A new casual restaurant ideal for a lazy hangout day is now open in The Heights. With food inspired by eateries on Texas farm-to-market roads, as well as other regional fare, chef Ryan Hildebrand’s FM Kitchen and Bar (1112 Shepherd, 832-804-6006) opened this week for lunch and dinner. The grand opening this weekend features festivities and live music, starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening. Hildebrand expects to start brunch service in the coming months.

The food menu includes an already-famous burger (thanks to it being previewed for a long time at Hildebrand’s former restaurant, Triniti, before it closed), Frito pie, Cobb salad, chicken-fried steak. There are also lighter, more finessed items, such as shrimp and avocado campechana and lemon-thyme brick chicken.

Drink options include a variety of craft beer, including local brews, domestic craft beer and a few imports. The bar serves a selection of wine at $7 per glass or $25 per bottle, as well as signature and standard cocktails. The newly opened restaurant also plans to install a walk-up window near the bar for outdoor drink service.

Hildebrand says that while the process of opening has been challenging, he likes how the concept developed and evolved. “I love the way the place came together as a whole. In my past restaurant openings, the food drove every single detail—the plates, the wine, the décor—everything,” says Hildebrand. “Here, it’s much more holistic. The food, the art, the music are all equal contributors to the experience.”

The result is a laid-back, playful environment with well-ex food and beverage selections done well. “We want to be a place you’ll spend the whole day enjoying,” says Hildebrand.

So, how will FM Kitchen and Bar differ from other hang out spots? “The food component will set us apart,” says Hildebrand. “We’re still holding our food to a very high standard, but this time in a free-form, casual setting. You can bring the kids, or the dog, or 10 friends.”

Hildebrand explains that guests can customize the experience they want to have. Spend hours playing games and listening to music, or sit inside for a quiet drink and bite of food. Look for FM Kitchen and Bar to become a preferred urban oasis for the surrounding neighborhoods, as well as for anyone who travels the Shepherd corridor.

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.