Adair Concepts, the family-owned company behind Adair Kitchen, Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors, Skeeter’s Mesquite Grill, Los Tios Mexican Restaurants and more, just expanded the restaurant empire again with a new bistro. Adair Downtown, overseen by chef Roberto Ozaeta is set to debut on Monday, January 27 in Wells Fargo Plaza at 1000 Louisiana. Ozaeta is a longtime employee of Adair Concepts who has worked with the company for about 20 years. The hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. — clearly geared toward serving breakfast, lunch and happy hour or early dinner to the downtown professional crowd. It also features small bites, wine and cocktails.

The menu, patterned after dishes at Eloise Nichols and Adair Kitchen, includes a variety of all-in-one bowls such as the Super Foods Bowl, Kale + Quinoa Bowl and Tuna Poke Bowl. There’s plenty of hot food too, though, and a few highlights that come from the other restaurants include Lemon Artichoke Soup, Joe’s Hot Chicken and Caramelized Brussel Sprouts – just to name a few. That said, Ozaeta created several new dishes explicitly for the new downtown restaurant such as Beef Tenderloin Crostini, Tuna Tartare, Chicken Paillard, Thai Salad and Avocado Chorizo Toast.

Located specifically in the southeast corner of the tower’s lobby, commercial real estate company CBRE managed the restaurant construction and DE Harvey Builders, Gensler Architects and McGarr Design & Interiors collaborated on the design. Thanks to the location and architecture, Adair Downtown is accessible from the building, street and tunnel system. Modeled after vintage grocers, a few of the notable design features include hand-cut subway tiles, pieta gray quartz countertops, brass bistro tables, a houndstooth-patterned marble floor and custom paintings commissioned from Aspen-based artist Christopher Martin.

Set up to be not just a restaurant and bar, but also a one-stop shop for mealtimes, at breakfast Adair Downtown has coffee drinks, pastries and juices. During happy hour, guests can enjoy not just the cocktail bar but also an outdoor patio. A grab-and-go market with prepackaged cold and hot food options, gourmet goods, fresh flowers and a small selection of gifts extends the concept’s offerings. Considering the amenities and location, Adair Downtown sounds like an ideal setup for both nearby residents and workers in a hurry.

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.