shocking montrose shutter

Beloved Houston Italian restaurant will close after 27 years in Montrose

Paulie's will close December 31.

Paulie's Restaurant Facebook

One of Montrose’s most beloved restaurants will soon serve its last meal. Italian-American restaurant Paulie’s and its companion wine bar Camerata will close on December 31.

In a statement, Paulie’s owner Paul Petronella writes that he was unable to come to terms on a lease renewal with the building’s landlord. Therefore, both businesses will operate as normal until the closing day.

“We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our customers, staff, and suppliers who have been part of our journey,” the statement reads in part. “Each of you has played a significant role in making Paulie's and Camerata such special places, and we will forever cherish the relationships built and the moments shared. While this chapter is closing, the memories we created together will last a lifetime.”

Perhaps no establishment in Houston better defines what it means to be a “neighborhood restaurant” than Paulie’s. Open since 1998 at 1834 Westheimer, the restaurant serves pizza, pasta, panini, salads, and more for lunch and dinner six days per week — all served in generous portions for very reasonable prices. Its iconic decorated shortbread cookies have been a key component of celebrations across Houston. The restaurant has won the 2018 CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Neighborhood Restaurant of the Year and has been nominated in the category numerous other times.

Paulie’s has also played a key role in nurturing Houston’s culinary community by hosting pop-ups for everyone from Felipe Riccio (now the chef-partner for Michelin-starred March) to Ronnie Killen, Guard & Grace, and countless others.

Camerata interior Camerata has been open since 2013. Courtesy of Camerata

Open since 2013, Camerata has played a similarly essential role in the life of its neighborhood by hosting any number of date nights, happy hours, and late night rendezvous. It’s also served as a training ground for Houston sommeliers who have fanned out across the city to share their knowledge with oenophiles.

Petronella adds that he has no plans to find a new location for either business. Instead, he plans to devote himself to a new venture. Between now and then, he invites fans of both businesses to stop by for a final meal or two.

“I’ve worked in this building for more than half of my life. I grew up here, I learned here and I loved it here,” Petronella adds. “Our family dedicated our lives to make it the best that we could. No regrets. I could not be more proud of our staff over the years and humbled by our very loyal and loving guests.”

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Mutiny on the White Oak

Staple Heights wine bar and restaurant will shutter after 6 years

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Mutiny will close on January 31.

A wine bar and restaurant in the Heights is coming to the end of a six-year run. Mutiny in the Heights will close on January 31.

In an email to the restaurant’s supporters, co-owner Mark Ellenberger writes that rising costs for ingredients, insurance, and labor contributed to the decision to close Mutiny. “The closing is driven by increased costs and the traffic just did not sustain the operation,” he writes in response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision.

He also thanked Mutiny’s customers for their support. “You weren’t just customers. You were the familiar faces who stopped in after work, the couples who always sat at the same table, the friends who brought visiting family ‘to their spot.’ You celebrated birthdays here, toasted milestones, celebrated wedding receptions, had first dates, and made this place feel alive.”

Ellenberg and his wife Emily Trout opened Mutiny Wine Room in January 2020 as a companion to Kagan Cellars, their award-winning winery. It featured selection from boutique wineries that produced between 500 and 5,000 cases per year. Patrons could sample more than 30 by-the-glass options along with an extensive selection of bottles.

Food has always been part of Mutiny’s offerings. Originally, the restaurant served California cuisine, but last year it changed its name to Mutiny in the Heights and adopted a more family-friendly menu that includes a burger, meatballs, and steak frites.

Between now and January 31, Ellenberger writes that Mutiny will run specials for up to 50-percent off wines for both dine-in and to-go. Details about an anniversary/farewell on January 22 will be shared on social media.

As for the future, Ellenberger explains that he’ll continue to focus on Kagan Cellars, including launching a wine club. “We will also keep our hand in the hospitality sector through our investment in Stella Kenwood in Sonoma, CA.”

Elsewhere in the Heights, The Kid, a craft beer and burger concept from the owners of The Flying Saucer, quietly closed at the end of the year, Chron reports. Earlier this week, Rocket Farm Restaurants announced it will replace it’s Tex-Mex restaurant Superica with a casual steakhouse called Star Rover.

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