B.B. Italia, which opened in the former Carmelo’s space at 14795 Memorial in May 2019, has temporarily closed as restaurateur Benjamin Berg has decided to move it to a “more suitable space”. (Berg’s other restaurants include B&B Butchers, B.B. Lemon and The Annie Café & Bar.) The new spot — the address of which has not yet been disclosed but it supposed to be just a couple of blocks away — will still be in the Memorial/Energy Corridor area. It is expected to open in a few months.

Why relocate? In normal times, the fact that the former Carmelo’s space was outfitted with multiple private dining rooms is advantageous. During a time when social gatherings are frowned upon? Not so much, as Berg explains:

“Due to the pandemic, most offices in the Energy Corridor are still not at full capacity and companies are not planning private events. Because B.B. Italia is the second largest restaurant in our company, and has more private event rooms than any of our other locations, it just wasn’t a viable business plan anymore. I am confident that we will be much more successful in the smaller space in which we plan to reopen.”

Some of B.B. Italia’s dishes, including pizzas and pastas, are going to remain available via Fair Food Co., the CloudKitchen facility in the Galleria area at 5832 Fairdale. Go online to order, or search for B.B. Italia directly on Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates or Grubhub.

As far as the former Carmelo’s space: according to a representative for Ben Berg: “We are not sure what is going to happen with it. It is in the landlord’s hands, but as soon as he announces [what’s happening to it next], we will let you know.”

Phaedra Cook

Phaedra Cook has written about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My Table magazine (now closed) and was the lead restaurant critic for the Houston Press for two years, eventually being promoted to food editor. Cook founded Houston Food Finder in November 2016 and has been its editor and publisher ever since.