Buena Vista Cuban Café (photo via Facebook)
Barcelona Wine Bar
Barcelona Wine Bar
This Connecticut-based wine and tapas bar recently uncorked its first Houston location in Montrose. The massive space takes its design cues from the Spanish city’s Las Ramblas pedestrian area with a U-shaped bar, a Spanish-heavy wine list, and a robust sherry program. Another element that sets it apart from many wine bars is its generous menu of authentic tapas and Spanish dishes, all executed by chef Thomas Laczynski (formerly with Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar). Expect myriad cheese and charcuterie options; chilled tapas like tuna carpaccio and calamari; and warm tapas including Spanish style-meatballs, grilled steak with chimichurri, and spiced beef empanadas. We are especially pumped about the four different paellas offered in half, full and — get this — double portions.
Buena Vista Cuban Café
Newcomer Buena Vista Cuban Café aims to bring the spirit of Havana to the Memorial Heights area. With live music, dancing, and cigars hand-rolled on site, there’s no shortage of excitement. The spiffy restaurant owned by Roberto and Esther Diaz channels the Caribbean with floral wallpaper, half circle booths, vibrant greens and splashes of festive pink. Roll up your sleeves for the ropa vieja, the classic Cuban dish of slow-braised beef slow-cooked in tomato sauce and spices; African-Cuban pork served over yucca mash; and seafood paella. Of course, there are mojitos on the menu, best enjoyed on Buena Vista’s inviting outdoor patio bar.
Clark's Oyster Bar
Clark's Oyster Bar (photo via Facebook)
Austin-born Clark’s, from the team behind Jeffrey’s, Perla’s and more, will bow this month in Houston. The beloved concept will reside in the former Montrose Car Care auto shop site near the Menil, and will have ample parking, patio dining and a new garden. Anticipate a similar menu as the original with favorites like lobster rolls, grilled Gulf fish, shrimp cocktail, cioppino and juicy Gruyere-topped burgers.
Dough Zone Dumpling House
Dough Zone (photo via Facebook)
Just in time for soup season: A beloved dumpling house from Seattle specializing in Chinese comfort food like dumplings, noodles, vegetables dishes, and more will soon arrive in Midtown. By mid-month, expect to be slurping handmade soup dumplings every which way in the former Ibiza space in Midtown. The menu includes more than 50 items that are made with dough or batter. Besides stuffed dumplings, anticipate various noodle dishes from different regions of China such as Dan Dan, hot and sour glass noodles, and beef stew noodles topped with braised brisket. Sides of sweet and sour cucumbers, scallion pancakes, and pan-fried chive dumplings round out the menu.
Pappasito's Cantina
Pappasito's
Pappasito’s, known for fine Tex-Mex and a smoking grill wafting fragrances throughout the ‘hood, is celebrating its 40th anniversary celebration with specials throughout the month of October. Anticipate food and drink specials — including $40 for 40 Fajitas on Wednesdays starting at 4pm, a commemorative mug with Fiesta Fizz or Pappasito’s signature reserva margarita, and a Fiesta Fudge brownie. Enter online to win one of 10 $400 gift cards (starting on October 1).
“It’s incredible to be celebrating four decades of Pappasito’s! The first Pappasito's Cantina opened on Richmond and Hillcroft, bringing our famous fajitas and margaritas to Houstonians, and now we have grown to over 20 restaurants throughout Texas and Georgia,” says Christina Pappas, Vice President of Marketing. Pappasito’s is driven by the same principles that family patriarch H.D. Pappas brought with him to the New World in 1897: a passion for quality food and service with every detail in place. Salsas are roasting in their kitchens daily; fresh-squeezed lime is used in the margaritas, tortillas are hand-made on site daily; and the kitchen uses the highest quality produce, meat and fish at each location.
Warehouse 72
Warehouse 72 (photo by Andrew Hemingway)
It’s that time of year again, and this Spring Branch-area spot is celebrating with an Oktoberfest beer dinner ($55) all month long! Hoist a toast to seasonal dishes like fried quail, sweet potato gnocchi, butternut squash soup, pumpkin brownies and more. Beer flights ($17) include local delights Karbach, Saint Arnold Brewery, Buffalo Brewing, and Lone Pint Brewery.
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Justin Giuffrada and Andrew Geisel of Citizens of Montrose
“New York is a wild and wonderful place I am eternally grateful to for helping me build a business and where I met my fiancée. But I felt like it was time for a new chapter, out of New York,” says Geisel, who grew up in Gold Coast, Australia. With his forthcoming wedding, the couple wanted a more “normal life with a house, a backyard and plenty of parking.”
Geisel met his current biz partner and fellow Aussie Giuffrada in 2015 while working as a barista in a popular Manhattan café. They quickly became mates and eventually formed the Citizens brand with three shops in New York, which Giuffrada runs. Leveraging his architecture degree, Geisel handled the design of the spaces and collateral as well as the direction of the coffee program. (In Houston, he created a Waiting Room for guests to self-serve coffee and beer from taps.) When they decided to expand, they first looked at San Diego, a beachy-cool town with active vibes that channeled Australia. Ultimately, they set their radar on Texas.
“We considered Austin but picked Houston because it’s a foodie town,” explains Geisel. “Houstonians are adventurous diners, so we thought they would embrace the Aussie concept, plus the sheer size of Houston is tremendous so the idea of growing it here made better business sense.” At Citizens, the duo champions everything they love about an Australian café. The fresh fare is eye-opening, bright and modern, much like the space. “We offer items like bowls and smoothies, but it’s not all health food. There’s something for everyone, especially those craving a big brekkie.”
Expect Texas tweaks like the BBQ-pulled-pork eggs benny with chipotle hollandaise; a mouthwatering double brisket burger; and cast-iron baked eggs with chorizo. The scratch-made cheddar biscuit sandwich — egg, cheese, bacon, tomato chutney — is a staple, and the banana bread French toast with miso butterscotch and mascarpone also wows. The “famous smashing avocado” toast (apparently invented in Australia) sports feta and beetroot hummus.
Its full coffee bar is a signature of Citizens, joined by fresh juices, wellness lattes and slushies, as well as cocktails (Kiwi marg, anyone?). When Geisel isn’t bustling around Citizens, he loves playing chess and is really into vintage audio stereos (turntables) and old jazz. Regarding the future of Citizens, Geisel says, “We adore the idea of sharing our brand with additional wonderful neighborhoods in Houston.”
Banana Bread French Toast
Brunch