The brand new 12 months brings new challenges and new alternatives. It additionally brings new eating places for Houstonians to get pleasure from, whether or not you’re eating in or taking out. Current additions provide quite a lot of choices, from informal burger joints to a high-end, omakase-style chef’s counter.
To assist our readers navigate the Bayou Metropolis’s ever-evolving culinary scene, right here is our first Hit Checklist of 2022. Take pleasure in!
burger-chan, 5353 West Alabama: Willet and Diane Feng have opened their first street-level burger joint, which was about two-and-a-half years within the making. burger-chan “2.0” debuted with a gentle opening earlier this month, and it replaces the previous location within the underground meals courtroom at Greenway Plaza — a spot with a popularity for serving a few of the finest burgers in Houston however that was compelled to shut because of the pandemic.
With a bigger kitchen, a glossy, fashionable eating space and lined patio, the brand new area provides burger fanatics some acquainted favorites, in addition to welcome additions. The expanded menu nonetheless options the traditional the smash-style, two-ounce 44 Farms ground-chuck patty cooked on a flat prime. It may be ordered with one, two or three patties, your alternative of buns and an array of toppings from fundamentals resembling lettuce and tomato, to premium additions like cheddar, sautéed mushrooms and notable sauces resembling scallion aioli and sambal mayo. New choices embody thicker, five-ounce patties, made with the identical 44 Farms floor chuck, which can be cooked on the grill.
There are additionally non-burger choices resembling falafel — that are locally-made by Rani Francis, previously of Oddball Eats — and a sizzling canine with a Nathan’s 100% beef frank. There are are additionally a couple of specialty burgers and sides resembling fries (French, curly or candy potato), spring combine salad and loaded tater tots. Houston Food Finder’s Phaedra Cook has more details; click for the full article.
Chivos, 222 West eleventh: This contemporary Mexican restaurant from Night time Strikes Hospitality, which additionally operates Space Cowboy and Trash Panda Drinking Club, is bringing delights each easy and complicated to the Heights and was not too long ago named one in all Houston Food Finder’s Best New Restaurants of 2021. Chef Thomas Bille is helming the kitchen, after garnering consideration for his prior restaurant, Stomach of the Beast in Spring. Diners can count on inventive dishes resembling Pozole Dumplings served with pork broth, almond salsa macha (a salsa made with fried nuts or seeds, dried chiles and chile oil), Napa cabbage and thinly shaved radish; the straightforward however elegant handmade flour tortillas with truffle butter and salmon roe unfold; and shrimp aquachile. Behind the bar, Leesly Valdez (previously of Monkey’s Tail, Calle Onze and Area Cowboy) is mixing up cocktails that showcase under-appreciated Mexican liqueurs and spirits. Strive the D.F., a riff on the Manhattan with Mexican whiskey and tamarind bitters, or the West Tejas made with tequila and Nixta Licor de Elote, a corn liqueur from Jilotepec. For extra on this eatery, check out Phaedra Cook’s “First Bite.”
Clique Bistro, 120 Westheimer: From the staff behind EaDo’s not too long ago opened J-Bar-M Barbecue comes a comfortable spot with a dog-friendly patio in Montrose. The menu by chef Justin Santellana contains a collection of bar bites resembling Clique Korean Sliders (three to an order) made with kimchi, gochujang mayonnaise, pickled daikon, and Asian slaw, and Braised Pork Empanadas with manchego cheese, lime crema, pickled pink bell peppers and cilantro sauce. Vegetarians can strive Tofu Fried Egg Rolls with marinated tofu, chiffonade cabbage, and pickled carrots, that are served with candy and bitter sauce. As well as, there are a couple of entrées resembling Broiled Miso Salmon with basmati rice, backyard peas, carrots, pink bell pepper, black sesame seeds and coriander leaves.
The bar program is a collaboration between Christophe Paul (Cafe Rabelais and Bistro 555), Eric Boyd (of The Boyd’s Bar) and Coretta Wintz (from Houston staple The Richmond Arms Pub). It contains a seasonal choice (the present choices are a part of the Winter Signature Cocktails checklist) that features the Whiskey Fig Cobbler made with Jim Beam, easy syrup, lemon juice and ginger beer and the Sleigh Trip made with Maker’s Mark, orgeat, Cointreau, lime juice and Canton ginger. The wine checklist, which Paul helped develop, is damaged out into simply navigated, taste-oriented teams like Numerous Zesty & Considerably Spicy Reds and Esoteric Whites.
d’Alba Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, 3715 Alba: Business veterans Daut Elshani (of Underground Hall, Beer Market Co.), chef Geoff Hundt (Local Foods and Benjy’s), chef Mike Hartley (Brasserie 19) and bar supervisor Kehlen Selph (previously of Anvil Bar & Refuge) joined forces this 12 months to deliver this neighborhood restaurant to Backyard Oaks. The menu options shareables resembling Alba Balloon Bread made with pesto, garlic and truffle honey and Chile and Lime Roasted Cauliflower. There are additionally bigger plates like Gulf fish served with roasted sunchokes, English peas, bell peppers, cilantro and grilled corn chutney and the Falcon Lakes Burger served on a brioche bun with Fontina, aioli, arugula, home pickles and bruléed onions.
d’Alba additionally contains a collection of rotating housemade pastas resembling campanelle tossed with basil pesto, Parmesan, English peas, cherry tomatoes, basil and summer season squash and wood-fired pizzas that emphasize meatless choices like wild mushroom and candy potato with béchamel, cacio e pepe, truffled arugula and lemon zest.
Cocktail fanatics can peruse a menu organized by spirits. There are takes on classics such because the upDated Outdated Normal made with Forester 100 infused with dates and roasted pumpkin seeds and the Callabria Collins made with Citadelle gin infused with lemongrass and lemon. As well as, there’s an intensive wine checklist for by-the-glass and bottle choices.
Daily Gather, 800 Sorella Court docket: From 5 12 Restaurant Ideas, the hospitality group behind Dish Society, comes Every day Collect positioned in CITYCENTRE. The brand new restaurant options 6,000 sq. ft, stylish-yet-cozy furnishings and room for up 150 diners. There’s additionally a spacious 100-seat patio full with lounge areas.
The seasonal menu, developed by culinary director Brandi Key (previously Alice Blue, Clark Cooper Ideas) places an emphasis on domestically sourced substances, leveraging the restaurant group’s relationship with farmers, ranchers and fisherman. Present lunch and dinner starters embody Deviled Eggs made with seeded mustard-egg yolk, Tabasco-bacon crumble, inexperienced onion and smoked salt and Elote Cornbread topped with heat chili-lime butter candy corn, crema and cotija. The lunch menu additionally provides quite a lot of salads, soups and sandwiches like Brisket French Dip, made with house-smoked beef brisket, horseradish sauce, caramelized pink onions, mushrooms and Swiss cheese on a pretzel bun, served with au jus for dipping and pommes frites. There are additionally entrées, resembling Spaghetti Lola made with spinach pasta, garlic-basil tomato sauce and burrata.
The dinner menu provides uncooked bar objects like Oysters on the Half Shell and Coconut Tuna Aguachile, in addition to entrées resembling braised quick ribs served with Parisian gnocchi, carrots, roasted mushrooms and gremolata.
For brunch, which is presently solely on the weekends, diners can order dishes like Tacky Bacon Benedict served on an English muffin with American cheese, crispy bacon, poached eggs, lemon hollandaise and chives. Seasonal wines, native beers, cocktails and mocktails can be found throughout all present hours of operation, that are Monday by way of Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For extra particulars, read Cuc Lam’s “First Bite” article.
Idle Hands, 910 Westheimer: From Austin-based hospitality group Midas Willum Holdings (Idle Palms Austin, Discovered Texas, Taster’s Desk Membership and Eat. Drink. Texas) comes the Caribbean-influenced Idle Palms. Housed within the mixed-use venture Montrose Collective, the area features a downstairs bar and patio, an upstairs indoor bar and lounge space, and rooftop patio seating. The Cuban and Colombian bar provides snackable picks, resembling guacamole with plantain chips and avenue corn made with roasted garlic butter, cotija cheese, crème fraîche and cilantro and mini hen empanadas. Hungrier visitors can order the Cubano sandwich or the Lover Boy Burger made with a beef and chorizo patty, guacamole, pickled pink onions, candied jalapeños, a Mexican cheese mix and roasted-poblano aioli. Each sandwiches include fries.
The bar provides wine, beer, seltzers and ciders, in addition to specialty cocktails and frozen drinks just like the Blue Hawaii made with Deep Eddy Vodka, Rumhaven coconut rum, blue curacao, pineapple and lemon and the Outdated Rosser made with Misunderstood Ginger whiskey, candy tea and peaches.
J-Bar-M Barbecue, 2201 Leeland: This expansive barbecue joint on Houston’s east facet was named one in all Houston Meals Finder’s Best New Restaurants of 2021. Phaedra Cook dinner described it as “one of many best-designed barbecue eating places” that includes a eating room enclosed with tall home windows that permit in loads of pure mild and “a spacious exterior seating space and a centerpiece bar constructed half contained in the eating room and half on the patio.” The huge Moberg smokers are tended by pitmaster Willow Villarreal (previously of the well-received Willow’s Texas BBQ meals truck), who expertly gradual cooks a whole lot of kilos of brisket, ribs, sausages, pork butts and turkey daily. You’ll want to save room for sides like mac and cheese, pink cabbage slaw and marinated tomatoes in addition to the desserts resembling two candy dwelling runs: banana pudding and Chocolate Ganache Pie.
Kinokawa, 3119 White Oak: Billy Kin, beforehand chef at Blackbird Izakaya and Hidden Omakase, has not too long ago opened the primary of his two ideas within the former Golden Bagel location. Kin has teamed up with one other well-known Houston chef, Brandon Silva (opening chef of Degust), to create an omakase-style tasting menu served at an intimate chef’s counter, partly designed and constructed by Kin himself.
What’s on the menu? “Meals-wise for Kinokawa: you may name it omakase, or you may name it prix fixe,” Kin mentioned. “It’s a set worth for the chef’s alternative that’s totally centered round what I can get my fingers on. That’s what we’ll serve to the visitors. For essentially the most half, about 90% of our substances shall be sourced straight from Japan.”
For the reason that menu is solely centered on the omakase expertise, dishes and substances can differ from day after day. Houston Meals Finder’s Ryan Baker was invited to hitch for one in all these “freestyle” dinners that includes highlights such ceviche product of pasta neck clams and Uni Carbonara. You may learn extra concerning the eating expertise at Kinokawa in Ryan Kasey Baker’s “First Bite” article.
Kinokawa is presently BYOB with no corkage payment whereas the institution waits to obtain its liquor license. Reservations are required and might be made online.
Maize, 14795 Memorial: This new, progressive Mexican restaurant within the Memorial space is from longtime Houston chef Mark Cox (who operated his eponymous restaurant in Montrose for 19 years) and Carmelo Mauro (who owned his personal namesake restaurant at this similar tackle for 38 years) and chef-owner Fabian Saldana. Just some years in the past, Mauro went into partnership with Ben Berg, who owns B&B Butchers and several other different Houston eating places. Finally, Carmelo’s became B.B. Italia with Berg’s brother as chef after which closed. Now it’s returned to Mauro’s oversight, however the restaurant idea is now totally totally different.
Using his in depth expertise as a chef at Hugo Ortega‘s acclaimed Oaxacan restaurant Xochi, Saldana’s first solo enterprise options dishes that incorporate housemade masa. The menu is damaged out into sections: Crudos/Ceviches, Masa Antojitos, Ensaladas Y Sopa, Platos Fuertes and Inscectos. Oyster- and spice-lovers will benefit from the Jalapeño Ostiones: Gulf oysters with jalapeño, cilantro and lime served by the half- or full-dozen. Different standouts embody the empanadas de camarón, two shrimp empanadas with cotija cheese and shiny “guacasalsa”; gluten-free flautas de puerco made with pork confit carnitas, salsa verde, crema and housemade queso fresco; and ensalada de quelites with purslane, candied pistachio, oranges and onion-and-honey-pasilla pepper dressing.
The bar provides regionally centered spirits such mezcal, sotol and tequila, in addition to inventive takes on classics like margaritas and signature cocktails such because the El Caldero, made with Espolòn blanco tequila, pomegranate juice, La Pinta pomegranate liqueur, apricot giffard, lime juice, easy syrup, and pomegranate smoke. There’s additionally an intensive wine checklist, which options quite a few picks from Mexico.
Toro Toro, 1300 Lamar: Chef Richard Sandoval not too long ago opened the sixth location of his pan-Latin steakhouse contained in the Four Seasons Houston. It’s truly his second idea contained in the downtown lodge; the primary being bourbon-focused Bayou & Bottle. Each are a part of a phased lodge renovation venture that’s spanned the previous 5 years.
Sandoval’s menu emphasizes churrasco-style steaks, unique sport and seafood, with dishes resembling the big 52-ounce Mezcal-Flambéed Prime Tomahawk and South Texas Antelope Tenderloin from Texas’ Damaged Arrow Ranch. There’s additionally Grilled Spanish Octopus and uncooked fish dishes resembling Peruvian Ceviche: hamachi with leche de tigre, candy potato, pink onion and canchas (toasted corn).
Accompanying the hearty fare is an intensive wine checklist that includes a number of Latin American-based wineries along with cocktails just like the Mercado Margarita with jalapeño-infused tequila, hibiscus, passionfruit purée and hibiscus-rosemary foam, and the Negroni Norte with mezcal, Campari and Carpano Antica vermouth. For extra, learn Lauren Bebeau’s article on the opening of Toro Toro.
Trattoria Sofia, 911 West eleventh: The newest from the quickly rising Berg Hospitality Group (B&B Butchers & Restaurant, BB Lemon, The Annie Cafe & Bar, Turner’s, NoPo) goals to move diners to a street-side eatery in Italy. Named after the eldest daughter of Benjamin Berg (the group’s founder and CEO), and positioned within the former Presidio, the area has a country really feel with décor designed by architect Issac Preminger and Sam Governale, working companion for The Annie Cafe & Bar and Turner’s (and previously with now-closed Emmaline).
The kitchen is overseen by govt chef L.J. Wiley (beforehand the chef of well-regarded however long-closed Yelapa Playa Mexicana). He and his staff are whipping up appetizers resembling Crostini Di Gamberi Arrabiata made with crispy shrimp, spicy tomato sauce, smoked labneh, dill and fennel pollen; and Polpo Arrosto, wooden fire-roasted octopus, Sicilian tomato pesto, crispy potatoes, salsa verde, basil, parsley and lemon. They’re additionally serving heartier fare just like the Vitello Alla Milanese comprised of veal Milanese, castelfranco (a prized number of chicory) salad and lemon. Carb lovers will discover pasta dishes resembling cacio e pepe and bread from grasp bread maker Magnus Hansson.
Berg introduced in Julep proprietor Alba Huerta to develop cocktails with Italian twists on classics resembling Modena Cup made with Pimm’s, gin, strawberry, blood orange syrup and white balsamic vinegar and the Bergamot Margarita with tequila, lime and bergamot liqueur. As well as, there’s additionally a centered checklist of wines by the glass. You may learn extra from Houston Meals Finder’s Lauren Bebeau in her “First Bite” article.
Underbelly Burger, 2520 Airline: James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd and his staff at Underbelly Hospitality are beginning 2022 on a excessive be aware on the not too long ago opened Underbelly Burger on the Houston Farmers Market. With inexperienced and white tile and Shepherd’s assortment of classic burger memorabilia, the area is paying homage to mid-century roadside burger stands. The signature burger has the traditional two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. Clients can both select Wagyu patties from the R-C Ranch butcher shop positioned subsequent door or Angus from longtime Underbelly Hospitality provider, 44 Farms.
Different choices embody a crispy hen sandwich with black pepper buttermilk dressing, Swiss cheese and pickles, the Bacon Sausage Scorching Canine (that includes Chris Shepherd’s housemade Bacon Sausage) with pickled jalapeño mustard and a housemade veggie burger with avocado, lettuce and corn relish. Vegetarians also can get pleasure from a salad made with kale, which has been marinated for further taste and tenderness, candied pecans, Parmesan cheese and golden raisins. There are additionally fries, shakes, beer and wine. Underbelly Burger is open Tuesday by way of Sunday from 11 a.m. to six p.m. Dine in, to-go and supply orders are all choices. Order online at the website. You can read more about these tasty burgers in Phaedra Cook dinner’s article concerning the opening.
Zalat Pizza, 510 Grey: Sure, we all know it is a Dallas-Fort Price primarily based chain, however its first Houston location is providing tasty (and quirky) pizzas which may excite the palates of even essentially the most diehard Cowboys haters. Plus, Zalat’s founder, Khanh Nguyen, grew up within the Bayou Metropolis and graduated from the College of Houston. He hopes his hometown’s food-savvy residents will embrace the model. The entire pizzas are created from scratch (sure, even the dough) with substances like all-beef pepperoni and oven-roasted Roma tomatoes. Specialty combos embody Nashville Scorching Hen and Pickles, Pho Shizzle, Elote, Loaded Notato and Pineapple Categorical. As Houston Food Finder’s Phaedra Cook reported, Nguyen is so intent on selling the standard of Zalat’s pizzas that employees members are known as “Zealots” and an indication with the definition of the phrase “zealot” hangs in each retailer. With this type of dedication and being open on Friday and Saturday till 4 a.m., Houston simply might need a brand new go-to pizza spot.
