Each Friday, Gastronaut rounds up the most notable opening and closing of the week.

It's been a busy few weeks for restaurant openings in Houston—we direct you here and here for all the news we couldn't possibly fit into an entire post—but the idea behind our own weekly post here at Gastronaut is spotlighting the most notable opening and closing of the week (hence that little intro above). How do we go about deciding which opening and which closing is worth noting, though?

We're tempted not to note the impending opening of Velvet Taco on Washington Avenue, as it's essentially the Dallas equivalent of Torchy's Tacos and lord knows Houston already has plenty of its own amazing tacos without outsiders trying to carpetbag their own wares here. Then again, it wasn't that long ago that we spotlighted Velvet Taco as one of the can't-miss restaurants in the Big D. It goes without saying, of course, that can't-miss in Dallas and can't-miss in Houston mean two entirely different things, but don't let us get you down if you're thrilled to welcome yet another upscale fusion taco joint to town. Velvet Taco opens this Monday, June 22 at 4819 Washington Ave.; go and decide for yourself. (Frankly, we're more excited to welcome Crescent City Beignets back to the scene.)

In closings, the adorable 1954 Boles Aero trailer that housed What's Up Cupcake has gone to the great food truck park in the sky. After five years in business, owners Laurel Keith and Millie Wallace posted an update to their cupcakery's Facebook page indicating that both the trailer and the bricks-and-mortar location at 632 W. 20th St. in the Heights were closed as of May 31, writing:

It is with much regret that I tell you that we are currently closed. We were not able to renew our lease this makes me sad but at the same time I'm grateful and thankful to all of you for your continued support. You made it all worth it.

For those hoping that What's Up Cupcake might still sell their baked goods from the Boles Aero, one final blow: In addition to selling off most of their inventory, supplies and equipment, Keith and Wallace have also sold the trailer itself.

Save