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The Heights Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming


Freelander

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Cricket's 2.0 closed.  A sign on the door hints at some sort of reboot/renovation, but I have not heard anything further.  The original Crickets was quirky and in no way a James Beard contender.  But, it had a very unique vegetarian menu with some good dishes that you could not get anywhere else.  It was also just a fun place inside, especially with kids.  The successor seemed to just suck all the life out of it, leaving the interior devoid of anything on the walls and putting out a very uninspired new menu.    While there are more than enough people in the Heights to support more restaurants on 19th, the location in and of itself does not guarantee success.  Hopefully, the reboot will be much better or someone else will come along and do something good with that space.

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Isn't Scott Tycer involved with that one?

 

Yes, he bought it from the previous owner. I was pretty surprised to see it closed with the vaguely-worded sign on the door, and hope that it does return soon. I do agree that some of the physical changes that were made prior to the closure were disappointing. I realize that when a business changes hands, new ownership often has a different vision that involves significant changes, but IMO the changes that were implemented (particularly doing away with the seats in the front window) were not for the better. 

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I do not know all the details, but someone else was involved in this on both an ownership and management level.  There was some sort of affiliation/partnership with Kraftsmen and Tycer.  But I do not think he bought it outright or was running it.  Still, with the two Braun developments and the overall strength in the Heights, there is a lot of potential on 19th street.  Just serve some good food with good service and the line will be out the door.

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Went to good dog a little while ago.  I had a good meal.  The chili from the chillin' dog is now served on its own in a cup or bowl.  The menu can be found on their twitter feed.  https://twitter.com/GoodDogHouston  There is more than just hot dogs. This is a very good addition to the 'hood.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Fat Cat opens this weekend.  Boulevard Coffee, Mam's House of Ice Snowballs and Coltivare look to be very close to finishing their respective buildouts.  Htown StEats food truck is looking for space in the Heights for a doughnut shop.  That could be very interesting.

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Looking forward to getting some ice cream this weekend.  

 

With density and disposable income come restaurants and retail, and a lot of residential units are being added near 19th St. Hopefully over time, we'll see continuous walkable retail from Yale to Durham (Downhouse to Foreign Correspondents). This would require development/redevelopment of the following (for starters):

 

- Sand Dollar at 19th and Yale

- Former water storage and pumping station at Nicholson

- Chase drive-up bank at Nicholson (this is a staggeringly poor use of valuable land)

- Car Wash at Lawrence

 

 

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Awesome!   Looking forward to this one.  I went to Key West a few years back and there was a desert bar called "better than sex" which was a very adult "sexy atmosphere" desert bar.  Although it sounds kitchy and cliche', there was a wait out the door every night I was there and it was a pretty cool place.  (my wife and I went  after a night out and managed to get a table somehow).  Since then I've thought that would be something that would go over really well in The Heights where people love eating and drinking but not the "party atmosphere as much".

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has anyone tried heights general store yet? would love to hear other reviews.  we went last thursday and really enjoyed the food but were shocked to see it practically empty 8pm on thursday night, particualrly with torchy's packed next door. now granted, although the food was good the decor was a little bland and the prices seemed fairly expensive.

 

it was just odd that with all the press it had received recently that it would be so dead on a prime night out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I went to Fat Cat the other weekend.  A line of 8-10 people materialized as soon as I drove up with one lone hipster kid working the counter.  I almost drove off when two other helpers quickly emerged from in back and got everyone's orders taken in no time.  Took us longer to decide what to get than for the line to go down.  The ice cream is great and there are a ton of different things to get (novelties, shakes, sundaes, soft serve etc.).  They have rotating seasonal flavors and permanent standard flavors.  I am going to gain 10 lbs this summer.  Great addition to the neighborhood.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 weeks later...

Boulevard Coffee is awaiting final city inspections and looks to open this month. 

 

Town in City Brewing finally has approved plans and will break ground after a year of back and forth with the City.

 

The El on Studewood and White Oak is finally building out with a big cinderblock addition to the old gas station. 

 

 

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With 700+ units of high end apartments going in a block away, this location could make some serious money as a restaurant in the right hands.  I think it would get grandfathered on parking if they keep the building. 

 

 

 

It's 1200 s.f., and currently has 13 parking spaces, so they already meet the parking minimums.

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