J.J.'s hot takes

Texans legend J.J. Watt drops 'controversial' crawfish take on soccer podcast

J.J. Watt discussed Houston's food scene on Men in Blazers.

Courtesy of FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee

“If you’re checking your watch, I’m on food talk now, so we’re going to be awhile.”

With that comment, former Houston Texans star and future Pro Football Hall of Famer J.J. Watt launched into an epic tribute to Houston’s dynamic food scene. Speaking with host Roger Bennett on the globally-renown soccer podcast Men in Blazers, Watt spent about 15 minutes introducing the show’s audience to many of the cuisines and restaurants that Houstonians love.

“When you look at this singular city, at Houston, what is it in your mind that makes it great — that the world is going to see this summer,” Bennett asks at approximately the 1:45 mark.

“Food,” Watt replies. “Truthfully, we have great, great food. I have always said that Houston is one of the most underrated food cities in the world. People that come here are going to get fatter.”

Encouraged by Bennett to “go deeper” into the topic, Watt offered more than 20 suggestions for restaurants to try. They included:

Breakfast tacos at Island Grill and Pappas Bar-B-Q
Barbecue at Killen’s Barbecue
Burgers at Becks Prime, The Burger Joint, and Killen’s Burgers
Seafood at Pappadeaux

Watt told an entertaining anecdote about Trill Burgers, the smash burger concept from Houston hip-hop legend Bun B.

“Trill Burgers, they put something in there that can’t be legal,” Watt quipped. “I’ve talked to Bun B. It’s like crack, okay? He gave me one of those burgers. When I came back from the Ring of Honor at the Texans, they put Trill Burgers in our suite. There were six, and there were 12 people in the suite. I had four of them. Everyone else had to fight over two burgers.”

Asked about crawfish, Watt dropped an opinion that he acknowledged would be controversial. “You’re not going to like,” he told the 300-person, sold-out crowd.

“That’s a lot of work. Then they tell you to suck the head. I’ll be honest. Didn’t do a lot for me,” Watt stated. “Look at this [points to himself]. The amount of crawfish you have to break and eat. When they dump it all out, I have to have my own 9-foot table. Nobody has the time to break that many crawfish open and suck the heads on every one.”

Watt appeared on the show as part of its Houston episode that marked 99 days until the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Houston Rockets icon and Basketball Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon also appeared on the show, which was recorded at Rice University.

Houston will host seven matches from June 14 - July 4, including five in the group stage and one each in the round of 32 and the round of 16. Find more details about the tournament and local celebrations at the official FIFA World Cup 2026 Houston Host Committee website.

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the rustic returns

Pat Green's massive bar and live music venue begins building new Houston home

Courtesy of Houston First

A rendering previews The Rustic's new location.

One of downtown Houston’s most popular venues for eating, drinking, and enjoying live music has taken the next step in its comeback. Construction has begun on the new downtown location of The Rustic, the bar, restaurant, and live music venue that counts Texas country star Pat Green as one of its owners.

The Rustic’s original downtown location at 1836 Polk St. closed at the end of 2025 to make way for the expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center. At the time, The Rustic's owners, Dallas-based hospitality group Free Range Concepts, and Houston First Corporation, which owns the land and leases it to FreeRange, announced it would move to 1718 Jackson St., a parking lot that’s approximately two blocks south of the original location.

With construction underway, the new location is expected to open in March 2027. When it does, it will contain more than 18,000 square feet, including both indoor and outdoor spaces. Like its predecessor, it will have plenty of room for private events.

“Houston has always embraced The Rustic in a big way, and we’re incredibly excited to begin this next chapter downtown” FreeRange Concepts co-owner Kyle Noonan said in a statement. “This new location allows us to create an even bigger gathering place for great food, great music, and remarkable memories while continuing to be part of the energy and growth of Houston’s future.”

First opened in 2018, the Rustic features a wide-ranging menu of Texas-inspired dishes such as tacos, burgers, and steaks paired with cocktails, beer, and wine. Free Range opened a second location of the Rustic in Uptown Park in 2020. A scaled-down version opened at Hobby Airport in 2024.

The move is part of plans to expand the George R. Brown Convention Center. Slated to open in time for the Republican National Convention in 2028, the facility will add 700,000 square feet in a space adjacent to the existing building and a 100,000-square-foot pedestrian plaza that will be used for festivals and other events.

“Houston First is proud to continue our relationship with FreeRange Concepts and The Rustic by bringing the venue to the heart of what will be a new entertainment district downtown,” said Michael Heckman, President and CEO of Houston First. “This new location will energize the area by creating a vibrant gathering place for visitors and Houstonians alike, while strengthening the connectivity between the convention center, area hotels and other venues. The Rustic is exactly the kind of experience-driven concept that continues to elevate Houston as a premier destination.”

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