Frightfully Fun

Scary-good celebrations rise at 2 hauntingly delicious Houston restaurants

Rumor has it that Texas is one of the most Halloween-obsessed states in the nation, so naturally two of Houston's hottest restaurants have spine-tingling events lined up for All Hallow's Eve.

Following in the bony footsteps of its Cena Negra honoring Dia de los Muertos, Flora Mexican Kitchen is now hosting an all-day celebration of spookiness on Saturday, October 26.

Flora Mexican Kitchen Cena Negra Expect this same level of commitment from guests at Flora Mexican Kitchen this year. Photo by Leah Wilson Photography

It begins with brunch from 10 am-3 pm, accompanied by the enchanting melodies of a live Spanish guitarist to set the mood.

Brunch bites include crunchy chilaquiles, frutas del mar for seafood lovers, and traditional-with-a-twist huevos rancheros. Delectable sunrise sips include a brunch-exclusive hibiscus margarita, a salty oyster shooter, and The Flores: a frozen margarita elevated with fresh-pressed cucumber juice and muddled jalapeños.

The evening brings a special $55 three-course tasting menu featuring the bold, vibrant flavors of the season (alongside the all-day menu). Curated by culinary director Mate Zorrilla, the first course is your choice of huauzontles or lobster quesadilla, beef tenderloin or sea bass pibil, for the main, and pumpkin cheesecake or chocolate semi-freddo for dessert.

Flora Mexican Kitchen Cena Negra A scene from last year's Cena Negra. Photo by Leah Wilson Photography

This is also your chance to try the Big Vibe Group Reserva de la Familia Añejo. Aged in a private Colombian oak cask, it's perfect for sipping.

Once you arrive in costume, grab a complimentary welcome cocktail provided by Maestro Dobel Diamante and get swept away by live mariachi and dancers. Partygoers can also dance the night away in the courtyard until midnight, surrounded by an ofrenda and towering catrinas and enjoying the beats of a DJ, a face painter, a taco cart pop-up, and satellite bars for those looking to sip and mingle under the stars.

Flora Mexican Kitchen taco cart Eat tacos under the stars.Photo by Kirsten Gilliam Photography

If you can't find your preferred time slot online, call 713-360-6477 for reservations.

At Coppa Osteria, step into the eerie elegance of a Haunted Roman Feast on October 26, where you’ll be greeted with a complimentary glass of champagne when you arrive in costume.

Enjoy a spook-filled evening in the webbed-out dining room, and don't miss the specials of the week, featuring short ribs and the beloved persimmon crostata, and new menu offerings like Kaluga Huso Caviar for $50 paired with $5 martinis. Other chilling cuisine offerings include a roasted beet and goat cheese salad, tuna tartare broken arancini, truffle mushroom risotto, and veal milanese picatta.

Coppa Osteria caviar and martinis $50 caviar paired with $5 martinis — it's about balance. Photo by Kirsten Gilliam Photography

If you want to party hop, do so safely with a 15 percent discount on Alto rides to and from Big Vibe Group restaurants for the rest of the year. Just use the code TBVG15 to enjoy a worry-free night.

Keep the celebration going with brunch and live music the next morning at Flora, or head to Graffiti Kitchen and Bar for a more laid-back vibe.

Flora Mexican Kitchen huevos rancheros Huevos rancheros can cure a morning after.Photo by Kirsten Gilliam Photography

From 10 am-4 pm, treat yourself to ultimate hangover healers like The Cure, a golden chicken schnitzel topped with Coppa Osteria’s famous carbonara, or a chilaquiles omelette that captures the best of both worlds.

This evening of unforgettable ghoulish fun, delicious food, and lively entertainment promises two spooktacular Halloween events you won't want to miss. Check out all of The Big Vibe Group's offerings here.

Photo courtesy of Swizzle Media

Meet your dining companion.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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