Kahani Social Group, which owns Amrina in The Woodlands as well as Pok Pok Po and Bōl in Midtown Houston, has announced the opening date for its newest restaurant. Kitchen Rumors is located at 2310 Decatur, the space that has housed a succession of notable restaurants: Beaver’s, Decatur Bar & Pop-Up Factory and Xin Chao. Kitchen Rumors will officially debut on Friday, June 27. Reservations will be available as the opening date approaches via OpenTable.

As is the case with Kahani Social Group’s other restaurants, chef Jassi Bindra, who earned national attention as a winner of Food Network’s chef competition show, “Chopped”, is guiding the menu. Kitchen Rumors will offer a fully fledged cocktail and bar program, and the team’s general manager, Mike Raymond, is quite familiar with those offerings as he was one of the original owners of Reserve 101 in downtown Houston. 

“At Kitchen Rumors, we’re not just serving food — we’re sharing secrets, stories, and a taste of something unexpected,” teased Bindra via a press release. While the menu has not been shared yet, a look at Kitchen Rumors’ Instagram account reveals dishes reimagined with Indian ingredients. These include charred oysters boldly flavored with tikka spice and chimichurri mignonette, Bison Short Rib Nihari and Shahi Tukda Panna Cotta with milk-soaked bread, pistachio and rose. Photos provided by the company reveal additional intriguing creations such as Butter Chicken Ramen and infladita. That’s the name of a Mexican puffed up (or inflated) tortilla, but looks like a setup that lets diners create their chaat, a type of Indian snacks.

The bar program promises cocktails flavored with adventurous syrups and infused spirits. The cocktail menu has not yet been published, but, again, we can glean some information from Instagram. One unnamed cocktail includes honeydew and cantaloupe-infused Hendrick’s Gin, ginger, fresh lemon zest and curry leaf, while another features blanco tequila, Angostura bitters, fresh citrus juices, Velvet Falernum, a spritz of mezcal and orange oil. The wine program will consist of selections from small producers, as well as more familiar reds and whites, to go with Indian-inspired cuisine. 

Based on this information, our early impression of Kitchen Rumors is that it will be a close relative of Amrina, but perhaps even more ambitious. 

The dining room will sport bold colors and is designed in such a way to make Kitchen Rumors a beckoning space for couples out on date night as well as groups looking for a festive meal. 

“With Kitchen Rumors, we wanted to create something exciting but approachable — a place where you can have a world-class meal, sip a seriously good cocktail, and still walk out feeling like you scored,” said Surpreet Singh, founder of Kahani Social Group. “It’s high-quality without the high-pressure – bold flavors, great energy, and the kind of night that leaves you smiling and saying, ‘That was worth every penny.’”  

Kitchen Rumors’ hours will be from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, as well as Sunday, and from 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (It will be closed on Mondays.) Happy hour runs Tuesday through Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m. and features specials on both drinks and food. 

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.