What pandemic? Major restaurants opened in 2021
Restaurant openings continued even as the pandemic brought uncertainty. Here are some of the major restaurant openings of 2021 that proved not all was gloom and doom on the city’s restaurant scene:
Cafe Leonelli and Le Jardinier, with some Michelin star power behind them, brought new excitement to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
In July, the owners of the perpetually packed Brasserie 19 made a big showing with the opening of Gratify in Rice Village.
Two James Beard Award-winning chefs opened new concepts: Chris Shepherd’s Georgia James Tavern downtown and Hugo Ortega’s Urbe in Uptown Park.
Yelo, from Phat Eatery owner Alex Au-Yeung, opened in Katy Asian Town, invigorating the city’s banh mi trade.
Houston’s Four Seasons added some star power with Toro Toro, a panLatin steakhouse from global restaurateur Richard Sandoval.
The acclaimed Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago added to the thriving Asian dining scene with its new Katy location.
River Oaks got Lulu’s from the owners of Armandos. Restaurateur Benjamin Berg brought new Italian concept Trattoria Sofia to the Heights. Maize, an upscale Mexican restaurant, took its bow in November. Gatsby’s Prime Steakhouse made its March debut in Montrose. Common Bond Brasserie began service in a gleaming new home downtown.
Highline Park joined its sister concept Casa Nomad at MKT Heights. That Heights development also saw the opening of DaGama, a new PortugueseIndian concept from the owners of Oporto.
Fegen’s, featuring Southern Italian-American fare, debuted in the Heights in the former Liberty Kitchen space.
Alba Ristorante, with chef Maurizio Ferrarese, opened at the Hotel Granduca. Mahesh’s Kitchen, an upscale Indian restaurant, came to Sugar Land at Town Square.
The New York Eatery, from the owners of NY Deli & Coffee Shop, bounded into Bellaire; Sushi Rebel, from the owners of Uptown Sushi, opened at CityPlace; Winnie’s brought Nola-inspired po’boys and cocktails to Midtown; Bodega Bellaire bowed in Bellaire; and Shoot the Moon, billed as Houston’s first self-service bar and restaurant, opened in Spring Branch.
Night Moves Hospitality might have made the biggest newbie footprint, unveiling four concepts in Houston in 2021, including Space Cowboy, Trash Panda Drinking Club, Live Oak Bar & Grill and Chivos.