We’re taking a quick break from laying out the December-January issue to give you a few updates on what’s been happening — and what’s about to happen — in the Houston food world. Here’s what we’ve been talking about at My Table:
The year-old Nara Sushi & Korean Kitchen has undergone more than minor renovations: The side of the restaurant facing Kipling Street, which previously served as a Korean-style barbecue room, has been transformed into an impressive bar/lounge. The revamped space also includes a second entrance into the restaurant right off Kipling where complimentary valet will be available. Nara is hosting a media party tonight to officially celebrate the room’s relaunch as well as introduce the new Fall/Winter menu.
Triniti Restaurant also has undergone a bar renovation and will be unveiling the newly refurbished Sanctuari bar to the public this Friday, November 7. Sanctuari, run by Leslie Ross and Laurie Sheddan — the dynamic duo won the 2014 Houston Culinary Award for Bar Service last month — has taken over the front bar of Triniti and is now its own operation, although the restaurant and bar will still share the same entrance. The drinks on offer will include herb-infused cocktails, non-alcoholic “mocktails” and revamped classics. Click here to read more from the Houston Chronicle‘s Alison Cook.
The soon-to-open Whole Foods at 1700 Post Oak (phase II of BLVD Place) has also kept the drinking kind in mind, as the grocery store will feature bars on both levels as well as feature an in-store brewery. Drinking aside, the store also features a new prepared-foods section, a souvlaki grill, below-ground parking garage and other Whole Foods favorites. The store’s grand opening is this Thursday, November 6, at 8 am.
Also coming to BLVD Place Phase II is Fox Restaurant Concept’s North Italia (photo above). Initially projected to open this Fall, the Phoenix-based company now expects to have the Italian restaurant ready to go in early 2015. The restaurant group opened True Food Kitchen at BLVD Place Phase II in July (we have a review in our upcoming December-January edition of My Table), and we’re looking forward to the opening of the restaurant the group calls its “love letter to Italy.”
In other news, after entering a licensing agreement with Liquid Gold Hospitality Group to open a total of 18 El Tiempo restaurants beginning with a location in Webster, the El Tiempo Cantina group has changed its mind and has filed a federal law suit alleging bounced checks, among other things. The Laurenzo family may also have to close and move their El Tiempo Cantina location at 1308 Montrose next year since the landlord has sold the land under the restaurant to an apartment project development. The family is actively looking for another Montrose-area location to relocate the popular 1308 Cantina.
Also closing soon are Sorrel Urban Bistro on West Alabama at Greenbriar and Ruchi’s Taqueria El Rincon on South Shepherd at West Alabama. Ziggy Gruber of Kenny & Ziggy’s will take over Sorrel Urban Bistro’s space on January 1, 2015, with his new concept Dubrow’s New York Grill. And according to Swamplot, CVS Pharmacy will take over the shopping center on the corner of West Alabama and South Shepherd that houses Ruchi’s as well as Roeder’s Pub, a manicure salon and Oaks Cleaners.