The Original Ninfa’s is Expanding to Uptown

The Original Ninfa’s is headed to Uptown for its second location.

The Original Ninfa’s Uptown Houston will arrive next spring at 1700 Post Oak Boulevard in the space formerly occupied by Peska. The brand is focused on expansion lately, having just announced yesterday another spin-off concept set to debut next year in Understory, Downtown’s forthcoming food hall.

Peska’s 6,300-square-foot space will get a revamp from restaurant designer Michael Hsu. Construction will begin this fall with plans that include expanding the kitchen to accommodate a wood-burning oven and wood-burning grill, plus the installation of a tortilla making station (fixtures at Ninfa’s Navigation location). The bar area will also get an expansion, and when finished, the restaurant will seat 180 diners inside (including 50 in the bar area) and 100 outside spread among three covered patios.

Chef Alex Padilla will oversee the kitchen operations as Corporate Chef for the parent company Legacy Restaurants, which also owns Antone’s Famous Po’ Boys. Padilla has helmed the kitchen at The Original Ninfa’s on Navigation since 2006, and his mother worked there as a line cook when Padilla was a child. The company will hire a Chef de Cuisine for the Uptown location in the coming months, some staff will make the move, and more will be hired by the company. As far as food is concerned, the new location will serve all of Ninfa’s favorites including its signature fajitas and elevated Tex-Mex like octopus salad, rabbit tacos, grilled quail, and crab cakes among enchiladas, tamales, and nachos.

Stay tuned for an opening date for The Original Ninfa’s Uptown when that becomes available.

• Mama Ninfa’s Brings Tacos and Tortas to Downtown Food Hall Understory [EHOU]