Hugo Ortega's New Restaurant Is Called Caracol

As reported in yesterday's b4-u-eat newsletter, Backstreet Cafe/Prego/Hugo's owners Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught's Galleria-area restaurant will be called Caracol; according to Wikipedia, the name refers to a large Mayan archaeological site in Belize. Vaught confirms the name but, through a representative, declined to provide further details. She writes that "We know we will be tweaking and changing right up to opening, so we are not ready to talk about the focus just yet. We will have an early fall opening."

Caracol will join Mockingbird Bistro chef John Sheely's Italian restaurant Osteria Mazzantini in the new BBVA Compass tower. With other new concepts coming to Gateway Memorial City such as steakhouse Vallone's and sushi restaurant Kuu, the fall opening season is shaping up to be memorable. Much more on all of these as details emerge.

Update: Per Chronicle critic Alison Cook, Vaught confirms that the name is "a reference to the edible sea snail found on the Mexican coasts" and not about something in Belize, which makes a lot more sense. Cook also reports that former Vegas chef Daniel Bridges is working with Ortega on the restaurant.

· Weekly Newsletter [b4-u-eat]
· Caracol [Wikipedia]
· Hugo Ortega to Open Mexican Seafood Spot Near the Galleria [29-95]
· All Coming Attractions on Eater Houston [-EHOU-]

Vaught and Ortega on the red carpet at the James Beard Awards [Hugo's/Facebook]