fly, sparrow, fly

London-based Italian steakhouse lands in new Houston mixed-use project

The owners of Toca Madera are bringing an Italian steakhouse to the Galleria area’s newest mixed-use development. Sparrow Italia is coming to Houston.

The new restaurant will join The Henry, a neighborhood restaurant from Flower Child owners Fox Restaurant Concepts, at Central Park Post Oak, a 17-acre mixed-use development located at 2000 Post Oak Blvd. The approximately 6,700-square-foot steakhouse will include a main dining room, a bar area, an outdoor patio, and a private dining room.

As it names implies, Sparrow Italia serves a wide-ranging menu of Italian-inspired fare that includes hot and cold shareable items, salads, pizzas, pastas, and steaks. Highlights include a Calabrian-rubbed New York strip steak, a 34-ounce Prime Fiorentina, wagyu carpaccio, an on-trend spicy rigatoni, and the B.I.G. Meatball, made with a half-pound of A5 wagyu, according to press materials.

Sparrow’s cocktail menu takes inspiration from Italian ingredients and Italian-American flavors. They include the C.R.E.A.M., a clarified milk punch made with basil and tomato juice, mozzarella, tomato, and balsamic crème; and the The O.D.B., a vodka martini infused with Calabrian chilis, housemade spicy pickle brine, Cocchi Americano, and chili oil.

Noble 33 opened the first Sparrow in London’s Mayfair neighborhood in 2022, followed by an outpost in Miami’s Wynwood area in 2024. In addition to Toca Madera, a lively, Mexican-inspired steakhouse that opened last year next to the Thompson Hotel, Noble 33 plans to open Meduza Mediterrania above Toca Madera at some point in 2026, a representative tells CultureMap.

“We’re on track for Houston to become a vital part of the Noble 33 restaurant portfolio,” Noble 33 CEO and co-founder Mikey Tanha said in a statement. “The city’s vibrant culinary scene, dynamic culture, and community engagement make it an exciting market for us to grow and connect with — and the perfect next location for Sparrow Italia.”

Announced earlier this year, Central Park Post Oak will consist of three buildings with a combined 1.2 million square feet of office space separated by a three-acre lawn. Sparrow Italia will be located in one of two new buildings currently under construction. Houston-based real estate development firm Midway, working with real estate investment firms 3Edgewood and Parkway, is developing the property. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2026 with the restaurants openings to follow.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sparrow Italia to Central Park Post Oak,” Midway executive vice president Clayton Freels said. “Sparrow Italia’s globally minded culinary program and design-forward experience are a perfect fit for our vision: a dynamic, walkable destination on Post Oak Boulevard that brings together best-in-class dining, retail, and office in a single, connected campus.”

Photo by James Livingston

The B.I.G. Meatball is made with a half-pound of A5 wagyu.

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Montrose restaurant switcheroo

Soon-to-shutter Houston margarita bar will transform into new Latin eatery

Photo by Joel Ramirez

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The owners of Bari Ristorante are opening a new restaurant in Montrose’s dining-oriented Harlow District. Exilio Latin Flair will be the latest project from the trio of Pedro Teyuca, Tommy Nally, and Renato De Pirro, who also acquired Houston steakhouse Georgia James in 2024.

Coming later this year to the Verde Garden space, Exilio will serve dishes inspired by the cuisines of Central America, Latin America, South America, and Spain. That could include everything from Peruvian ceviches to Argentinian steaks and Spanish-style tapas. It will pair those dishes with New World wines from South America as well as select vintages from Spain.

"Our food 'language' is romance and having a restaurant that serves Latin food is a good marriage," Teyuca and Nally write in an email. "Latin food comes with rich back stories, heritage ingredients, and a passionate soul. It's easy to see why we are excited to bring Exilio to Houston diners."

Exilio will be open daily for lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.

Exilio Latin Flair restaurant rendering A rendering previews Exilio Latin Flair.Rendering courtesy of Castroparedes International, Inc.

Designer Carlos Castroparedes, who also created the distinctive look of Bari Ristorante, will take the lead in transforming Verde Garden into Exilio.

Prior to opening Exilio, the partners will unveil a second location of Bari in the former Tris space in The Woodlands Waterway district. In addition to the Italian cuisine served at Bari’s original location in River Oaks District, The Woodlands’ location will offer an expanded menu of steaks.

The Kirby Group (Heights Bier Garten, Pitch 25) opened Verde Garden in 2023. Scheduled to close this Saturday, January 17, the Mexican-inspired concept featured a menu of Tex-Mex favorites and blended-to-order frozen cocktails.

“Verde was a special place for us, and we’re proud of what it became and the community around it,” Kirby Group co-owner Andy Aweida said in a statement. “While this location is closing, the brand isn’t going away. This decision allows us to focus on what’s next, and we’re excited about the future of Verde. We’re also pleased that another concept will be taking over the space, further adding to the energy and making Harlow District an even more desirable destination.”

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