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Houston is home to literally hundreds of restaurants, and there’s a new spot that opens (practically) every day. Unfortunately, that constant churn means that there’s also lots of casualties across Houston’s crowded dining scene these days.
Need to catch up on this blazing-fast dining scene? Scope out this list of five restaurants that recently served their last meals:
La Villa
The most recent closure in Houston’s dining scene is beleaguered Montrose French restaurant La Villa. Per CultureMap, the restaurant served its final fancy plates on Saturday, though chef Kevin D’Andrea could be sticking around Houston as he apparently “loves” Houston and its vibrant dining scene.
Houston’s
After nearly nearly 40 years of service, the ritzy California-based steak and burger brand pulled the plug on its Westheimer Road location last month. Cause for the closure, reported by KHOU-11, was not provided by owner Hillstone Restaurant Group. Its remaining area location sits on Kirby Drive. Houston’s maintains dozens of coast-to-coast locations, many of which have switched up their names in recent years. The upscale brand is known for its strict rules that ban casual attire, large groups, and cell phone use in the dining room, along with a plea to parents to leave their kids at home.
Decatur Bar & Popup Factory
Old Sixth Ward Historic District’s restaurant incubator closed on Halloween, less than a year after opening in the former original Beaver’s space. The project from original Beaver’s partners Adam Brackman and chef Monica Pope set chefs up with three-month residencies, acting as a temporary testing ground for their inaugural restaurants. Residencies during Decatur’s short-lived run included prix-fixe Thai dinners from Chopped winner Evelyn Garcia and a “Taco Tuesday” pop-up from chef Victoria Elizondo, both of whom have secured permanent homes at Politan Row – Kin and Cochinita & Co., respectively.
El Real
Tex-Mex restaurant El Real served its last enchilada in late October, abruptly ending its eight-year run in Montrose. Restaurateur Bryan Caswell announced the “indefinite” closure of El Real in a press release, saying that he is experiencing “extreme grief and sorrow” as the restaurant shutters. “El Real has been a rewarding endeavor, but I have decided the best recourse is to focus on Reef, my family, and my health,” Caswell said in the statement. A week of protests and testimony before the Houston City Council ensued, with former servers complaining about missing paychecks. They finally received those payments on Friday.
Mala Sichuan Bistro
Acclaimed Chinese eatery Mala Sichuan Bistro, which recently expanded with a new location in Katy Asian Town, suddenly shut down its year-old downtown Finn Hall stall last month. The chain’s other locations in Chinatown, Montrose, and Katy remain open.
