the sylvie switcheroo

Loch Bar owner takes over downtown tower's cafe, adds Japanese eatery

Atlas Restaurants has taken over operations at The Sylvie.

Downtown Houston will soon welcome a new, upscale Japanese restaurant. When it opens later this year, Kannon will be the newest Houston concept from Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group.

Located in downtown’s Texas Tower, Kannon will be a Japanese fine dining restaurant. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will seat 200 diners, including a 70-seat patio. Atlas Concept Chef Timur Fazilov will create the menu of elevated Japanese fare, including a robata grill and dry-aged fish.

That may sound familiar, since it’s very similar to Azumi, Atlas’ upscale Japanese restaurant in River Oaks District that opened in 2024 and also features a menu by Fazilov. Atlas president and CEO Alex Smith acknowledges the two restaurants will have similar menus, but he tells CultureMap that Kannon will have a different “design and feel” than Azumi.

Along with opening Kannon, Atlas has also taken over operations at The Sylvie, the Texas Tower’s European-inspired all-day cafe. Fans of the concept can take comfort in knowing that Atlas does not plan any major changes to the restaurant’s existing menu.

Atlas also operates Loch Bar, an East Coast-style seafood tavern in River Oaks District, and Marmo, an Italian steakhouse in the Montrose Collective.

“We opened our first concept in Houston in 2019 and have loved getting to know the River Oaks and Montrose Collective communities. We’re eager to expand into Downtown Houston with The Sylvie and Kannon, and are thrilled to partner with Texas Tower,” Smith added in a statement.

It has been a bit of a journey to bring an upscale restaurant to the Texas Tower, the 47-story high-rise on the site of the former Houston Chronicle headquarters. In 2021, Chicago's What If Syndicate hospitality group announced plans to bring its Italian concept Etta to the property, but those plans fell through.

Then, Berg Hospitality opened The Sylvie in 2024. At the time, the company, which is known for restaurants such as B&B Butchers, Trattoria Sofia, and Turner’s, also planned to open Dune Road, a New England-inspired seafood restaurant in the space that had been slated for Etta, but the restaurant was quietly shelved. Berg still operates Real Agave at 1100 Louisiana.

A represented for Berg Hospitality declined to comment on the company’s decision to exit The Sylvie.

news-you-can-eat openings downtown

tales from the pits

Skip the line at hot Heights barbecue joint via VIP 'experience'

Terry Black's Barbecue/ Facebook

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Houstonians have embraced Terry Black’s Barbecue. Since the Michelin-recommended, Austin-based barbecue joint opened its Houston location in August, fans have been lining up for its signature Central Texas-style smoked meats.

Now, the restaurant is giving customers an opportunity to get an up close look at its operations — and skip the line — for a price.

Called the Terry Black’s Experience, the offering is a one-hour tour that begins with a behind the scenes tour of the restaurant’s smokehouse, which is powered by six, 1,000-gallon, offset smokers. Participants will then dine on a full spread of meats, sides, desserts, and drinks at a reserved table. Priced at $150 per person, the reservation-only experience is available to book via OpenTable.

“For the Terry Black’s Experience, we wanted to create something that feels authentic to our roots and provide guests an opportunity to go beyond the main dining room and see firsthand the craftsmanship, care, flavor, and consistency that goes into our barbecue,” general manager Jon Ramirez said in a statement. “Whether it’s a date night, a group outing, or a chance to show out-of-town visitors what Texas barbecue is all about, we’re excited to give people a memorable experience that brings them closer to what makes Terry Black’s special.”

Those who splurge on the Terry Black’s Experience will dine on a generous spread of Terry Black’s full offerings, including beef brisket, “dino” beef ribs, pork ribs, turkey, house-made sausages, and chopped beef — all of which are cut order, naturally. They’re paired with sides, including macaroni and cheese, green beans, cream corn, pinto beans, potato salad, coleslaw, Mexican rice, and cornbread muffins. Diners also get their choice of dessert and drinks, including wine, beer, and the signature black frozen margarita.

Touted by Texas Monthly as “the most impressive barbecue chain in Texas,” siblings Christina, Mike, and Mark Black founded Terry Black’s in Austin in 2014. Since then, the company has grown to seven locations statewide, with a San Antonio restaurant expected to open before the end of 2026.

The Houston location will eventually include a boutique hotel, steakhouse, and bathhouse, Mike Black told CultureMap. Details about those plans will be shared at a later time.

Courtesy of Terry Black's Barbecue

Go behind the scenes of Terry Black's with a VIP experience.

news-you-can-eat barbecue terry black's barbecue