touching down this fall

New Houston restaurant will honor football legend turned car dealer

Another restaurant is joining Houston’s dining scene in the Energy Corridor — this time as an ode to a local football legend and entrepreneur.

Kirkwood, a clubhouse-inspired restaurant from Mac Haik Restaurant Group, is opening this fall inside Energy Tower II at 11720 Katy Freeway.

The name pays tribute to both a major thoroughfare in the Energy Corridor and Mac Haik’s legacy in West Houston, where his early real estate investments helped transform farmland into a thriving business hub. It's an upscale move for a company that's best known as the local franchisee of the brunch concept First Watch.

“Kirkwood is about creating a sense of place — one that’s rooted in warmth, character, and a strong connection to the community,” Alec Poynter, Haik’s grandson and an MHE vice president, said in a statement. “Everything from the menu to the materials was chosen with intention, and every space tells a story.”

What began as simply an amenity for Energy Plaza tenants gradually grew into a full-service restaurant shaped by Haik’s story and influence.

Gin Braverman of Gin Design Group designed the 5,500-square-foot space, including a wraparound bar with automotive-inspired details (a nod to Haik’s car dealership roots), a private dining room named after his mother, and a lounge dubbed The Sunny Room in honor of his wife.

“This project is incredibly special to us because it captures so much of what makes Houston — and Mac — unique: grit, hospitality, and pride in doing things well,” said Joseph “J.K.” Kubicki, Mac Haik Enterprises’ chief operating officer. “But the beauty of Kirkwood is that you don’t need to know the backstory to feel it. You walk in and immediately feel at home.”

Accents of leather and dark wood, a copper-clad open kitchen, and an Astrodome-inspired art installation will add to the ambiance. Kirkwood will seat 154 guests, with an additional 16-seat private dining room and a 72-seat sunroom complete with a curved, double-sided fireplace.

Executive chef Stephen Chiang, formerly chef de cuisine of Relish Restaurant and Bar and executive chef of the Petroleum Club, will lead the kitchen with a menu of American staples like steak frites and seafood platters, while a cocktail program will center on handcrafted Old Fashioneds.

Kirkwood’s debut will coincide with renovations to Energy Tower II, including updates to the building’s lobby, fitness center, tenant lounge, and outdoor gathering spaces.

Courtesy of Gin Design Group

A new restaurant inspired by Mac Haik is coming to the Energy Corridor. The sunroom is named after his wife.

news-you-can-eat openings kirkwood restaurant mac haik

Stay trill, owls

Bun B serves up smash hit smash burgers at Houston's Rice University

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Bun B is bringing Trill Burgers to Rice University.

Faculty, students, and staff at Rice University will have a fresh new dining option when classes resume for the fall semester. Trill Burgers will open its fourth Houston-area location on campus beginning Monday, August 17.

Located at the Rice Memorial Center, the new Trill Burgers will serve the restaurant’s signature smash burgers, which are available in either beef or vegan versions. That starts with the OG Trill Burger, made with two smashed beef patties, pickles, caramelized onions, Trill Sauce, and American cheese on a Martin’s potato roll. A vegan version uses plant-based smashed patties, vegan sauce, and vegan cheese. Burgers will be sold individually or as a combo with fries and a drink. Students will be able to use their campus dining dollars (Tetra) to purchase their meals.

Bun B, a Houston hip-hop legend and co-founder of Trill Burgers, has long had ties to Rice University. In 2011, 2013, and 2015, he served as a distinguished lecturer, co-teaching Religion and Hip-Hop Culture with Anthony Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Distinguished Professor of the Humanities.

“This is truly full circle for me,” Bun B said in a statement. “To bring this brand to Rice University where I once taught is a major moment for Trill Burgers and for myself.”

In addition to Trill Burgers, Rice is also home to locations of breakfast favorite Dandelion Cafe and salad and sandwich concept Local Foods Market.

“We are excited to build upon this long-standing relationship while giving the Rice community an authentic taste of Houston,” Beth Leaver, Rice’s assistant vice president of housing, dining, and hospitality, added. “Trill Burgers brings a distinctive and celebrated part of Houston’s culinary culture to the Rice campus. I am often asked about adding a great burger option, and this partnership fills an important gap in our dining portfolio.”

While the restaurant is open to the general public, its proximity to the original Trill Burgers location (3607 S. Shepherd Dr.) means it will likely appeal primarily to people who are already on campus. Initially, the restaurant will be open from 11 am-5 pm.

Opening at Rice comes at a time of continued growth for Trill Burgers. In December, the restaurant opened in Missouri City. It is expected to open a new location at Westheimer and Hillcroft (7616 Westheimer Rd.) as soon as this month.

burgers rice university openings bun b trill burgers