Love Croissants, 801 W. 16th, opened October 1 in the Heights. It’s the first standalone location for famed pastry chef Omar Pereney’s bakery and it will serve as its flagship cafe with an expanded menu and a high-touch drive-thru.
Pereney first began the concept at Weights + Measures, the Midtown eatery that is now part of Pereny’s Culinary Matters portfolio. With the new cafe space, the chef is adding yummy items such as the breakfast croissant, loaded with buttery scrambled eggs, cheddar, onion jam, spicy aioli and arugula. There are also lunch croissants like the turkey avocado club which starts with smoked house turkey from Bar-A-BBQ, then adds avocado, melty gouda and honey mustard. For kids, there is a peanut butter and strawberry filled croissant sandwich.
The grab-and-go selection includes fresh juices, desserts like strawberry guava tart and other prepared bites. There is also a selection of coffee drinks. The cafe is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. but the drive-thru will remain open until midnight Friday and Saturday.
The intimate cafe was designed by Gin Design Group with Cisneros Design Studio in charge of the architecture. While the interior only seats eight or so guests, there is an outdoor patio for additional seating. Pereney plans to use the outdoor space for live music, community events and neighborhood gatherings in the future.
Spectator’s Bar & Grill, 1259 Grand Central Parkway, opened in Conroe this week, making it the fourth for the Greater Houston area. And when we say Greater Houston area, we mean it. Its footprint extends to Richmond and Sugar Land, plus a recently opened spot in Katy. Just in time for the football season, this neighborhood sports bar has plenty of space for sports fans of all ages, with a family-friendly environment and casual dining menu.
The restaurant can accommodate 215 guests in its 6,500 square feet. For sports viewing, there are 40 televisions, almost one per five spectators. There’s also an outdoor patio with three televisions for the beautiful weather Houston is about to have.
Owner Aneal Mohammud is excited to be expanding the concept to yet another community. He said in a press release, “We want this to be a place where families feel comfortable bringing the kids, friends can meet for a meal and fans can settle in for a game.”
The food menu at Spectators features burgers, a hot honey crispy chicken sandwich, wings in a variety of flavors, Philly cheesesteak egg rolls and salads. The cheesesteak filling makes an appearance in the Texas Twinkies as well, its riff on bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.
True to its kid-friendly mission, there is the Little Sluggers menu for children under 12, offering bites like cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, quesadillas and grilled cheese. There’s also a weekend brunch menu with chicken and waffles, breakfast tacos and pancakes. The Hangover Burger, paired with a Bloody Mary may be the answer to what ails you.
The drink list has more than 60 brand cocktails including the spicy peach margarita, a maple bacon old fashioned and blueberry mojito. There’s a weekday happy hour plus daily specials.
Moderno, 10455 Briar Forest, will close its doors October 24, after 12 years. The announcement came via its social media. Owner John Moore told Chron.com that he decided not to renew the five-year-lease. While regulars are already bemoaning the loss of its tacos, brisket chili and potent margaritas, Moore has plans to to offer the breakfast tacos from a dedicated window at his Italian restaurant, Palazzo’s, in the same shopping center. He is also looking at adding some of the Moderno items, maybe even the margaritas, to the menu at Palazzo’s.
Tony’s Italian Deli, 1700 City Plaza, is currently going through its health inspection phase and is shooting to open softly in the next few weeks, according to a public relations spokesperson. When the sandwich shop opens in Spring, it will be the third location and the closest one to the Houston area. The other spots are in Montgomery and Tomball.
La La Land Kind Cafe, 14615 Mason, is currently in the works. It will be the second location in Cypress and the sixth in the Houston area. Known for its organic fair trade coffee and ceremonial grade matcha, it also has a brief menu of signature toasts such as truffle burrata and everything avocado, plus breakfast bites.
Truluck’s, 5350 Westheimer, will launch its seasonal return of Florida stone crab October 17, along with its locations at 1900 Hughes landing in The Woodlands. The upscale seafood restaurant makes a big deal out of the crabs, working closely with Florida crabbers to get the prized crustaceans from traps to restaurants directly.
The result is the serving of more than 300,000 fresh stone crab claws a season at its various locations in Texas, Florida, Illinois and Washington D.C. However, Houston is where it all started in 1992.
The cooked claws are served chilled and pre-cracked with a side of the restaurant’s signature mustard sauce. Because of possible supply fluctuations, the claws are listed at market price. Beginning October 19, Truluck’s Houston will offer buy one-get one half-off medium claws each Monday throughout the season.
Lankford’s is offering a dining deal this November at all three of its locations, including the original Midtown spot plus the newer ones in Bellaire and The Woodlands. From November 1 through November 30, dine-in guests will receive $10 off a food purchase of $50 or more.
