Happy-Hour Hot Spot The Nash Bows Downtown

Kirsten Gilliam
Happy-Hour Hot Spot The Nash Bows Downtown

Pan-seared snapper

AT THE ONSET of the pandemic, tons of cool new projects were slated for Downtown. And while some were delayed or canceled, others are braving the Covid climate and finally opening — to the excitement of many.


One of those resolute restaurants is The Nash, which is now open daily from 4pm-9pm inside the historic Star, formerly known as the Texaco Building. There's a large, dog-friendly patio, and spacious interior that boasts a floor-to-ceiling bar and open kitchen.

Catering to Downtown residents and a hopefully increasing number of visitors, the globally inspired menu — developed by culinary prodigy Omar Pereney, whom Houstonians may remember from his teenage days helming the kitchen at Peska — is full of shareable, seasonal items, plus plenty of hearty steaks and chops. Tater tots here are made with aged smoked cheddar, roasted corn, jalapeno and herbed crema fresca, while the Korean bacon comes with a gochujang barbecue sauce. And Pereney's take on the Green Goddess salad has roasted asparagus and a perfectly thin and crunchy parmesan crisp.

There's a large, hard-to-miss pizza oven in the middle of the open kitchen, and guests can expect to be enticed by pies like the Pizza Bianco with truffled honey, or the house special: pepperoni, bacon, corn and jalapeno. (There's even a dessert pizza, with caramel apples and vanilla gelato!) But other large plates, like a cauliflower paneer curry, shouldn't be overlooked, nor should the simply grilled filet mignon served with creamed spinach or "chef's fries."

Happy hour at The Nash, on weekdays from 4pm-6pm, will include deals on snacks and signature cocktails; lunch and brunch menus will be rolled out soon.

Food

Actor Alan Brincks gets his makeup done for 'A Midsummer Night's Dream.'

BEGINNING AUG. 1 THROUGH Aug. 10, the Houston Shakespeare Festival, the professional arm of the University of Houston’s School of Theater and Dance, takes the stage at Miller Outdoor Theatre for its 50th iteration. The milestone event includes productions of Romeo & Juliet and A Midsummer Night's Dream, plus "Bard talks," all at no cost to viewers.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Dandelion Cafe owners Sarah Lieberman and J.C. Ricks with Mireya Villarreal of GMA, Chris Shepherd and Lindsey Brown of Southern Smoke Foundation (photo by Shane Dante Photography)

THE SOUTHERN SMOKE Foundation, established by chef Chris Shepherd, has only been around for seven years — but that's long enough to have helped hospitality workers through hurricanes, freezes, a pandemic, and countless other personal situations requiring emergency relief.

Keep Reading Show less
Food