adios, spanish village

Iconic Houston Tex-Mex restaurant and Third Ward landmark announces closing date

Spanish Village will close March 31.

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

An iconic Houston Tex-Mex restaurant will soon serve its final enchiladas and margaritas. Spanish Village will close on March 31, owner Steve Rogers announced.

First slated for closure in 2021, Rogers kept Spanish Village open while he worked through redevelopment plans for the property and an adjacent tract of land. Although details on those plans haven’t been made public yet, “the restaurant’s legacy will live on in an upcoming project to be announced at a later date,” according to a release about the closure.

Founded by the Medina family in 1953, Spanish Village has been a staple of the Third Ward. Known for its retro dining room that’s adorned with Christmas lights as well as classic Tex-Mex fare such as cheese enchiladas the signature fried chicken, it been a go-to restaurant for generations of Houstonians. The potent margaritas are also a fan favorite.

“There’s absolutely no arguing the impact Spanish Village has had on the Third Ward. The Medina family built something incredible, and I have been honored to be able to continue that,” Rogers said in a statement. “Despite the restaurant closing, it’s important to me and to the community to honor that legacy.”

Part of honoring that legacy has been to seek input from the community about what businesses should be included in the upcoming redevelopment project. Signs that read “What Should Go Here” invited locals to submit their ideas. Suggestions included specifics like a co-working space and a diner as well as design ideas such as “please respect the small town feel of the street...good architecture will go a long way,” according to a release.

Which elements Rogers chooses to include and how Spanish Village is incorporated into those plans remains to be seen, but the business owner says the feedback has been valuable.

“It’s been really special to read the responses and see how invested this community is in the character of the neighborhood,” Rogers added. “The Third Ward has its own personality that’s hard to understand unless you’re in it, and with the help of my neighbors, I’m excited to begin this new chapter with a project that will benefit them.”

Those who wish to make their final visits to Spanish Village will find the restaurant at 4720 Almeda Road. It’s open Tuesday - Saturday from 11 am - 10 pm.

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there's the rub

Restaurant known for 'new Houston cuisine' now open in Cypress

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.

A restaurant known for its eclectic “new Houston cuisine” has opened in Cypress. The fourth location of Jonathan’s the Rub is now open for dinner in Bridgeland (20215 Bridgeland Creek Parkway).

First announced last year, the new Jonathan’s is located in Village Green, a 70-acre mixed-use development within the 925-acre Bridgeland Central district. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant includes two patios totaling 2,600 square feet, giving the restaurant plenty of room for private dining rooms, a bar area, and indoor-outdoor areas with fire pits and greenery.

“We were looking for the next frontier — a community with a booming population and a clear vision for growth that aligns with our brand,” chef-owner Jonathan Levine said in a statement. “When we discovered Bridgeland and learned it was a Howard Hughes development, we were immediately impressed. With their reputation for developing generational communities, we felt confident that Bridgeland was the right place for our family and for Jonathan’s the Rub.”

Like Jonathan’s three other locations, the menu at Bridgeland is built around Levine’s signature “new Houston cuisine,” a kicked-up take on comfort food that includes everything from lobster tacos and blackened shrimp and grits to Italian American classics and steakhouse fare.

Village Green is also home to H-E-B and restaurants such as Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café and Crust Pizza Co. Austin-based burger joint P. Terry’s will open there next year.

“Jonathan’s the Rub’s arrival in Bridgeland Central brings a distinguished addition to the culinary scene in both the community and northwest Houston,” said Jim Carman, president of the Texas region, for Bridgeland developer Howard Hughes Communities. “We’re proud to partner with exceptional restaurateurs like Chef Jonathan Levine to bring elevated dining experiences that enhance the lifestyle offerings for our residents and neighbors.”

Courtesy of Jonathan's the Rub

Jonathan's the Rub serves steaks and other dishes.