Locally Minded

Convivial Canadian sports bar sets opening date for new Woodlands pub

A growing sports bar and restaurant chain will soon make its Houston-area debut. Local Public Eatery will open at Market Street in The Woodlands on August 21.

Located in the former La Madeleine space (9595 Six Pines Dr., Ste 200), Local Public Eatery is owned by the same Canada-based hospitality group behind Joey Uptown, the casual, globally-inspired restaurant that opened at the Galleria in 2021. Founded in 2009, Local Public Eatery has 16 locations across Canada and two in America — one in Seattle and another in Dallas that opened last year.

"We're beyond excited to join The Woodlands community and bring the Local Public Eatery experience to our new neighbors," regional chef Oliver Lewis said in a statement. "Our team has fallen in love with this neighborhood, and we can't wait to create unexpectedly memorable experiences and new opportunities for the people of The Woodlands."

Known for its convivial atmosphere, Local Public Eatery serves what could broadly be considered modern comfort food. The menu includes everything from wings and nachos to burgers, steaks, a poke bowl, and thin crust pizzas. Weekend brunch includes a Dutch baby pancake, pork hash, and eggs Benedict.

LPE’s extensive beverage offerings start with draft beers. It also serves a range of cocktails, including a few different margaritas, along with highballs, martinis, and more. Wines and non-alcoholic options are also available.

Renovations to the 5,100-square-foot interior include Texas pine walls, vintage lighting, and “cozy area rugs,” according to a release. The 2,000-square-foot patio will feature a retractable roof with heaters and fans to keep it comfortable all year long. Flatscreen TVs are installed throughout the restaurant to allow fans to keep up with their favorite teams.

Prior to the opening, LPE intends to hire more than 100 people in all positions, including managers, cooks, servers, and more. A hiring event will be held at The Woodlands Mall on July 26 from 11 am-7 pm at stall 6520 near Kokee Tea. More information on the available positions is available here.

Local Public Eatery The Woodlands rendering

Courtesy of Local Public Eatery

Local Public Eatery will open August 21.

news-you-can-eat openings the-woodlands

truffle shuffle

Fine dining chef serves up casual sandwich shop in Houston suburb

Photo by Hungry AF Media

Richmond may not be top of mind among the Houston suburbs with destination-worthy restaurants — other than Larry’s Original Mexican, of course — but a new cafe could have sandwich lovers from across greater Houston contemplating a visit to Fort Bend County.

Meet Truffle & Rye Market & Café. The new restaurant, which celebrated its grand opening earlier this month, serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Saturday. In the morning, look for freshly baked pastries such as muffins and banana bread alongside breakfast sandwiches that are made with organic sourdough bagels.

Lunch is built around sandwiches made with freshly baked schiacciata bread, an Italian-style flatbread that’s similar to focaccia, that Truffle & Rye sources from Houston's Artisan Bread Gallery. They include The Pig (mortadella, stracciatella, pistachio, pesto, and pistachio crumble), The Boar (spicy salami, whipped ricotta cheese, Italian pepper spread, and arugula), and The Bird (roasted turkey, basil pesto, provolone, roasted tomato, and arugula). Three salads are also available.

Beverage options include a full coffee program, including lattes made with Mill-King milk and house made syrups, as well as teas, lemonade, and bottles of wine.

Truffle and Rye restaurant Kaitlyn Chavez and Joey Chavez Truffle and Rye owners Kaitlyn and Joey Chavez.Courtesy of Truffle & Rye Market & Café

Photo by Hungry AF Media

The Bird is made with turkey, pesto, provolone, and roasted tomatoes.

Chef Joey Chavez and his wife Kaitlyn are the husband-and-wife duo behind Truffle & Rye. Prior to launching his private chef company The Hidden Truffle, chef Chavez worked at a number of notable restaurants, including The French Laundry, Thomas Keller’s legendary, three-star Michelin fine dining restaurant in California; the Caribou Club in Aspen; and Brennan’s of Houston, where he had a brief stint as executive chef. Kaitlyn Chavez also brings top-level hospitality experience, having worked for The Ritz Carlton luxury hotel chain.

“We built The Hidden Truffle around private dining and elevated experiences,” Kaitlyn shares. “But we kept coming back to the idea of wanting something for our community, somewhere people could come in regularly, feel taken care of, and enjoy food that still holds that same level of quality.”

While the restaurant won’t serve dinner daily, it will be open on select nights for wine tastings, sourdough classes, pop-up dinners, and other happenings.

Although he has a fine dining background, chef Chavez said he’s excited to bring this more casual concept to Richmond. “We wanted to build something we would want to go to ourselves,” he said. “A place where the food is intentional, the ingredients matter, and people feel comfortable coming in multiple times a week.”

Truffle & Rye is located in Richmond at 107 S. Third Street. It opens at 7 am Monday-Thursday and 8 am on Friday and Saturday.

news-you-can-eat openings