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The Heights Restaurant And Bar Scene - More Coming


Freelander

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There is a TABC application notice up at 4706 N. Main.  Have not heard anything else and cannot tell anything from the business entity on the notice. 

 

Also, the rumor mill has officially thrown Treadshack (Down House, Hunky Dory, etc.) into the mix as a possible successor to the Boom Boom Room space.

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Primo location.  The building will get a light remodel.  An improvement nevertheless.

 

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Gatlin BBQ moving to 3510 Ella 

 

 

Gatlin’s BBQ is growing up. The family-owned business that has been a local barbecue success story since it opened in June 2010 has long since outgrown its tiny storefront at 1221 W. 19th St. Now it is eying a larger location for its honest, homey barbecue that comes with a huge side order of hospitality.

This week the Gatlin family intends to sign a lease to open a much larger barbecue restaurant at 3510 Ella Boulevard at 34th Street, said Greg Gatlin who owns the business with his parents, Mary and Henry Gatlin. The new store, at 4,200 square feet, is huge compared to the 700-square-foot store (not including the 1,000-square-foot pit room) that the family currently operates. The new restaurant is expected to open in May

http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/12/gatlins-bbq-to-open-larger-restaurant/#29014101=0

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Restaurant Death Watch Reprieve:  The El reopened on Wednesday.  Not enough time to do a total revamp, but maybe to think about addressing issues listed on Yelp, Reddit, Google, and the Houston Press.  They did seek outside expertise but no deal was executed AFAIK but maybe they will implement the free advice given.  Or maybe not. :rolleyes:

 

 

After months of negotiations and shopping around different partners, the deal was done two weeks ago.  It's official.

Liberty Kitchen will run things now.

 

 

 

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LK is taking over The El? 

 

http://blog.chron.com/foodchronicles/2014/12/liberty-kitchen-owners-to-manage-and-operate-the-el-cantina-superior-in-the-heights/#29063101=0

 

That is correct.  Very interesting that the rival restaurant groups are willing to work together on a restaurant.  I have family in the restaurant biz.  The standard operating procedure is to let your rival fail hard and thin the herd.  

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After months of negotiations and shopping around different partners, the deal was done two weeks ago.  It's official.

Liberty Kitchen will run things now.

 

 

 

I've eaten plenty of Pink's Pizza, Lola's debris, etc. - enough to know that they can be pretty uneven. IMHO that's why the El was not living up to its potential.

 

ren-and-stimpy-gif.gif

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Also, Los Cucos is finally opening this weekend.  It is supposed to be a more upscale concept than the stuff they have in the burbs. 

 

I tried them this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. I had been to other Los Cucos restaurants near the outer burb areas but this one was very different.  The drinks were on point too! Great little place but its kind of pricey. 

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http://houston.eater.com/2014/12/15/7396455/meet-commonwealth-tqlas-replacement-on-washington-ave#4360032

 

Not in the Heights proper, but a good article from Houston Eater on a couple restaurants coming to Washington Ave.  Also, Urban Eats is now open on Washington Ave (http://houston.eater.com/2014/12/3/7329125/urban-eats-on-washington-avenue-now-open).  It is supposed to be breakfast, lunch and dinner with a bar too.  Live music on weekends.  Looks good.

 

All of the above shows a definite trend along Washington Ave towards a transition away from a party spot to a restaurant corridor for grown ups.  

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S3mh,

 

The unfortunate part of that is the party scene has been a lot more prevelant on White Oak lately.  I was just at Onion Creek Friday night and was discussing with one of the long time bartender's about how the scene had shifted dramatically in the past year.  (He was saying they have had to call the police and other bars more frequently lately to warn them about the drunken idiots causing problems). 

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http://houston.eater.com/2014/12/15/7396455/meet-commonwealth-tqlas-replacement-on-washington-ave#4360032

Not in the Heights proper, but a good article from Houston Eater on a couple restaurants coming to Washington Ave. Also, Urban Eats is now open on Washington Ave (http://houston.eater.com/2014/12/3/7329125/urban-eats-on-washington-avenue-now-open). It is supposed to be breakfast, lunch and dinner with a bar too. Live music on weekends. Looks good.

All of the above shows a definite trend along Washington Ave towards a transition away from a party spot to a restaurant corridor for grown ups.

I'm perfectly happy with that

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http://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/12-16-14-big-sexy-promises-it-will-worth-the-wait-for-donut-emporium-looks-for-new-chicken-space/

 

Bird House will close and possibly move to GOOF, mitigating the Heights Fried Chicken Glut of 2014. 

 

Hugs and Donuts now looking at mid January to open.  Link above has some good perspective on the plight of the little guy in the whole build out/permitting gambit in Houston.

 

 

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Word on the street is Revival Market and Coltivare owners, Ryan Pera and Morgan Weber have more than their eyes set on a property for an upcoming concept. The duo are rumored to have purchased an abandoned building on the corner of Yale and West 11th Street. A former Citgo stationresides on the property located at 1039 Yale, littered in concert posters and street art. Pera and Weber's spokesperson couldn't confirm if plans for a third concept existed, but if sources are correct, the lot will transform into the pair's next restaurant, likely by 2016. 

The Revival Market duo have had a banner year with the opening of its rustic Italian restaurant Coltivare in January. Earning constant raves from local media, Best New Restaurant nomination fromBon Appétit and one of Garden & Gun's best dish of the South since, whatever Pera and Weber may have up their sleeves will be worth keeping an eye out for.

http://houston.eater.com/2014/12/29/7433043/coltivare-owners-ryan-pera-and-morgan-weber-may-possibly-have-plans#4363648

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Revival Market put in more seating this weekend.  I will start my own speculation that they might start doing some dinner service once they get a booze permit.  Maybe that will give them the chance to get a menu ready for a new concept at the gas station.

 

Also, Foreign Correspondents has landed at the Braun soon to be remodeled strip center on N. Main just up the street from Spanish Flowers.  The framing is up at W 18th for the other two restaurants.  

 

 

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These prices at these restaurants are just ridiculous. Ive lived here a long time and its comical what some folks think is good food. How are you going to open a Mexican restaurant that doesnt serve REAL Mexican food? Putting a car on a building and hanging up colorful lights doesnt do it. The food folks. Its the food.SMH. I'll just keep on making a trip to the other side of 45 or East Houston for some authentic Mexican Food. 

 

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These prices at these restaurants are just ridiculous. Ive lived here a long time and its comical what some folks think is good food. How are you going to open a Mexican restaurant that doesnt serve REAL Mexican food? Putting a car on a building and hanging up colorful lights doesnt do it. The food folks. Its the food.SMH. I'll just keep on making a trip to the other side of 45 or East Houston for some authentic Mexican Food. 

 

 

Rents go up, so do the prices.  That's why the most interesting restaurants are rarely found in the nicest neighborhoods.

 

I'm sure we'll see more places close due to rent pressure or demolition this year. 

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Rents go up, so do the prices.  That's why the most interesting restaurants are rarely found in the nicest neighborhoods.

 

I'm sure we'll see more places close due to rent pressure or demolition this year. 

 

I agree with this, but if you are going to put out a product in a city that is saturated with plenty of delicious 'authetintic' foods, it better be at least close to it. Just my opinion.

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These prices at these restaurants are just ridiculous. Ive lived here a long time and its comical what some folks think is good food. How are you going to open a Mexican restaurant that doesnt serve REAL Mexican food? Putting a car on a building and hanging up colorful lights doesnt do it. The food folks. Its the food.SMH. I'll just keep on making a trip to the other side of 45 or East Houston for some authentic Mexican Food. 

 

Since the Liberty Oyster crew took over, The El Cantino Real Superior food has improved considerably.  As has the service.  Of course it's their spin on Mexican food--but it's tasty.  

 

(What is REAL Mexican food?  Tex-Mex?  Or from some region of Mexico?  Which region? High-brow or low-brow?  Seafood? The city boasts fine examples of all those subtypes & they all get my money in turn. El Superior is, at last, a good addition to the neighborhood.)

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Since the Liberty Oyster crew took over, The El Cantino Real Superior food has improved considerably.  As has the service.  Of course it's their spin on Mexican food--but it's tasty.  

 

(What is REAL Mexican food?  Tex-Mex?  Or from some region of Mexico?  Which region? High-brow or low-brow?  Seafood? The city boasts fine examples of all those subtypes & they all get my money in turn. El Superior is, at last, a good addition to the neighborhoo

I'm sure it will be. The decor and colors are beautiful.  <_< Food is OK at best and yes they are getting your money. Im just saying if you explore a little, there are many hidden gems around the area.....for so much less $$.

 

What is real Mexican food? Depends, if your in Mexico, its there. Youre in Texas, so there goes your answer.  

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There is a liquor licenses permit on the window at the former Citgo station.  I would assume this confirms the rumor.

 

Also 927 Studewood is being demolished today.  Future Glass Wall expansion?

 

 

While I'd love to be proven wrong, the most likely short-term outcome for 927 Studewood is parking for Glass Wall.  They currently make use of the lot of the former Stella Sola, which, if anyone ever leases that space, they'd lose.

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If I remember correctly the property sold for $1,000,000 which would make it a pretty expensive parking lot! But either way a parking lot is better that than what it was.

 

 

Was it $1M JUST for 927 Studewood?  That address is listed as 6250 s.f. of land, which would make $1M about 2.5x market value.

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