By Elisabeth Brigham and Jane Humphrey By Elisabeth Brigham and Jane Humphrey | August 9, 2023 | Food & Drink, Guides,
And just like that, we are halfway through the year. If you're on the hunt for fresh (and flavorful) bites, these 20 delicious new Houston openings have you covered.
Little Hen
Festooned in floral prints and bouquets as far as the eye can see comes this oh-so-charming new eatery, Little Hen, in the River Oaks District. With its flagship location in Miami, this marks Little Hen’s foray into the Texas market, and we are here for it. After all, with menu offerings including rose petal pancakes, bananas Foster and bourbon-battered French toast, one cannot go wrong. “At Little Hen, we offer an eclectic European-inspired menu with American classics and Mexican specialties, along with an elevated tea service into a fully immersive experience that is really unlike anything else,” says founder and owner Enrique Altamirano. “We look forward to bringing a delicious and beautiful space to Houston where breakfast and brunch is not only for the weekends but a daily experience.” 4444 Westheimer Road
Karne
Marrying a mix of the classic American steakhouse with traditional Korean fare, Karne recently opened in the Heights neighborhood. The modernized Korean steakhouse, from restaurateur Jason Cho with chef Yurum “KP” Nam leading the charge in the kitchen, is rife with authentic ingredients and fresh flavor profiles. What to expect? American and Japanese wagyu, seasonal oysters, banchan boards and more awe-inspiring dishes. 2805 White Oak Drive
Sushi by Hidden
Ready to book your next date night? Look no further than this romantic new restaurant, Sushi by Hidden, tucked in the buzzy Rice Village neighborhood. From the team that brought Houston hit Hidden Omakase, this new concept features a one-of-a-kind omakase experience that guarantees to wow on and off the plate. The intimate setting will host 10 guests at a time and feature a carefully curated selection of sushi. Leading the charge at this unique dining spot is chef Jimmy Kieu along with a rotating roster of chefs from Hidden Omakase who will pop in accordingly to provide each dish with its own signature spin. Another fun addition—the 1,200-square-foot space will feature an NFT art gallery spotlighting emerging artists that diners can delight in. 5216 Morningside Drive
Ciel
The brainchild of Le Ciel Hospitality, a new Houston-based hospitality company launched by local partners Ryan Henry, Adel Sadek and Fasl Ty, the 8,000-square-foot-space is set to become a high-profile haven for foodies and socialites alike. “Ciel is an alluring, elegant and festive space designed for an impeccable dining, gathering and entertaining experience in Houston,” shares Studio Five Design co-founder and Ciel partner Sadek. “We painstakingly selected every detail in the interior to create a space built for unstuffy fine dining with exceptional cuisine, stylish presentations and beautiful art not found anywhere else in the city that will feel like a portal to a glamorous, fun-filled European getaway.” Perfect for intimate date nights and larger celebrations, the restaurant welcomes in a live DJ every night Wednesday through Saturday, with pop-up entertainment experiences throughout the night. 4411 San Felipe St Suite 101
Se7en
With a menu of lavish cuisine and cocktails to tantalize the taste buds, might we introduce you to Se7en—the newly opened entertainment restaurant located in Upper Kirby. Putting a creative spin on Asian-Mediterranean cuisine, the restaurant welcomes guests from Tuesday to Saturday to delight in the sensorial experience of this culinary concept, and we promise it is unlike any other. “Our primary focus is to create a mixture of wonder and intrigue while making our guests feel at home,” shares co-founder of Seven Hospitality Group Frank Edosomwan. “We have spent months going over every detail to ensure that this deep sense of euphoria is brought to all guests.” 3300 Kirby Drive, Ste. B
Ojo de Agua
Infused with exotic ingredients and pops of flavor, Ojo de Agua sets up shop in the River Oaks District starting this month. Marking its foray into the Texas market, the Mexico City-based cafe packs a colorful punch with fresh juices, superfoods and smoothies galore in a buzzy atmosphere. With a sumptuous selection of healthy fare and other mouthwatering offerings—hello, avocado truffle toast and lobster grilled cheese—this new spot guarantees to have you coming back for more. 4444 Westheimer Road, #D140
Eau Tour
Rice Village beckons with the scrumptious new opening of Eau Tour, helmed by Benjy Levit. The founder of Local Foods, Local Foods Market and Lees Den is back at it again, giving foodies a new restaurant to feast their eyes on. “Our goal is to open an intimate space with a refined but not too serious dinner party atmosphere with food meant to be passed around accompanied with fun tunes,” shares Levit. “Eau Tour is a spot for the community to hang and enjoy happy habits.” Happy, indeed. As we all know, every time this culinary tour de force tackles something new, it is done with gusto. 5117 Kelvin Drive
Navy Blue
Hot off the heels of an incredible foray into the Houston dining scene, Aaron Bludorn has once again struck white hot—or shall we say blue—with his latest culinary concept. Navy Blue, located in the uber-hip pocket of Rice Village, has been a whirlwind of success since opening its doors. Having first delighted diners with the opening of beloved eatery Bludorn, Aaron Bludorn tapped N.Y.-based Jerrod Zifchak—a fellow alum of N.Y. eatery Café Boulud, where Bludorn also sharpened his skills—to be the executive chef at Navy Blue. The recently unveiled modern American seafood concept puts a whimsical spin on the traditional offerings from the Texas Gulf Coast. “We wanted to create a menu with plenty of options and the same kind of approachability that guests love at Bludorn,” says the restaurateur. “What oysters are to Bludorn, which are done three ways—fried, baked and raw—clams, shrimp and Dover sole are to Navy Blue. We’ll also have a running rotation of fresh fish with preparation suggestions, but guests can swap it out however they want.” 2445 Times Blvd.
Picnik
Spin around the buzzy Montrose Collective, and you will notice a new face in the mix. Might we introduce Picnik—a new restaurant that prides itself on top-tier ingredients and good vibes—can anyone ask for any better combo? We think not. “We strive to ensure our menu is approachable and delicious,” enthuses CEO Dan Mesches. “Even if you don’t live in the neighborhood, we want you to feel like this is your place to eat, drink and relax.” With mouthwatering dishes including the season hash (ahem—to your left ), bacon jam burger, and the signature Picknik Benedict where the restaurant touts a velvety hollandaise sauce to top things off, there is no wrong choice to make on the menu. 888 Westheimer Rd.
Oheya by Uchi
From the team behind some of the city’s most beloved eateries (hello, Uchi, Uchiko and LORO Asian Smokehouse & Bar) comes an unrivaled dining experience. Have we piqued your interest yet? Ladies and gentlemen, meet Oheya by Uchi, which recently made its grand debut in town. Perched next to Uchi Houston, this incomparable omakase experience awaits with 15 exquisite courses that will rotate based on season and the creative direction the guest chef decides to take. Enlisting a new chef from one of the eight Uchi Restaurants locations each month, this intimate new spot will spotlight sensational ingredients married with expert craftmanship within the culinary field. 904 Westheimer Rd.
ROCKHOUSE
The famous saying goes, “If only these walls could talk.” Well, let me tell you, that is certainly the case for ROCKHOUSE Southern Kitchen. Taking over the space of lauded venue Billy Blues, this restaurant guarantees to be the next destination for live music and southern fare. “We want to go back to the roots of southern culture, where music and good food are the celebrations,” shares co-owner Rob Wright, who is at the helm of the concept alongside Mazen Baltagi, Steven Rogers and Kurt Agomuo. “We have created an experience where our culinary farm-to-table offerings, hand-crafted cocktails, and nightly musical oblations will leave you returning for more.” Brass bands and live saxophones rotated nightly will excite guests as they delight in southern-inspired dishes, including creole pizza, fried chicken, oxtail egg rolls and more. 6025 Richmond Ave.
Citizens of Montrose
Foodies, rejoice! Bringing breakfast from the land down under is Australian eatery Citizens of Montrose. With a day-meets-night mantra, this tasty eatery showcases classic breakfast bites, freshly-baked pastries, and a “serve yourself” style beer and coffee tap bar. Our fave is the Cheddar Biscuit Breakfast Sandwich. Need we say more? 907 Westheimer Road
Muse
Bursting with bold flavors and colorfully curated fare, newly opened eatery, Muse, beckons the Houston dining scene. Parked between the bustling Montrose and River Oaks neighborhoods, this hot new spot promises to be anything but ordinary. Rife with a rich assortment of savory cuisine, chef E.J. Miller presents dishes that pack a punch. Discerning guests can delight on wood-fired Alabama oysters, lobster-filled pasta (made in-house) and an unrivaled caviar service. “Growing up in Houston, I’ve always enjoyed exploring global flavors and experimenting with a variety of traditional techniques,” notes Miller. “While the name ‘Muse’ comes from the idea of a person or personified force that provides a source of inspiration, our menu is inspired by Houston’s unique multicultural dining scene.”. 3210 West Dallas St.
Bari
Transport yourself to an Italian paradise as you enter the newly opened restaurant, Bari. Located in the River Oaks District, the posh eatery is layered with classic Italian fare, including signature dishes like roasted branzino, Pasta Vongole, Pappardelle Bolognese, Insalta di Prosciutto and more. Take a bite out of this new spot; we promise you will thank us later. 4444 Westheimer Road
Money Cat
Did someone say happy hour? After making its highly-anticipated debut in Kirby Grove, Money Cat has rolled out a new cocktail program just in time for summer sipping. Helmed by chef and owner Sherman Yeung, the new menu will feature an ample assortment of drinks, including the Japanese old-fashioned, lychee cosmo and orenji sunset. Also on tap is a selection of nigiri/sashimi, makimono and other mouthwatering dishes from the kitchen. 2925 Richmond Ave.
Albi
Ensconced in the River Oaks shopping center sits the newly opened Mediterranean restaurant, Albi. Spearheaded by Aladdin Nimri and siblings Nano and Jimy Fakhoury, this chic new eatery hosts a menu featuring a handsome blend of Lebanese, Turkish and Jordanian cultures. “We look forward to creating an ambiance that evokes a very distinctive vibe of the “Levant” area of the Middle East, which refers to the region along the eastern Mediterranean shores,” shares Nano Fakhoury. “...a vibe we feel will resonate beautifully in this relaxed but buzzy corridor.” 1947 West Gray St.
Benny Chows
As one of Houston’s top names in the biz, Berg Hospitality is back at it again. Launching two new concepts in Lovett Commercial’s chic new development—might I introduce you to Benny Chows and Canopy Social? Opening its highly-anticipated doors this month, these two new concepts will have discerning patrons abuzz. Benny Chows will host elevated Chinese fare—think dim sum, Peking duck, dumplings and more. Take a trip upstairs to the rooftop bar, Canopy Social, offering sweeping views of the Houston skyline and a sizeable selection of craft cocktails. 1818 Washington
Elro
“Elro is inhabiting a vintage bungalow, so the whole idea is for the space to feel homey,” shares Terrence Gallivan, chef-owner of the highly-anticipated Elro. The neighborhood pizzeria and crudo bar will feature a clever interpretation of two classic cuisines. “I (and most people) love pizza. Since Houston is hot most of the time, balancing pizza with some lighter, more refreshing, cold seafood dishes is a nice combination.” Cozy in and enjoy a mouthwatering multi-course meal or opt for a frosty libation at the bar. 2405 Genesee St.
Dante's River Oaks
Restaurateur Brian Doke is bringing the heat to the Houston dining scene with his latest concept, Dante’s River Oaks. Specializing in traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist is this buzzy new spot featuring dishes such as Bucatini Amatriciana, Rigatoni Cacio e Pepe and Tagliatelle Truffle & Mushrooms, to name a few. Regarding the restaurant’s unrivaled ambiance, Doke shares: “The combination of a charming and quaint interior coupled with an airy patio for dining alfresco makes for a wonderful experience.” 4340 Westheimer
Slowpokes Coffee
Having recently unveiled its latest location in West University, Slowpokes Coffee beckons with its signature lattes, ciders, house brews and more. Grab your daily dose if you’re on the go or opt to cozy up and stay a while as the buzzy boutique offers a sumptuous assortment of baked goods, sandwiches and snacks galore. Bonus: This new hot spot features a dog-friendly front patio so your furry friend can tag along for the festivities. 6725 Stella Link Road
Photography by: PHOTO COURTESY OF PICNIK RESTAURANTS
