a very very very fine house

New restaurant serving cheeseburgers and 'World's Coldest Martini' opens soon in River Oaks

The busy fall restaurant opening season takes another step forward with a new restaurant devoted to classic American fare. Hudson House will open Wednesday, November 1 in the River Oaks Shopping Center next to Brasserie 19 (1966 W Gray St.).

Courtesy of Vandelay Hospitality Group

East Coast oysters are flown in fresh daily.

Operated by Dallas’s Vandelay Hospitality Group, Hudson House takes its inspiration from East Coast neighborhood restaurants, particularly those in New York’s West Village. The menu focuses on East Coast-inspired dishes paired with classic cocktails.

“Hudson House has a special place in my heart. It’s where I had my second date with my now wife,” Vandelay chief marketing officer Patrick Hallberg tells CultureMap. “It’s a warm, buzzy, cozy place.”

To help give people the proper warm, cozy feelings, the restaurant’s design features lots of natural light, navy leather booths, brass light fixtures, and on-trend greenery throughout the dining room.

“It takes a lot of inspiration from neighborhood joints in the West Village of New York,” Hallberg adds. “I describe it as having a casual elegance.”

Once seated, diners may choose from options such as a cheeseburger, lobster roll, lobster mac and cheese, steak frites, and chicken parm. Raw bar offerings include East Coast oysters, shrimp cocktail, and sushi rolls. The brunch menu features selections such as pancakes, eggs Benedict, and a bagel with lox and cream cheese.

“The fan favorite is the cheeseburger,” Hallberg says. It’s a special combination of the softness of the bun and the meat-to-cheese-to-bread ratio. We have our Hudson House sauce with some special secret ingredients, and it comes with a beautiful half slice of a pickle.”

Hudson House pairs its dishes with a selection of classic cocktails that is highlighted by the “World’s Coldest Martini.” To achieve the proper effect, the drink is vigorously shaken and served in a frozen glass. Other martini options include the Bleu & Gold (made with olive juice and blue cheese-stuffed olives) and a Lemon Drop that’s topped with limoncello foam. Two different espresso martinis will satisfy Houstonians’ seemingly limitless cravings for the drink.

Even as it prepares to open Hudson House, Vandelay already has another Houston restaurant in the works. Drake’s Hollywood, a luxurious steakhouse, has claimed the former Underbelly location at 1100 Westheimer Rd for a location that’s expected to open in late 2023. Inspired by classic Hollywood glam, the restaurant serves steaks, pizzas, appetizers, and more in a luxurious environment.

“I think what Drake’s does is it channels a bygone era,” Hallberg says. “It takes inspiration from some of these legendary Hollywood establishments. It really has a special environment with beautiful lighting, amber hues, and dark red leather booths.”

Over the course of the last year, the River Oaks Shopping Center has added two prominent restaurants in Zanti Cucina Italiana and Mediterranean fine dining restaurant Albi. The months to come will bring even more new arrivals, including the reopening of the River Oaks Theatre movie theater; Leo’s River Oaks, a companion restaurant to the movie theater from State Fare owner Culinary Khancepts; and Cocody, a “French-influenced” restaurant from the French chefs behind Le Mistral and Bistro 555.

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steakhouse switcheroo

River Oaks restaurant fields a new menu devoted to prime and wagyu steaks

Courtesy of Fielding's Steak

The new menu includes steak and sides such as onion rings.

A River Oaks restaurant is switching things up. After a year of operations, Fielding’s River Oaks has rebranded as Fielding’s Steak with an all-new menu that will launch on Tuesday, January 27.

While the restaurant has always served steaks from Texas ranch 44 Farms, Fielding’s Steak leans more heavily into beef with more cuts and more kinds of beefs, including both American and Japanese wagyu. Similarly, diners can pair their steaks with steakhouse sides such as lobster mac and cheese, creamed spinach, and onion rings.

The new menu starts with four prime steaks — filet, ribeye, NY strip, and bavette — along with a dry-aged cuts including a 35-ounce cowboy ribeye, a porterhouse, a 12-ounce bone-in ribeye, and a 22-ounce bone-in ribeye. Those seeking the most luxurious experience may opt for a wagyu tasting that features four ounces each of Japanese, Australian, and American striploin.

Appetizers and salads include a number of familiar dishes, such as lobster bisque, wedge salad, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail, and an imperial crabcake. Non-steak entrees include maple-brined salmon, lobster risotto, lamb chops, and a grilled Kurobata pork chop with apple mostarda.

Fielding’s River Oaks opened in December 2024. Part of Fielding’s Culinary Group, The Woodlands-based hospitality company behind Fielding’s Local Kitchen & Bar and Fielding’s Wood Grill, the restaurant served a European-inspired menu that included pizzas, pastas, steaks, and seafood.

“Fielding’s Steak represents the natural evolution of who we are and where we’re going,” said CEO Cary Attar said in a statement. “We wanted to create a true steakhouse experience — one that’s chef-driven, ingredient-focused, and worthy of the River Oaks dining scene — while still feeling warm, welcoming, and unmistakably Fielding’s. This new menu allows us to showcase exceptional proteins, refined flavors, and a level of execution that reflects our passion for hospitality and culinary excellence.”

Fielding’s Steak will be open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch from 11:30 am-3 pm and dinner beginning at 5 pm. Reservations are available on OpenTable.

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