Sweet Success

Beloved Houston-area online bakery rises with new brick-and-mortar location

Fans of Water Oak House's tasty cakes and pies: rejoice. Formerly only available online, the business is set to open a brick-and-mortar location this April in the Baybrook Passage Shopping Center at at 19435 W. Bay Area Blvd. in Webster.

The 3,000-plus-square-foot location is directly across from the Baybrook Mall, according to the company.

Water Oak House Bakey/Facebook

Fans can get items like this at the new store.

Owner Dena Baughman is no stranger to entrepreneurial efforts. Prior to Water Oak House, she ran the successful brick-and-mortar Dena's Bakery, a tea room in Baytown, as well as home catering company, Dinner Any Thyme. Water Oak House launched in 2014.

The new locale will feature longtime Water Oak House favorites, along with new items for breakfast and lunch that offer a modern take on classic dishes. Look for selections such as full-sized and multilayered cakes, seasonal pies, cookies and quiches.

Breakfast selections include egg-forward dishes, such as country ham eggs Benedict, Meyer lemon avocado toast, and a maple sausage and white cheddar breakfast sandwich, along with shrimp and grits, brioche French toast, and peaches and cream overnight oats.

Guests will also find options such as a curried chicken salad sandwich, black pepper bacon BLT salad, and Texas chili on the lunch menu.

Baughman has chronicled the journey to her new space on the Water Oak House website, including details about the planning process, consulting meetings, ideas for menu items, and more. Austin-based interior designer Kim Lewis, responsible for the vibrant looks of Torchy’s Tacos at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Kesos Tacos in Austin, Tellers Coffee in Chicago, and other projects, has been tapped to design the space.

Baybrook Passage is owned by the Gulf Coast Commercial Group. In a statement announcing the project, the organization's COO was excited to welcome Water Oak House to the development, calling Baughman's business "the first truly boutique business" in the center since Gulf Coast purchased it last year.

openings news-you-can-eat

Changes are coming

Veteran Houston chef takes over at essential Midtown brunch destination

Courtesy of Weights + Measures

Fredy Nunez, Claire Nadira, Diana Nadira, Omar Pereney, Sahira Malherbe, Genesis Pereney, and Marco Lucas.

One of Midtown’s favorite brunch destinations has new management who want to raise its fortunes. Chef Omar Perey is the new operating partner of Weights + Measures.

Known for his Culinary Matters hospitality consulting company and as the founder of Love Croissants, Pereney tells CultureMap that Weights + Measures owners Xavier and Mari Godoy, who purchased the restaurant in 2023, approached him about taking over operations. Love Croissants has been operating a retail stand from Weights + Measures since 2023.

Pereney explains that he saw an opportunity to grow his hospitality group by building on Weights + Measure’s existing reputation. It also allows him to test ideas for Petite Lucie, his French bistro that will open later this year in Market Square Park.

“I’m interested in restaurants,” Pereney says. “After working for many years in creating concepts for other people, which I still do, I just love seeing how things are happening for me as a hospitality group. We’re going to open Petite Lucie and a second location of Love Croissants. It’s an 18-year overnight success.”

Working with chef Sahira Malherbe, Pereney has already begun overhauling the menu. They’ve added dishes like lasagna and tomato risotto. Other items have been updated, such as the mozzarella sticks. One thing isn’t changing, “Everyone I’ve talked to says the carrot pizza needs to stay, and it’s staying,” Pereney affirms.

Most notably, Weights + Measures will now serve breakfast all day. Options include avocado toast, a cheese omelette, and, of course, a breakfast sandwich served on a Love Croissants croissant.

“The wines are really cool. The pricing is very aggressive. We want people drinking wine here,” Pereney adds.

Some design changes will roll out over time. Diners will already notice new items on the table. The chairs and carpet may change, too.

Ultimately, Pereney sees Weights + Measures as the ultimate neighborhood restaurant, the sort of place that regulars might visit once or twice a week.

“It’s a very accessible concept,” he says. “I like that.”

news-you-can-eat chefs brunch