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Tilman Fertitta finally confirms plans to relocate iconic River Oaks restaurant to Montrose

Diners have a couple more days to dine at the original La Griglia.

La Griglia/Facebook

One of Houston’s most enduring restaurants has finally revealed the details on its new home. La Griglia will soon transition from its current home in the River Oaks Shopping Center to a new location in the Harlow District, the dining-focused development at the site of the former Nino’s and Vincent’s spaces.

The restaurant’s last day of service at its current location will be this Saturday, November 4. It will reopen on Monday, November 20 at 2817 West Dallas St. News that the restaurant would make this move has circulated broadly for the better part of a year, but Landry’s, Inc. has refused to comment about its plans for the restaurant until now.

La Griglia has been a River Oaks institution since its founding by legendary Houston restaurateur Tony Vallone. The restaurant has been part of Landry’s Signature Group since Tilman Fertitta acquired it and Grotto from Vallone in 2004.

“La Griglia has been a Houston staple for decades, and we are grateful to the many patrons who continually support the restaurant and its fine staff,” Fertitta said in a statement. “The La Griglia team has worked hand-in-hand to create an elevated menu and atmosphere unlike anything our dedicated diners have seen or tasted. La Griglia looks forward to welcoming both longtime patrons and first-time guests to experience a restaurant that is fresh yet familiar.”

Socialites, politicians, and a devoted cast of regulars count on La Griglia for signature items such as its well-stocked bread basket, precisely cooked pasta and seafood dishes, and rolling dessert cart. Its bright murals and lively atmosphere — highlighted by its decadent Halloween party — have made it a go-to for Houston’s see-and-be-seen crowd.

To update the restaurant’s menu, Fertitta retained chef Mark Ladner. Known for his restaurant Bar Enza, Ladner won a James Beard Award for Best Chef: New York for his work at Del Posto, the iconic Italian restaurant founded by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich.

“The menu will blend La Griglia signature dishes with new creations featuring simple, uncomplicated ingredients elegantly presented,” La Griglia’s Brandon Busch added. “A significant portion of the exceptional ingredients were sourced from Italy and act as inspiration for the new offerings.”

Details on the new interior are light, and Landry’s declined CultureMap’s request for photos. According to a release, diners can expect marble and brass finishes and leather surfaces. Patrons will be able to choose to sit in the main dining room, a wine room, and an outdoor courtyard.

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Houston's 'Chinese takeout bar from the future' touches down in Webster

Courtesy of The Rice Box

A rendering previews The Rice Box's new location in Webster.

Houston’s Chinese takeout bar from the future is coming to the Bay Area. The sixth location of The Rice Box will open in Webster later this summer.

Located at 114 El Dorado Blvd, the new location will be called Rice Box Space Center after NASA’s headquarters at the nearby Johnson Space Center. Founder John Peterson tells CultureMap that it’s a bit of a homecoming for him and his wife/business partner, Jenny Vo, as they grew up in the area. As with every new location, the restaurant created a movie-style poster to announce its opening.

Rice Box Webster movie poster The Rice Box Space Center is expected to open later this summer.Courtesy of The Rice Box

For its first truly suburban location, Peterson plans to offer a more efficient pickup system for to-go orders. Dubbed The Rice Box Pickup Reactors, the system applies Rice Box’s sci-fi aesthetic to curbside ordering. As seen in the rendering above, the building will have six slots that drivers will pull into to get their orders.

“The goal is to have guests in and out with food in hand in around 90 seconds,” Peterson writes in an email. “It’s still pickup, but we’re trying to make that moment feel more intentional and more connected to the digital side of Rice Box instead of treating it like an afterthought. We’re looking at this opening as both a new store and a prototype for how Rice Box can work in more suburban markets without losing the part of the brand that makes it feel like us.”

Bay Area-area diners can expect the same menu as the Rice Box’s other locations. That includes staples such as General Tso’s chicken, sesame chicken, beef with broccoli, and orange peel beef. The restaurant also serves traditional Chinese-inspired fare such as Chongqing chicken, cumin beef, mapo tofu, and chow fun noodles.

Recently, Peterson rolled out a new version of Rice Box’s dumplings. Available in chicken, pork, or vegetable, each style of dumpling comes with a different wrapper that enhances the filling’s flavor. They’re also available either steamed or fried.

The Rice Box started as a food truck in the early 2010s. After moving to a permanent location in the Greenway Plaza food court, it has opened brick-and-mortar locations in the Heights, River Oaks, Rice Village, and Memorial.

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Tilman Fertitta finally confirms plans to relocate iconic River Oaks restaurant to Montrose

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Houston's 'Chinese takeout bar from the future' touches down in Webster