborhood,” Laval said in a statement. “We have had such a warm welcome from the community and look forward to providing a unique respite for diners as they shop, entertain, or need a quick and delicious bite during lunch break in the Upper Kirby area”

    Karne Korean Steakhouse has introduced a chef’s tasting menu as a more curated experience than its a la carte menu. Described as a “love letter” to Korean cuisine by chef “KP” Nam, the 11-course, $160 offering includes dishes such as lobster and abalone, soba noodles, two steak courses — one with filet and wagyu chuck flap and another of smoked short rib — and pomegranate mousse. The tasting menu is available by reservation only and requires at least 24 hours advance notice.

    Karne is the latest project from Jason Cho, the Houston restaurateur behind the Galleria-area location of Tom N Toms Coffee and acclaimed Korean fried chicken restaurant Dak & Bop. It puts a Korean spin on the classic American steakhouse with tabletop grilling, premium meats, and an extensive beverage program.

    Lancaster Hotel afternoon tea
      

    Photo by Teresa Rafidi

    Experience classic afternoon tea at The Lancaster hotel.

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    With or Without Whiz

    Houston burger mastermind fires up new pop-up devoted to Philly cheesesteaks

    Eric Sandler
    Jun 19, 2025 | 4:35 pm
    Bas's Cheesesteaks Abbas Dhanani
    Photo by Michael Ma
    Abbas Dhanani is serving up cheesesteaks at his new pop-up.

    Abbas Dhanani is at it again. The food influencer-turned-restaurateur behind the CultureMap Tastemaker Award-winning smash burger concept Burger Bodega is firing up a new pop-up concept devoted to another iconic sandwich.

    Called Bas’s Cheesesteaks, the new concept will Dhanani’s take on the classic Philly cheesesteak, made with sliced ribeye and white cheese on a seeded hoagie roll — onions and a spicy sauce are optional. A second version swaps the white cheese for Cheez Whiz. Like Burger Bodega, Dhanani is using halal beef for his cheesesteaks.

    Bas's Cheesesteaks cheesesteak sandwichThe cheesesteak is served on a seeded hoagie roll.Photo by Michael Ma

    “We have experimented with cheesesteaks as specials on the menu at Burger Bodega and received amazing feedback,” Dhanani said in a statement. “However, the cheesesteaks at Bas’s are the most refined versions we have done so far. I am excited to bring authentic Philly cheesesteaks to Houston as a new flavor experience while continuing to build on the energy and community we have created at Burger Bodega. This is a huge passion project for me, and I plan to take it step by step, just like Burger Bodega."

    As Dhanani notes, he introduced Burger Bodega with a series of pop-ups throughout Houston. To answer the obvious question, of course a restaurant could be in the cards for Bas’s, too.

    “I think thats the goal of any new pop-up concept,” Dhanani tells CultureMap. “Like Burger Bodega, we want to take it one step at a time and see where it goes.”

    Bas’s Cheesesteaks will have its first pop-up on Monday, June 30 at Burger Bodega’s location (4520 Washington Avenue). In addition to the two cheesesteaks, diners can get fries. Future pop-ups will be announced via Instagram.

    As for Burger Bodega’s second location in Katy, Dhanani says it’s still working through securing the necessary permits to begin construction.

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