Eat Local Concepts, the team behind Local Table, has transformed the former Italian Maid Café space into its newest restaurant. The Local Spot, which opened in Cross Creek Ranch on Saturday, August 23, leans American comfort, with pizzas, burgers, salads, sandwiches, and bites like nachos, Parmesan fries, chips and queso, and crispy chickpeas. Cool down with cocktails like the Cucumber Confidential (a refreshing cucumber martini) and Elijah’s Summer with A Saint, crafted with bourbon, elderflower, and cranberry. Wine, seltzers, and beer are also up for grabs.  

Venture out into The Woodlands to experience the newest location of this popular restaurant and bar, which opened Thursday, August 21. Diners can dive into a menu of American classics, including sandwiches, burgers, and pizza, with a solid selection of cocktails, draft beers, and wine. The 5,140-square-foot space will make diners feel right at home with its rustic charm, reclaimed Texas pine cladding, Douglas fir ceiling joists, vintage lighting, and cozy rugs.

Duckstache Hospitality, the restaurant group known for Japanese establishments like Kokoro and Doko, is expanding its reach in Houston again with this 26-seat sushi bar in Spring Branch. The third location of Handies Douzo opened its doors on Monday, August 18, with a menu brimming with hand rolls, sashimi, and crudo. Expect a laid-back vibe with a bar slinging sake, beer, wine, and cocktails, plus the inevitable appearance of its unofficial mascot—the rubber ducky.

Hidden within the Toasted Coconut is Houston’s newest jungle-themed bar, the Road to Nowhere. The watering hole opened its doors Thursday, August 14, in the former home of speakeasy Quiote. The Road to Nowhere’s drinks-only menu, created by head bartender Tiffany Kirk, showcases 16 cocktails—eight are original concoctions, and the other half pays homage to tiki and tropical classics. The 48-seat space boasts a moody vibe with kerosene lamps, glowing candles, greenery, and a hi-fi sound system perfect for vinyl. 

The Woodlands no longer has the longest bar in Texas—Kirby Ice House has unveiled its even larger 146-foot bar at its newest location in the Heights. The 3.5-acre destination boasts 24,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor spaces, plus a bar that’s large and in charge with 40 TVs and the ability to accommodate a whopping 800 bargoers. Even the parking is robust, with reportedly 400 spaces. Like Kirby Ice House’s other three locations (it has other outposts in Memorial and Upper Kirby), bargoers can sip on something from its list of curated wines, local craft brews, and signature cocktails. The bar also plans to offer a rotating lineup of food trucks.

Wine and charcuterie lovers, take note. Husband-and-wife-chef-duo Carly and John Whitehurst opened this new hangout on Friday, August 1. Located in CityCentre, the Board Room operates as a casual counter-service grab-and-go spot during the day, serving different styles of sandwich wraps, bowls, and salads. By night, the Board Room transforms into a lively, full-service destination with a variety of boards, including the Butcher Board and the option to build your own. Diners looking to do more than graze can order entrées like seared redfish and chicken piccata, and take their pick from its extensive drink menu, which has a dedicated section for spritzes and over 100 wines to choose from.

Known for its dependable chain restaurants, family-owned hospitality group Pappas Restaurants has expanded with a reboot that pays homage to its Greek roots in a space that blends old-school vibes with modernity. Yiayia’s officially opened Friday, August 1, with a menu that’s designed to be shared. Inspired by the family matriarch Yiayia Mary and Greece’s yiayiades (grandmothers), the restaurant dishes out dolmades (beef or lamb with basmati wrapped in grape leaves); smoked shrimp tarama with pink peppercorn; Mediterranean sea bass; lamb shank; and traditional moussaka. Diners can complement the experience with cocktails made with Greek spirits and desserts like delicate panna cotta and baklava cheesecake. 

Houston diners were shocked when this Heights restaurant shut its doors earlier this year. Now, Jose Hernandez is ready to bring Savoir back. The restaurant quietly reopened in early August. According to CultureMap, the chef, who was disappointed with the closure, was approached about reviving the restaurant, and he agreed. He vows to serve the same Mediterranean-style cuisine that diners loved, including its signature pastas and pizzas. As for Patton’s, the speakeasy steakhouse within Savoir, plans are reportedly still being finalized.

This new food hall, which opened on Saturday, August 9, has upped Missouri City’s culinary diversity, with seven new vendors all in one spot. Diners can choose from Lit Wings’ crispy fried fowl; Nashville-style hot chicken from Burnin’ Chick; burgers and hot dogs from Cheeky Buns; shawarma from the Shawerma Man; Mediterranean bites from Gyro Bros; fried fish and seafood from A&M Fry Shack; and Mexican cuisine from Taco Nova. 

Country music lovers can now flock to Midtown to experience the Houston location of Texas-born singer Koe Wetzel’s very own party spot. Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room offers a robust menu, featuring plates like chicken wings, beer-can chicken, comforting meatloaf, burgers, sandwiches, and salads for lunch and dinner. Brunch-lovers can kick things off early at the bar and grill with a lineup of omelets, pancakes, and strawberry French toast. More information on drinks and specials to come. 

Tony and Mike Mistry of Burger Nation tap into Texans’ love of red meat with a new burger joint in Webster. BNX Burgers & Fries opened on Wednesday, July 30, treating diners to classic burgers, featuring patties from Pasadena’s Ditta Meat and buns made fresh locally. Anyone who doesn’t enjoy burgers can opt for a grilled or crispy sandwich meal, a chicken tender basket, crispy fries, and shakes in flavors like chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla. 

Chef Austin Simmons of the former steak-heavy Tris is making his return to The Woodlands in 2026 at Restaurant Row in Hughes Landing. His new space, Charolais, will span 7,500 square feet indoors, with room to seat just under 300 people. More is still to come on its menu and drink offerings, but Simmons noted in a press release that the restaurant will focus on offering elevating American beef through hand-reared cattle. 

Culinary Khancepts is expanding its beloved Gulf Coast–inspired cuisine to Rice Village in the former space that housed Gratify Neighborhood Bistro. Projected to open this fall, Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette’s third location will serve the same brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour menus diners have come to love its River Oaks and Memorial locations. Houstonia’s favorites include the black truffle Hamachi, the deviled eggs, lobster roll, and linguine Pescatore, a seafood-loaded combination of mussels, scallops, chorizo, red bell peppers, black olives, and tomatoes dripping in garlic butter.