cerveza garden

New Tex-Mex restaurant serving mucho margs marks first opening in Inner Loop's newest dining district

The Inner Loop’s new dining district welcomes its first bar next week. Verde Garden, the a Tex-Mex restaurant and beer garden from Heights Bier Garten owners the Kirby Group, will open April 25 at 1011 La Rue St.

Part of the Harlow District, the name given to the former Nino’s and Vincent’s property on West Dallas, Verde Garden will occupy the former Grappino di Nino space. In total, Verde Garden offers almost 9,000-square-feet of interior space and a more than 10,000-square-foot patio. It's the Kirby Group's second opening this year, joining Bayou Heights Bier Garten, a bar, restaurant, and bakery that opened in January.

"We are excited to open the first concept in the new Harlow District," Kirby Group co-founder Andy Aweida said in a statement. "We know Houstonians love Tex-Mex and beer gardens so we wanted to open a new concept with that in mind. Verde Garden is a great space to come enjoy made-to-order fresh or frozen margaritas while enjoying a meal or shareables."

Kirby Group beverage director Joel Ramirez’s cocktail menu starts with 12 frozen margaritas, 20 house cocktails, and 60 classics. Like other Kirby Group concepts, the house cocktails are divided into sections such as “Spirit Forward,” “Sour & Tart”, “Fruity & Sweet,” “Boozy Brunch,” “Refreshing & Spicy,” and “Refreshing & Balanced.” The classics menu includes favorites like the Mexican martini and paloma.

Patrons will find an extensive spirits selection that includes more than 250 agave-based sips and 750 selections from around the world such as vodka, bourbon, scotch, rum, and gin. A beer bar offers craft beer, wine, and draft highballs.

Kirby Group culinary director Teddy Lopez’s menu features dishes such as ceviches, enchiladas, and tacos. Specific dishes include red chili tinga enchiladas, green tomatillo and poblano mole enchiladas, chips and queso, and a torta Milanesa with a choice of crispy beef or chicken topped with avocado, lime crema, and refried beans. Vegetarian items are also available.

Verde Garden will be the Harlow District’s first concept, but it won’t be alone for long. In the months to come, the development will include: Boca, a coffee shop; Sala Social House, a cocktail lounge; and Katami, a sushi-forward restaurant from Kata Robata chef Manabu Horiuchi in the former Vincent’s space. More tenants, including a occupant for the former Nino’s space, are expected to be announced soon.

Photo by Joel Ramirez

The Elotero cocktail made with resposado tequila.

Harlow District cocktails openings tex-mex news-you-can-eat

Mutiny on the White Oak

Staple Heights wine bar and restaurant will shutter after 6 years

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Mutiny will close on January 31.

A wine bar and restaurant in the Heights is coming to the end of a six-year run. Mutiny in the Heights will close on January 31.

In an email to the restaurant’s supporters, co-owner Mark Ellenberger writes that rising costs for ingredients, insurance, and labor contributed to the decision to close Mutiny. “The closing is driven by increased costs and the traffic just did not sustain the operation,” he writes in response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the decision.

He also thanked Mutiny’s customers for their support. “You weren’t just customers. You were the familiar faces who stopped in after work, the couples who always sat at the same table, the friends who brought visiting family ‘to their spot.’ You celebrated birthdays here, toasted milestones, celebrated wedding receptions, had first dates, and made this place feel alive.”

Ellenberg and his wife Emily Trout opened Mutiny Wine Room in January 2020 as a companion to Kagan Cellars, their award-winning winery. It featured selection from boutique wineries that produced between 500 and 5,000 cases per year. Patrons could sample more than 30 by-the-glass options along with an extensive selection of bottles.

Food has always been part of Mutiny’s offerings. Originally, the restaurant served California cuisine, but last year it changed its name to Mutiny in the Heights and adopted a more family-friendly menu that includes a burger, meatballs, and steak frites.

Between now and January 31, Ellenberger writes that Mutiny will run specials for up to 50-percent off wines for both dine-in and to-go. Details about an anniversary/farewell on January 22 will be shared on social media.

As for the future, Ellenberger explains that he’ll continue to focus on Kagan Cellars, including launching a wine club. “We will also keep our hand in the hospitality sector through our investment in Stella Kenwood in Sonoma, CA.”

Elsewhere in the Heights, The Kid, a craft beer and burger concept from the owners of The Flying Saucer, quietly closed at the end of the year, Chron reports. Earlier this week, Rocket Farm Restaurants announced it will replace it’s Tex-Mex restaurant Superica with a casual steakhouse called Star Rover.

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