What's Eric Eating Episode 279

Meet the talented team who've uncorked the Heights' newest wine bar, plus Houston's hottest food news

Padre's Wine Shop and Bar William Farley Nick Nguyen

William Farley and Nick Nguyen are this week's guests.

Photo by Andrew Hemingway

On this week's episode of "What's Eric Eating," Padre's Wine Shop + Bar owner William Farley and general manager Nick Nguyen join CultureMap food editor to discuss the newly opened business in the Heights. The conversation begins with Farley explaining why he left a career in investment banking to begin importing wines from South America.

From there, the conversation turns to Padre's. Recently opened in the historic Obsidian Theater space on White Oak, Padre's offers both a wine shop with more than 500 selections and a wine bar for enjoying its wares. Nguyen oversees a limited food offering that includes charcuterie, cheese, and a couple of sandwiches inspired by New Orleans' famed Turkey and the Wolf. Sandler asks the duo how they see Padre's distinguishing itself from other nearby wine bars.

"We have an environment where we want people to have conversations. The music isn't too loud. We want people to network. Naturally, it's setting up an environment where people are talking to each other," Nguyen says.

"The way we laid everything out with the patio and the interior, it's supposed to be like a living room. It fosters those kind of conversations Nick was referring to," Farley adds. "Last weekend, I watched groups who had no prior understanding of each other, you could see them see them start talking to each other."

Listen to the full interview to hear Farley discuss his favorite South American wines. The duo also share their goals for Padre's first year of operations.

Prior to the interview, Sandler and co-host Matt Harris discuss the news of the week. Their topics include: the winners of this year's CultureMap Tastemaker Awards; East End restaurant Louie's Italian American closing to become Angie's Pizza; and Bobby Heugel and Justin Yu parting ways with Galveston's Hotel Lucine.

In the restaurants of the week segment, Sandler and Harris share their thoughts about two recently-opened restaurants. First, they recap a meal at Oheya, Uchi's new omakase counter. Then, they visit Muse, the lively, globally inspired new restaurant in the former Emmaline space.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Google Play, or Spotify. Listen to it Saturdays at 2 pm on ESPN 97.5.

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ps, we're closed

Houston's most pretty-in-pink restaurant quietly closes in Upper Kirby

Photo by Jenn Duncan

You'll see a lot of pink at PostScript.

PostScript, Upper Kirby’ posh pink restaurant, has quietly closed, CultureMap has learned.

Although the restaurant is still accepting reservations on OpenTable — and is, as of this article’s publication, listed as open on both Yelp and Google — reports circulated on social media this weekend that it had abruptly canceled diners’ Mother’s Day reservations. In addition, its dining room in the Shops at Arrive mixed-use development has been emptied of furniture.

[Update: After the publication of this article, PostScript's management provided CultureMap with the following statement:

We are saddened to announce the closure of PostScript HTX.

We sincerely thank our patrons for their loyalty and support. It has been an honor to serve you and be part of your special moments. The people and culture in Houston are first class. We wish you all the best and hope our paths cross again in the future.]

PostScript opened with considerable fanfare in February 2024. Owners Veeral Rathod and Obi Ibeto, brought their experiences as partners in the Dallas-based GAP Hospitality to the project, which operates establishments such as XOXO Dining Room, Lyla, and Drai’s Dallas. Particularly inspired by XOXO Dining Room, they created an ode to pink that included pink exterior and interior walls, a pink quartz bar, and a pink grand piano. “Push for Champagne” buttons added to the lively spirit.

Chef Bryan Caswell created the menu. Best known for his pioneering Gulf Coast seafood restaurant Reef that closed in 2019, Caswell’s menu included fried chicken with hummus, oysters three ways (raw, roasted, and fried), a sushi roll, and the double smoked pork chop that was a Reef staple. A doughnut topped with caviar became a customer favorite.

Since Caswell was only consulting on the project, he left a couple of months after opening. Latuli, Caswell’s new Gulf Coast-inspired restaurant in the Memorial area, is expected to open soon.

CultureMap has reached out to PostScript via email, phone, and Instagram message for comment on the decision to close the restaurant. We will update this article if they reply.

PostScript’s closure follows that of Cru, which ended a 13-year run in December 2024. On the other hand, Kira, a sushi hand roll concept from Houston’s Comma Hospitality that’s also located in the development, is thriving, having earned the No. 4 spot on Texas Monthly’s list of the state’s best new restaurants. The development is also home to beloved Indian restaurant Pondicheri, an outpost of the steakhouse chain Eddie V’s, and top tier Houston shopping destination Tootsie’s.

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