now open at the ion

Lucille's chef opens nostalgic new restaurant in Midtown development

One of this year’s most eagerly anticipated restaurants has opened its doors. Late August is now open in the Ion mixed-use development (4201 Main St.).

Created by chef Chris Williams as part of Lucille’s Hospitality Group (Lucille’s, Rado Market), Late August takes its name from the building’s history as a former Sears department store. The annual Sears catalog would arrive in people’s mailboxes towards the end of August.

Photo by Rebekah Flores

Late August is now open at The Ion.

Williams created the menu with Late August executive chef Sergio Hidalgo. Although some of the dishes are influenced by Mexican cuisine, Williams does not consider Late August to be a Mexican restaurant.

“The cuisine is a true 'Masan,' based on both chefs' culinary experiences from childhood to their professional experiences,” Williams tells CultureMap. “Much like the Sears catalog, they hope there is something that speaks to everyone.”

On the opening menu, Southern-style gumbo is garnished with nopales and utilizes chorizo instead of the traditional andouille. Similarly, a half rack of pork ribs gets an achiote glaze and citrus pork confit is served with masa, refried black-eyed peas, and a sauce made from piri piri peppers.

Late August braised barbecue ribs Achiote-braised barbecue ribsPhoto by Rebekah Flores

Hidalgo brings experiences from The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation as well as restaurants in Seattle and Arizona, according to a release. General manager and sommelier Danny Davis has created a wine list that focuses on black and brown wines, female-owned wines, and small vineyards. The cocktail menu focuses on bourbon, mezcal, and drinks made with Highway Vodka, which was founded by Chris Williams’ brother Ben.

Gin Design Group incorporated original Sears terrazzo tile flooring into the 70-seat dining room. Artwork by local artist Robert Hodge, who also collaborated with Williams on the Hogan Brown Gallery at the Eldorado Ballroom, is featured in the space.

Williams first announced plans to open Late August in 2021 under the leadership of chef Dawn Burrell, who earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for her work at Kulture and reached the finals of Top Chef season 19. At the time, Burrell planned to blend Asian techniques and flavors with dishes from the African diaspora, but she left the project last summer.

Late August is currently open Monday-Friday, 11 am - 4 pm. Dinner and happy hour will begin April 8. On Saturdays beginning April 13, the restaurant will be open for dinner 5-9 pm.

BOGO Banh Mi

Houston Vietnamese restaurant rolls out new Spring Branch outpost

Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

Saigon Hustle will open its new location on Thursday, October 10.

A rapidly growing Houston Vietnamese restaurant has big plans for National Banh Mi Day, which is this Thursday, October 10. Saigon Hustle will mark the occasion by opening its new Spring Branch location.

Located in a converted gas station at 1223 Witte Road, the new Saigon Hustle both preserves all of the things that have made the original Garden Oaks location a success for founders Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen and takes advantage of having twice as much space to add new menu items and a more complete dining experience.

Saigon Hustle Spring Branch rendering A rendering previews the restaurant's new location.Courtesy of Saigon Hustle

By going from just over 800-square-feet to 2,000, Saigon Hustle will be able to offer indoor seating for the first time. Total capacity is about 70 diners.

“The dine in is huge. We don’t have a lot of customer interaction [at Garden Oaks],” Ghaffar tells CultureMap. “We’re excited to have the customer facing side, interacting with them, watching them eat our food, without losing the drive-thru.”

A larger kitchen means that Saigon Hustle will be able to add pho to its menu for the first time. Diners will have their choice of chicken — made with sous vide chicken breast — or beef, which will come with the traditional round eye, brisket, and meatballs.

“There are so many people who come in expecting pho. When they can’t get it, they walk out,” Nguyen says.

As for the rest of the menu, it will include all of the banh mi, egg rolls, spring rolls, and rice dishes that have made the original a hit. Beverage options include both Vietnamese iced coffee and a tea bar that includes both milk tea and Thai-style iced tea.

Saigon Hustle Cassie Ghaffar Sandy Nguyen Saigon Hustle co-founders Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen.Photo by Al Torres

Perhaps even more importantly, this new location is the first since Ghaffar and Nguyen partnered with Savory Fund, a venture capital firm that’s invested in a diverse range of concepts including Austin-based Detroit-style pizzeria Via 313. Originally, Saigon Hustle received a $1 million investment; since then, Savory has committed to helping it grow to as many as 40 units in Texas and the Midwest, Ghaffar and Nguyen say.

“Being a business person, this was the vision from day one. This [investment] has manifested the route we were aiming toward,” Ghaffar adds. “We’re very fortunate Savory believed in us and is helping us create a legacy for our families.”

Saigon Hustle will celebrate its opening with buy-one-get-one free banh mi sandwiches from 10 am - 3 pm on Thursday. Beginning Friday, October 11, it will open daily at 10 am.

news-you-can-eat openings spring branch