a big clucking deal

Posh, English-inspired restaurant serves up serves up all-brunch and afternoon tea in River Oaks District

Little Hen offers a stylish setting for brunch and tea.

Courtesy of Little Hen

A Florida-based brunch restaurant has opened in River Oaks District. Little Hen, a posh, English-inspired restaurant that serves breakfast and brunch items daily, offers a photogenic setting for decadent morning meals.

Located in the former East Hampton Sandwich Company space, the restaurant occupies approximately 2,700-square-feet with a 1,000-square-foot patio. Owner Enrique Altamirano has decorated the restaurant with a variety of elements that will look great on social media — floral prints, dark leather couches, chandeliers, and more.

Also contributing to the upscale atmosphere is the restaurant’s dress code. Described on the Little Hen website as “smart chic,” it prohibits all diners from wearing “tank tops, active wear, and beach wear” and men from wearing flip flops (“dress sandals” are an exception, the website notes).

The menu draws from a broad array of European, Mexican, and traditional American influences. Acai bowls and avocado toast start the morning off a lighter note. Egg dish run the gamut from six omelets to five Benedicts and Mexican-inspired dishes such as the restaurant’s takes on huevos rancheros and huevos divorciados.

Those seeking carbs have a range of pancakes, French toasts, and waffle options to choose from, including the signature Rose Petal Pancakes that are served with rose water-infused maple syrup. At lunch, look for sandwiches such as a BLT and a burger along with tacos, a crab cake, and steak.

Little Hen rose petal pancakes Little Hen's signature rose petal panckesCourtesy of Little Hen

English-style tea service is available all day. Presented on a three-tiered stand, it consists of petit fours, French macarons, mini sandwiches, and scones paired with choice of tea — house blend, Chamomile, Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Jasmine Cloud, Meng Ding Green Tea, and Santana. Add a glass of prosecco or champagne for an additional cost.

“We’re thrilled to be expanding Little Hen into Houston, which, until now, hasn’t been home to an elevated breakfast boutique,” Altamirano said in a statement. “We’re incredibly excited about introducing Houstonians to our brand and our unique style and look forward to bringing a delicious and beautiful space to Houston where breakfast and brunch is not only for the weekends, but a daily experience.”

openings brunch news-you-can-eat

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

a big clucking deal

Posh, English-inspired restaurant serves up serves up all-brunch and afternoon tea in River Oaks District

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BOGO Banh Mi

Houston Vietnamese restaurant rolls out new Spring Branch outpost

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