Fired Up

Western-inspired, family-friendly restaurant now open near the Heights

A new family-friendly restaurant has opened near the Heights. Long Weekend boasts a number of amenities, including an expansive menu, plenty of outdoor seating, and Houston’s largest outdoor play area, according to the restaurant.

Located in the former King’s Bierhaus and Egghaus spaces in Lazybrook/Timbergrove, Long Weekend takes its inspiration from owner Andrew Alvis’ family ranch. With 8,000 square feet of interior space and a massive, 20,000-square-foot outdoor dining area and patio, Long Weekend offers a number of amenities, including:

Long Weekend Café, a breakfast and lunch concept that serves dishes such as tacos, pancakes, and breakfast sandwiches paired with coffee, espresso, matcha, and more
Creative Canyon, a kids arts-and-crafts area within Long Weekend Café
The Yard, an outdoor area with a stream, picnic tables, fire pits, and TVs
Outdoor Play Area, a Western-themed playground with slides, climbing structures, and open greenspace.

Other interior details leather seating, canvas accents, and rustic furniture. A picture from the Aldis family ranch inspired the dining room’s custom hide art installation. Musicians will perform on an outdoor stage.

Turning to food, veteran Houston chef German Mosquera (Wild, Brasil, La Colombe d'Or, etc.) created Long Weekend’s menu. True to its Western theme, many of Long Weekend’s dishes are cooked using wood fire on either the restaurant’s custom-made grill and smoker or its pizza oven. Options include an elk burger, chicken fried wagyu steak, rotisserie chicken, quail and bacon jalapeno poppers, and more. Groups may opt for the Cowboy Cookout, a $240 platter that includes rolls, queso, caviar potatoes, quail poppers, a Texas wagyu tomahawk steak, and two vegetable sides.

“We built Long Weekend around the idea of bringing people together the way the ranching lifestyle always has — great food, drinks, music, and time with family and friends,” owners Paige and Andrew Alvis said in a statement. “Everything is centered around hearty, wood-fired meals, modern cocktails, and a relaxed country-western setting that feels welcoming to everyone.”

Long Weekend (2044 E. TC Jester) opens daily at 11 am for lunch and dinner. Its companion cafe opens at 7 am Monday-Friday and 8 am on Saturday and Sunday.

Photo by Marco Wang

Meals are cooked on this wood burning grill, hearth, and smoker.

news-you-can-eat openings

Smoke on the Thames

2 Michelin-starred Texas barbecue joints fire up monthlong London pop-up

InterStellar and La Barbecue at The Ned London

The Ned London/thened.com

Even in Austin's home scene, these restaurants are considered the cream of the crop. Abroad, this is an extra special treat.

Two of Texas' best barbecue joints are are firing up their smokers in London. Austin-based InterStellar and La Barbecue are in residence for one month a London hotel called The Ned.

Service started on September 4, and guests have until October 4 to see what great barbecue tastes like on the other side of the pond.

Each restaurant sent its best representative: John Bates of InterStellar BBQ and Ali Clem of La Barbecue, the two pitmasters who led them to barbecue's first Michelin stars. Both are somewhat traditional with a few signature twists, making them a good match beyond their similar levels of prestige.

Proteins on the menu include pork ribs, pulled lamb shoulder, chopped cheese sausage, and InterStellar's famous peach tea pork belly burnt ends. Brisket will be available as an add-on. The team is also cooking up sides and pairing the bites with cocktails made for the occasion by Jack Daniels.

The exclusive sharing tray is available for $75 per person, with a minimum of two people per reservation ($150). A 14.5 percent service gratuity is also being added.

Many barbecue fans understand that a smoker plays a huge part in the final product, and being away from home could dramatically change the cooking process. An Instagram post explains (and seems to lightly promote) that the pitmasters are using Ironbrand smokers, which are custom-made in the United Kingdom.

The residency is happening at Electric Bar & Diner, The Ned's all-day American diner. The 248-room hotel is located in Poultry, on the north side of the River Thames near St. Paul's Cathedral. It is also very near to the Bank Station, a connecting station for four rail routes, making it easy to get to from many parts of London.

Booking is already going fast, so guests who want to snag a space should commit soon.

barbecue international michelin michelin guide pitmasters pop-ups travel