HOB VIP

This restaurant is a Houston hidden gem — and you'll never guess where to find it

Tucked away in the Central Business District, hidden behind an unassuming door on Dallas Street, there is a restaurant just waiting to be found by those in the know.

Those seeking high-energy concerts already flock to House of Blues for top-flight entertainment, but only true VIPs know that an equally exciting experience is waiting for them in the Foundation Room.

Yes, there is a yearly membership you can obtain that offers such perks as exclusive ticket pre-sales, members-only backstage tours, and complimentary parking, but everyone is welcome to make an RSVP and dine in luxury at the Foundation Room before or after a concert.

If you're coming with a group, order several rounds of tapas-style bites for the table, such as truffle fries, juicy steak skewers, ahi wonton tacos, and an impressive charcuterie and cheese board.

If your night out is a bit more intimate, you can opt for black sesame cod in a beurre blanc sauce, an 11 oz. NY strip, clam and oyster mushroom pasta, or a staggering 36 oz. smoked Tomahawk.

Burgers, salads, and — of course — several sweets round out the food menu, but don't forget about the beer, wine by the glass, and specialty cocktails like the Cucumber Zen and Good Karma Margarita.

It's simple to make a reservation online, and you'll feel like a celebrity ducking into the speakeasy-type door just around the corner from the House of Blues main entrance. You might just be mistaken for the evening's headliner.

Photo by Quit Nguyen

Impress the table with a 36 oz. Tomahawk steak.

concerts dinner music promoted

two days of bbq

2 Michelin-rated barbecue joints holding can't-miss pop ups in Houston

Courtesy of KG BBQ

KG BBQ is bringing its Egyptian-influenced barbecue to Houston.

Two of the Texas barbecue joints to earn Bib Gourmand recognition in the Michelin Guide will be holding pop ups in Houston this week. One is visiting from Austin, while another is a Spring favorite with a one-day-only menu.

On Saturday, December 14, Austin’s celebrated KG BBQ will be serving at Axelrad in Midtown. Part of Texas Monthly’s 2023 list of the Top 25 New and Improved BBQ Joints in Texas, KG BBQ has earned wide acclaim for pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh’s Egyptian-influenced take on Texas barbecue.

The menu will include many of KG’s most popular dishes, including brisket rice bowls with smoked Mediterranean rice; smoked lamb chops; sumac-and-cinnamon-rubbed lamb shoulder, and sides such as pink buttermilk potato salad and Baladi salad.

Service begins at 10:30 am. Preorders are available online with a minimum order of $60.

In a statement, Axelrad co-owners Adam Brackman and Monte Large say that KG will make more visits to Houston in 2025. El-Ghayesh adds that he’s a fan of the Houston bar that’s known for its spacious backyard with hammocks, a stage, and a wide-ranging menu of beer and cocktails.

“Since the moment I stepped foot in Axelrad, I loved their culture, their vibrant colors and artistic flare, their attention to detail and hospitality and love for entertainment makes this place perfect for bringing back my nostalgic memories of hosting pop-ups like how I started in Austin,” he said. “I’m proud to bring what I have created to Houston. From how diverse the city is, its beautiful variety of ethnic foods, and large Egyptian community, it has so much to offer. We are excited to serve up some Egyptian BBQ to the Houston community through our pop ups over the next year at Axelrad.”

On Sunday, Spring’s Rosemeyer Bar-B-Q will trade its usual offerings for a special menu of dishes made with smoked whole hog. The menu will include whole hog plates, whole hog sandwiches, whole hog-and-parmesan polenta cakes, and whole hog served over cheese grits with a New Orleans-style barbecue sauce as well as sides and desserts. Service will run from 11 am until everything sells out, likely sometime between 2 and 3 pm.

“The whole menu is filled with specials and cool items we don’t do everyday at the stand,” co-owner Jordan Rosemeyer writes in an email. The motive, beyond exercising some creative muscles, is to raise money for Hogs for the Cause, an annual event that raises money for pediatric brain cancer research and the families who are fighting it.

Like KG, Rosemeyer is also a member of Texas Monthly’s 2023 new and improved list. Located at 2111 Riley Fuzzel Rd., the humble trailer has earned acclaim for its weekly specials, housemade ice cream, and well executed barbecue staples.

news-you-can-eat barbecue pop ups kg bbq rosemeyer bar-b-q