Greater Houston Area Restaurants Show Us Their Safety Procedures
“Restaurant: Impossible” Episode Featuring Habanera & The Guero Airing Tonight
Houston Italian Restaurant Turns to Technology to Bring Winemakers to Town — Virtually
Texas Issues Detailed Rules for Reopening Bars — Updated
Three Houston Restaurant Businesses Are Shedding Locations
Restaurants Can Open at 50% Capacity, Bars at 25% On May 22
Greater Houston Area Restaurants Show Us Their Safety Procedures
For many restaurant owners, the health and safety of its customers have long been a top priority. It’s the nature of hospitality. In addition, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston-area restaurants were required to follow strict health and safety regulations. However, the arrival of coronavirus has made ensuring the safety of customers and staff more […]
“Restaurant: Impossible” Episode Featuring Habanera & The Guero Airing Tonight
Habanera & The Guero at 9902 Gulf Freeway, which is owned by Vanessa Lomeli and Ben Downing, received a $10,000 makeover from Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible“, as well as from craftspeople and fans recruited to help. Tonight, the resulting episode — the first of “Restaurant: Impossible” season 17 and entitled “Fixing a Family in […]
Houston Italian Restaurant Turns to Technology to Bring Winemakers to Town — Virtually
The dining room closures spurred by COVID-19 prompted many Houston restaurateurs and wine bar owners to start thinking of new, creative ideas of what they could do to continue not only serving customers but expanding their culinary worlds and wine knowledge. In the case of ROMA — located in a historic home built in 1939 […]
Three Houston Restaurant Businesses Are Shedding Locations
Treebeards, Ragin’ Cajun and Dak & Bop are all shuttering locations — in two cases, the oldest ones. Two are closing due to rent increases, while the other cites the coronavirus pandemic as one of the factors. Treebeards is Closing Its Oldest Location in Market Square As first reported by KHOU Channel 11, the longstanding […]
Restaurants Can Open at 50% Capacity, Bars at 25% On May 22
Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that restaurants can begin operating dining rooms at 50-percent capacity and that bars can open at 25-percent capacity on Friday, May 22. The announcement has been eagerly awaited by many independent restaurant and bar owners who are struggling with reduced or no revenue, and few avenues for financial help. […]
Houston, We Have a Podcast!
About six weeks ago, Houston Food Finder quietly rolled out a new podcast. (Those who follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter probably caught a few of the early episodes.) Called Houston Restaurant News Today, it’s hosted and produced by editor and publisher Phaedra Cook. The recent guests are associate editor, food historian and Foodways […]
Longstanding Montrose Restaurant Dolce Vita Set to Close Soon
After nearly a year on the market, owner and chef Marco Wiles says that Dolce Vita Pizzeria Enoteca at 500 Westheimer is now sold. He declined to name the purchaser, only saying that it is an investment group. “I have no idea what their plans are,” he said. Sunday, May 24, is the last day […]
Houston Restaurants Weigh Benefits and Pitfalls of Third-Party Delivery Services
A mere decade ago in Houston, restaurant delivery was limited to pizza joints and a handful of other restaurants. Third-party delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and Postmates have changed all that. What started with one online platform in 1995 — World Wide Waiter — is now a $18 billion industry in the […]
2020 James Beard Award Nominees Include Five Houston Finalists — Updated
To help add a touch of joy in one of the darkest times in restaurant and bar history, the James Beard Foundation opted to go ahead and reveal the list of 2020 award finalists. While there are a few bright spots for Houston, only three of the 14 area semifinalists for the restaurant awards made […]
As Texas Reopens, the Hospitality Industry Faces Hard Decisions
Around 10 p.m. on Friday, March 13, Grotto server Luis Amora noticed that the staff at a nearby downtown hotel were gathered in a banquet hall. Since it was late for a staff meeting, he wondered if the hotel was closing. Amora’s concerns were not unfounded. Just a few days earlier, the Houston Livestock Show […]
Greater Houston Area Restaurants Show Us Their Safety Procedures
For many restaurant owners, the health and safety of its customers have long been a top priority. It’s the nature of hospitality. In addition, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston-area restaurants were required to follow strict health and safety regulations. However, the arrival of coronavirus has made ensuring the safety of customers and staff more […]
“Restaurant: Impossible” Episode Featuring Habanera & The Guero Airing Tonight
Habanera & The Guero at 9902 Gulf Freeway, which is owned by Vanessa Lomeli and Ben Downing, received a $10,000 makeover from Food Network show “Restaurant: Impossible“, as well as from craftspeople and fans recruited to help. Tonight, the resulting episode — the first of “Restaurant: Impossible” season 17 and entitled “Fixing a Family in […]
Houston Italian Restaurant Turns to Technology to Bring Winemakers to Town — Virtually
The dining room closures spurred by COVID-19 prompted many Houston restaurateurs and wine bar owners to start thinking of new, creative ideas of what they could do to continue not only serving customers but expanding their culinary worlds and wine knowledge. In the case of ROMA — located in a historic home built in 1939 […]
Three Houston Restaurant Businesses Are Shedding Locations
Treebeards, Ragin’ Cajun and Dak & Bop are all shuttering locations — in two cases, the oldest ones. Two are closing due to rent increases, while the other cites the coronavirus pandemic as one of the factors. Treebeards is Closing Its Oldest Location in Market Square As first reported by KHOU Channel 11, the longstanding […]
Restaurants Can Open at 50% Capacity, Bars at 25% On May 22
Today, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that restaurants can begin operating dining rooms at 50-percent capacity and that bars can open at 25-percent capacity on Friday, May 22. The announcement has been eagerly awaited by many independent restaurant and bar owners who are struggling with reduced or no revenue, and few avenues for financial help. […]
Houston, We Have a Podcast!
About six weeks ago, Houston Food Finder quietly rolled out a new podcast. (Those who follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter probably caught a few of the early episodes.) Called Houston Restaurant News Today, it’s hosted and produced by editor and publisher Phaedra Cook. The recent guests are associate editor, food historian and Foodways […]
Longstanding Montrose Restaurant Dolce Vita Set to Close Soon
After nearly a year on the market, owner and chef Marco Wiles says that Dolce Vita Pizzeria Enoteca at 500 Westheimer is now sold. He declined to name the purchaser, only saying that it is an investment group. “I have no idea what their plans are,” he said. Sunday, May 24, is the last day […]
Houston Restaurants Weigh Benefits and Pitfalls of Third-Party Delivery Services
A mere decade ago in Houston, restaurant delivery was limited to pizza joints and a handful of other restaurants. Third-party delivery services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub and Postmates have changed all that. What started with one online platform in 1995 — World Wide Waiter — is now a $18 billion industry in the […]
2020 James Beard Award Nominees Include Five Houston Finalists — Updated
To help add a touch of joy in one of the darkest times in restaurant and bar history, the James Beard Foundation opted to go ahead and reveal the list of 2020 award finalists. While there are a few bright spots for Houston, only three of the 14 area semifinalists for the restaurant awards made […]
As Texas Reopens, the Hospitality Industry Faces Hard Decisions
Around 10 p.m. on Friday, March 13, Grotto server Luis Amora noticed that the staff at a nearby downtown hotel were gathered in a banquet hall. Since it was late for a staff meeting, he wondered if the hotel was closing. Amora’s concerns were not unfounded. Just a few days earlier, the Houston Livestock Show […]
Shake Off the Stay-at-Home Blues With These Guilt-Free Houston Cookies
“Healthy treats” always sounds like an oxymoron. Either it’s a treat worth abandoning all virtue for, or it’s not worth eating. However, some people, such as those fighting diabetes, don’t have a choice, yet still deserve treats. Others just want a healthier option. To meet these needs, Houston business ChipMonk Baking, which was founded by […]
The Restaurants That Teamed Up with Houston Shift Meal to Feed Thousands — Updated
With the COVID-19 curve in the greater Houston area settling into a dissatisfying, jagged plateau rather than the sloping downhill curve we’re all waiting for, some restaurants have stayed closed. Due to a state health mandate, bars are still closed. Some restaurants have opened, but only at 25% capacity. That means that thousands of area […]
Houston Restaurants Prepare Unique To-Go Packs for Mother’s Day 2020
After a very long six weeks, restaurants were finally allowed to re-open dining rooms —at a vastly lowered capacity of 25% guest occupancy — on May 1. While some reopened, with the total number of coronavirus cases still climbing in Houston, some owners are choosing a more cautious approach — and so are many Houston […]
Celebrate Mother’s Day With Rainbow Lodge To-Go!
Sponsored Enjoy a new Mother’s Day tradition with Rainbow Lodge and exceptional to-go menus for celebrating at home! This year, the holiday falls on Sunday, May 10, and The Lodge has everything you need to honor the important women in your life with beautiful meals complete with cocktails and wine. Executive Chef Mark Schmidt has […]
Liven Up Stay-At-Home Cinco de Mayo With these Fun Houston Restaurant Packs
Even though closed bars and social distancing is making for the Weirdest Cinco de Mayo Ever, there’s no reason to not celebrate at home. Houston restaurants all over town are putting together great food and drink packages to liven up the day. The Original Ninfa’s, 2704 Navigation and 1700 Post Oak: In addition to its […]
The Houston Restaurants Staying With To-Go & Delivery Only, At Least For Now — Updated 5/12
Updated, May 12, 2020 On Monday, April 27, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced he’s letting the statewide stay-at-home order expire as planned at midnight on April 30. On May 1, restaurants across the state were allowed to reopen but only at 25-percent customer capacity. To facilitate a safe reopening, the state also issued an extensive […]
Enjoy Rainbow Lodge At Home Two Ways With Virtual Wine Tastings And Special Menus
Sponsored Right now, Rainbow Lodge has two fun and delicious ways to bring its elegant wild game fare and exceptional service to your home. The dining room may be closed, but Executive Chef Mark Schmidt and Beverage Director Marc Borel are here to provide the same quality experiences you expect. The popular monthly wine tastings […]
Samurai Noodle’s New Ramen Kits Make It Easy To Savor At Home or Cater at Work
Sponsored Enjoy the comfort of gourmet traditional Japanese ramen at home with to-go kits from Samurai Noodle. The shop, with locations near the Heights in Houston and in Katy, has already done the hard part — crafting the housemade, fresh noodles, labor-intensive broths and exceptional toppings. All you have to do is order according to […]
All of Our Houston Restaurant Takeout & Delivery Lists – Updated 5/1
To help slow the spread of Coronavirus, the dining rooms of Houston-area restaurants have been shut down since mid-March. However, many have transitioned to takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. This gives diners the opportunity to take a break from cooking and support local businesses during this especially difficult time. With federal relief funds for small […]
Enjoy a Week of Crawfish, Dumplings and More at Phat Eatery in Katy
Sponsored Phat Eatery at 23119 Colonial Parkway at Katy Asian Town center is now handling all its deliveries with its own staff! This helps keep the employees’ jobs secure — and it’s just in time for a week featuring the return of our consistently sold-out Malaysian crawfish boils, along with other delivery and to-go specials. […]
Shake Off the Stay-at-Home Blues With These Guilt-Free Houston Cookies
“Healthy treats” always sounds like an oxymoron. Either it’s a treat worth abandoning all virtue for, or it’s not worth eating. However, some people, such as those fighting diabetes, don’t have a choice, yet still deserve treats. Others just want a healthier option. To meet these needs, Houston business ChipMonk Baking, which was founded by […]
The Restaurants That Teamed Up with Houston Shift Meal to Feed Thousands — Updated
With the COVID-19 curve in the greater Houston area settling into a dissatisfying, jagged plateau rather than the sloping downhill curve we’re all waiting for, some restaurants have stayed closed. Due to a state health mandate, bars are still closed. Some restaurants have opened, but only at 25% capacity. That means that thousands of area […]
Houston Restaurants Prepare Unique To-Go Packs for Mother’s Day 2020
After a very long six weeks, restaurants were finally allowed to re-open dining rooms —at a vastly lowered capacity of 25% guest occupancy — on May 1. While some reopened, with the total number of coronavirus cases still climbing in Houston, some owners are choosing a more cautious approach — and so are many Houston […]
Celebrate Mother’s Day With Rainbow Lodge To-Go!
Sponsored Enjoy a new Mother’s Day tradition with Rainbow Lodge and exceptional to-go menus for celebrating at home! This year, the holiday falls on Sunday, May 10, and The Lodge has everything you need to honor the important women in your life with beautiful meals complete with cocktails and wine. Executive Chef Mark Schmidt has […]
Liven Up Stay-At-Home Cinco de Mayo With these Fun Houston Restaurant Packs
Even though closed bars and social distancing is making for the Weirdest Cinco de Mayo Ever, there’s no reason to not celebrate at home. Houston restaurants all over town are putting together great food and drink packages to liven up the day. The Original Ninfa’s, 2704 Navigation and 1700 Post Oak: In addition to its […]
The Houston Restaurants Staying With To-Go & Delivery Only, At Least For Now — Updated 5/12
Updated, May 12, 2020 On Monday, April 27, Texas governor Greg Abbott announced he’s letting the statewide stay-at-home order expire as planned at midnight on April 30. On May 1, restaurants across the state were allowed to reopen but only at 25-percent customer capacity. To facilitate a safe reopening, the state also issued an extensive […]
Enjoy Rainbow Lodge At Home Two Ways With Virtual Wine Tastings And Special Menus
Sponsored Right now, Rainbow Lodge has two fun and delicious ways to bring its elegant wild game fare and exceptional service to your home. The dining room may be closed, but Executive Chef Mark Schmidt and Beverage Director Marc Borel are here to provide the same quality experiences you expect. The popular monthly wine tastings […]
Samurai Noodle’s New Ramen Kits Make It Easy To Savor At Home or Cater at Work
Sponsored Enjoy the comfort of gourmet traditional Japanese ramen at home with to-go kits from Samurai Noodle. The shop, with locations near the Heights in Houston and in Katy, has already done the hard part — crafting the housemade, fresh noodles, labor-intensive broths and exceptional toppings. All you have to do is order according to […]
All of Our Houston Restaurant Takeout & Delivery Lists – Updated 5/1
To help slow the spread of Coronavirus, the dining rooms of Houston-area restaurants have been shut down since mid-March. However, many have transitioned to takeout, curbside pickup and delivery. This gives diners the opportunity to take a break from cooking and support local businesses during this especially difficult time. With federal relief funds for small […]
Enjoy a Week of Crawfish, Dumplings and More at Phat Eatery in Katy
Sponsored Phat Eatery at 23119 Colonial Parkway at Katy Asian Town center is now handling all its deliveries with its own staff! This helps keep the employees’ jobs secure — and it’s just in time for a week featuring the return of our consistently sold-out Malaysian crawfish boils, along with other delivery and to-go specials. […]
Texas Issues Detailed Rules for Reopening Bars — Updated
At a press conference today, Texas governor Greg Abbott said that bars are allowed to reopen at 25% capacity on Friday, May 22, the same day that restaurants are allowed to increase occupancy to 50%. For the sake of clarity: a bar is defined as a business that earns 51% or more of its revenue […]
The Houston Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer
Neutral alcohols — especially isopropyl and ethyl — have become highly desirable substances during the coronavirus pandemic. This compound, which is found in hand sanitizers, surface cleaners and many other products, helps neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19, helping slow its spread. As concerns about the virus grew, our nation’s shelves began to run dry […]
Karbach Beer Pledges Support to the Southern Smoke Foundation
Karbach Brewing Co., a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, has announced a new commitment to support a charity that is in turn helping members of the hospitality industry — many of whom are out of work due to the COVID-19 situation. The brewing company will be supporting chef Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke Foundation through its sales […]
Craft Coffee Shop in Spring Announces Imminent Closure
It’s inevitable that some Houston-area businesses hit with the dining room closures related to COVID-19 are going to shutter and not return. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the few craft coffee shops in Spring, Texas is going to be among them. Momentum Coffee at 3555 Rayford announced on Facebook that its last day of […]
Houston Wine Bars Adapt to COVID-19 By Selling Wine To Go
Relaxing at your favorite wine bar is out of the question as we try to flatten the coronavirus curve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the wine bar home with you. Many area wine bars and wine-focused businesses have transitioned to retail-only, offering wine by the bottle as well as food for takeout, curbside […]
What to Drink & Eat at the Houston Rodeo Champion Wine Garden
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing, and thousands of people are headed to NRG Park for entertainment, barbecue, carnival fare and more. One part of the festivities that should not be overlooked is the Champion Wine Garden, featuring more than 70 award-winning wines from the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. Visitors […]
Master Sommelier David Keck of Goodnight Hospitality is Leaving Houston
Longtime Houston sommelier David Keck has announced plans to move from Houston and return to his home state of Vermont. “After over a decade of living and working in the hospitality business in Houston, I have decided to relocate to my home state of Vermont,” said Keck via a press release. “I’m excited to get […]
Where the Deals Are For National Margarita Day 2020 in Houston — Updated
If you already have weekend plans, it’s time to cancel them. Saturday, February 22 is National Margarita Day, and there are so many parties and establishments offering specials on traditional and upscale variations of the drink that you’ll want to make the most of it. El Big Bad, 419 Travis: Head downtown to the “World’s […]
Backstreet Cafe Cocktail Dinner Showcases Black Bartenders & Bartending History
To coincide with Black History Month, Backstreet Cafe is hosting a dinner on February 26 from 7 to 10 p.m. entitled Forgotten Legacy that showcases several notable bartenders in Houston, as well as looks back on black cultural history and contributions to cocktail evolution. The cost is $114.14 per ticket, total (the figure includes tax […]
Hike Your Way to Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. for the Food, the Beers and the View
On a warm winter day — one of those days that makes our long, steamy summers worth it — my daughter and I hiked through the Houston Arboretum to a high bank overlooking Buffalo Bayou. After our hike through a brambled, wooded landscape resembling what downtown looked like when the city was founded in 1836, […]
Texas Issues Detailed Rules for Reopening Bars — Updated
At a press conference today, Texas governor Greg Abbott said that bars are allowed to reopen at 25% capacity on Friday, May 22, the same day that restaurants are allowed to increase occupancy to 50%. For the sake of clarity: a bar is defined as a business that earns 51% or more of its revenue […]
The Houston Distilleries Making Hand Sanitizer
Neutral alcohols — especially isopropyl and ethyl — have become highly desirable substances during the coronavirus pandemic. This compound, which is found in hand sanitizers, surface cleaners and many other products, helps neutralize the virus that causes COVID-19, helping slow its spread. As concerns about the virus grew, our nation’s shelves began to run dry […]
Karbach Beer Pledges Support to the Southern Smoke Foundation
Karbach Brewing Co., a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev, has announced a new commitment to support a charity that is in turn helping members of the hospitality industry — many of whom are out of work due to the COVID-19 situation. The brewing company will be supporting chef Chris Shepherd’s Southern Smoke Foundation through its sales […]
Craft Coffee Shop in Spring Announces Imminent Closure
It’s inevitable that some Houston-area businesses hit with the dining room closures related to COVID-19 are going to shutter and not return. Unfortunately, it looks like one of the few craft coffee shops in Spring, Texas is going to be among them. Momentum Coffee at 3555 Rayford announced on Facebook that its last day of […]
Houston Wine Bars Adapt to COVID-19 By Selling Wine To Go
Relaxing at your favorite wine bar is out of the question as we try to flatten the coronavirus curve, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take the wine bar home with you. Many area wine bars and wine-focused businesses have transitioned to retail-only, offering wine by the bottle as well as food for takeout, curbside […]
What to Drink & Eat at the Houston Rodeo Champion Wine Garden
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is in full swing, and thousands of people are headed to NRG Park for entertainment, barbecue, carnival fare and more. One part of the festivities that should not be overlooked is the Champion Wine Garden, featuring more than 70 award-winning wines from the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition. Visitors […]
Master Sommelier David Keck of Goodnight Hospitality is Leaving Houston
Longtime Houston sommelier David Keck has announced plans to move from Houston and return to his home state of Vermont. “After over a decade of living and working in the hospitality business in Houston, I have decided to relocate to my home state of Vermont,” said Keck via a press release. “I’m excited to get […]
Where the Deals Are For National Margarita Day 2020 in Houston — Updated
If you already have weekend plans, it’s time to cancel them. Saturday, February 22 is National Margarita Day, and there are so many parties and establishments offering specials on traditional and upscale variations of the drink that you’ll want to make the most of it. El Big Bad, 419 Travis: Head downtown to the “World’s […]
Backstreet Cafe Cocktail Dinner Showcases Black Bartenders & Bartending History
To coincide with Black History Month, Backstreet Cafe is hosting a dinner on February 26 from 7 to 10 p.m. entitled Forgotten Legacy that showcases several notable bartenders in Houston, as well as looks back on black cultural history and contributions to cocktail evolution. The cost is $114.14 per ticket, total (the figure includes tax […]
Hike Your Way to Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. for the Food, the Beers and the View
On a warm winter day — one of those days that makes our long, steamy summers worth it — my daughter and I hiked through the Houston Arboretum to a high bank overlooking Buffalo Bayou. After our hike through a brambled, wooded landscape resembling what downtown looked like when the city was founded in 1836, […]
Les restaurants de la région du Grand Houston nous montrent leurs procédures de sécurité – domoreso on Greater Houston Area Restaurants Show Us Their Safety Procedures
May 23, 2020 at 9:55 amPhaedra Cook on Texas Governor Says Restaurants — But Not Bars — Can Open on May 1 — Updated
May 22, 2020 at 10:57 amPhaedra Cook on Texas Governor Says Restaurants — But Not Bars — Can Open on May 1 — Updated
May 22, 2020 at 10:56 amNancy on “Restaurant: Impossible” Episode Featuring Habanera & The Guero Airing Tonight
May 21, 2020 at 8:50 pmLos restaurantes del área metropolitana de Houston nos muestran sus procedimientos de seguridad Alojamiento cabanas • La Bicok EcoLodge on As Texas Reopens, the Hospitality Industry Faces Hard Decisions
May 21, 2020 at 3:58 pmPhaedra Cook on Mascalzone Prepares to Pack Up & Leave Houston
May 21, 2020 at 1:12 pm