bang a drum

Diverse pan-Asian casual restaurant drums up long-awaited first Houston opening on WashAve

The almost two-year wait for an Atlanta-based pan-Asian restaurant to make its Houston debut has come to an end. Tin Drum Asian Kitchen is now open daily for lunch and dinner.

Photo by Becca Wright

Tin Drum Asian Kitchen serves a menu of familiar pan-Asian fare.

Located just off Washington Avenue in The Vic at The Interpose mixed-use development (1111 Shepherd Dr.), Tin Drum’s menu consists of familiar dishes from continental Asia that includes Chinese, Sichuan, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, and Korean cuisines. Founder Steven Chan took inspiration from restaurants he encountered as a child who grew up in Hong Kong.

Meals at the fast-casual restaurant could begin with tempura cauliflower, chicken lettuce wraps, or crab and cheese rolls — all of which can be combined into a “Bo Bo Platter” with fries. Wings are served with one of nine sauces.

Bowl-style entrees include pad thai, Chinatown lo mein, tikka masala, and Thai fried rice. Tin Drum also serves ramen, salads, and fried chicken sandwiches.

Diners can pair their meals with Asian-inspired sips such as boba tea and Vietnamese coffee. A grab-and-go "mini mart" offers a range of snacks, candy, and sauces from different Asian countries.

“As a longtime admirer of Houston, it’s a privilege to bring Tin Drum to this world-class city,” Chan said in a statement. “The food scene here is authentic and genuine. The people are fantastic and inclusive of all walks of life and cuisines. You can see why so many are drawn here. What an incredible patch-work quilt of cultures and personalities. Our Houston partners Shairoz and Avez Maredia first experienced Tin Drum as college students in Atlanta and are very excited to share the food with their friends and family.”

Speaking of Atlanta, Tin Drum has been highly successful in its hometown, growing to 12 locations in 20 years. For Houston, the restaurant will start small with a 50-seat dining room that’s supplemented by an outdoor patio. It opens daily at 11 am.

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all day and all of the night

Pizzeria owner opens new all-day poolside bar and restaurant at Heights hotel

Photo by Antony Guerrero

Come for chilaquiles or a chicken milanese torta.

A hotel in the Heights has refreshed its poolside bar. Soluna is now open from morning until late night at the Heights House Hotel.

Opened last week, Soluna replaces Space Cowboy, which opened in 2021. The new name, a combination of the Spanish words for “sun” and “moon,” also indicates new management, with Betelgeuse Betelgeuse owner Chris Cusack stepping in to oversee the concept.

Intended to serve both hotel guests and visitors — day passes to the pool are available for purchase — Soluna opens daily at 9 am with breakfast tacos such as steak and egg and a breakfast burrito (scrambled eggs, bacon, smashed potatoes, refried black beans, oaxaca cheese, pico de gallo). Weekend brunch adds chilaquiles.

The all-day menu starts with tacos such as fried oyster mushrooms, al pastor, and tilapia seasoned with a “Chili-Cajun spice rub.” Shareables include smashed and fried potatoes with jalapeno ranch, chicharrones and queso, and wings al pastor. Keeping with the casual theme, the menu rounds out with sandwiches such as a chicken milanese torta, a cheeseburger, and a Cuban.

Pair them with cocktails such as the Miami Vice (a frozen strawberry daiquiri), an espresso martini, a spritz, and, of course, margaritas (both frozen and on the rocks). Non-alcoholic options include a full coffee program, juices, sodas, and teas.

“Soluna is a quintessential neighborhood bar that caters to hotel guests and non-hotel guests who are looking for a great spot to enjoy some amazing food and drinks,” Cusack said in a statement. “The team has put a lot of hard work into our menu and we can’t wait for folks to come visit, try out some of our mouthwatering creations, and make us their weekly stop for delicious bites and cocktails.”

Photo by Antony Guerrero

Come for chilaquiles or a chicken milanese torta.

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