Montrose’s Swanky Bar Victor Closes This Weekend

Bar Victor closes this weekend

Bar Victor, the sophisticated Montrose lounge that made its debut in January 2018, will serve its final cocktails this weekend. The bar announced its departure in an email on Thursday, noting that its owners have “decided to set [their] sights on new goals.” La Villa, the restaurant operated by the same group of French businessmen just down on Montrose Boulevard, will continue to operate. The doors close for good after a final night of DJs and drinks on Saturday.

Rice Military gains a new Mexican restaurant

Planquito HTX, a brand new destination for classic Mexican dishes, has opened its doors in Rice Military. The new restaurant from chef Diego Navarro and his brother Santiago Navarro is, according to the Houston Chronicle, now serving cochinita pibil, tacos, and chicken slathered in mole sauce at 404 Shepherd Road.

Heights dive bar Big Star will burn out

10-year-old Heights dive bar Big Star will close its doors in the coming months. According to Houston Food Finder, the bar’s landlord has sold its building at 1005 West 19th Street, and is allowing Big Star to stick around until someone purchases the space. The bar will stick around for at least another month — its lease isn’t up until the end of May — so drinkers still have time to get to Big Star for one last cocktail.

Sparkle’s Hamburger Spot moves down Emancipation

Beloved Houston hamburger institution Sparkle’s is getting a brand new home, and a slightly different name. Last week, Sparkle’s announced on Instagram that it was moving to a new space at 4420 Emancipation Avenue in Third Ward, not too far away from its current home. In addition to those famed cheeseburgers, the new Sparkle’s will also serve a menu of boozy frozen daiquiris. A representative tells Eater that the new location is expected to open sometime in June.