a new leaf

Healthy-eating Houston restaurant set to open fresh 4th locale in Tanglewood

A Houston-based restaurant devoted to healthy eating will soon open a new location. Leaf & Grain has claimed the former Zoës Kitchen space (5779 San Felipe St.) on the border of Tanglewood and Briargrove for its fourth outpost that’s scheduled to open in early 2024.

Founded in 2016, Leaf & Grain servers salads, bowls, and sandwiches. Diners may build their own from a range of toppings that include six vegetable or grain bases, 19 standard toppings, 20 premium toppings, and 14 dressings. Preset choices include staples such as a Caesar salad and lemon-caper salmon bowl. Seasonal specials add variety and freshness to the menu.

Leaf & Grain introduced sandwiches earlier this year. They include a turkey-avocado club on housemade sourdough, chicken pesto on ciabatta, and chicken salad with candied jalapeño.

The restaurant opened its first location in the Shops at Houston Center in 2017. In 2021, it opened its first location outside of downtown in West University Place.

That store will serve as a model for the Tanglewood restaurant. Houston’s Gin Design Group will create the interior for the almost 3,000-square-foot space. It’s a neighborhood Leaf & Grain co-founder Deets Hoffman knows well.

"We are really excited about this location,” Hoffman said in a statement. “I grew up playing Post Oak Little League and spent a lot of my childhood in this area, so this is definitely a special one. We cannot wait to serve the Briargrove-Tanglewood community.”

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

Leaf and Grain was founded in 2016.

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Membership has privileges

Sophisticated new sports bar brings VIP perks to Uptown Park

Courtesy of Uptown Sporting Club

Uptown Sporting Club will open in late May.

Two Houston hospitality veterans are teaming up to bring a sophisticated new sports bar and cocktail lounge. The Uptown Sporting Club is on track to open in late May.

Located in the Uptown Park shopping center, Uptown Sporting Club is the latest project from restaurateurs Daniel Chang (Uptown Sushi, Sushi Rebel) and Roveen Abante (Sushi Rebel, Conservatory Galleria, Burger Chan). The duo previously operated Duchess, a globally-inspired steak-and-seafood restaurant that previously operated in the space (1131 Uptown Park Blvd).

“Uptown Sporting Club is designed to be more than a bar — it’s a social experience,” Abante said in a statement. “From kickoff to last call, we’re creating a place where every moment feels like a celebration, win or lose.”

As part of creating that social experience, Uptown Sporting Club will offer different experiences throughout the day. At happy hour, it will operate as a typical, upscale sports bar with TVs showing all of the night’s games. Later in the evening and on weekends, it will feel more like a nightclub, with DJs, bottle service, and state-of-the-art LED lighting and sound.

Sports fan will be able to watch major events from around the world, including NFL, NBA, MLB, Premier League, UFC, boxing, and, of course, the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Designers Dawn Arcieri and Monique Luening of Sparrow Studio have created a space that will feature tufted leather seating, wood finishes, and polished brass. As seen in the renderings above, its decor will nod to the sports world with memorabilia and framed photos of famous athletes.

The concept will also offer a VIP membership program. Perks include private liquor lockers, discounts on food and drinks, priority reservations, and members-only events such as liquor tastings. Details on how to join and pricing will be announced in the coming weeks.

Abante tells CultureMap that the menu will feature an upgraded, globally-inspired take on bar food. Expect dishes such as Korean Buffalo chicken tenders and other flavors, brisket nachos, mezze platter, charcuterie boards, flatbreads, a wagyu smash burger, steak frites, and, for dessert, tempura-fried Twinkies.

Courtesy of Uptown Sporting Club

Uptown Sporting Club will open in late May.

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