Chris Shepherd’s Newest Iteration of One Fifth Will Focus on the Gulf Coast

When One Fifth Mediterranean — the most recent iteration of chef Chris Shepherd’s “five restaurants in five years” project — closes its doors at the end of the month, the Greek-inspired eats will be replaced with a love letter to the Gulf Coast.

When One Fifth reopens in mid-August, it will be known as One Fifth Gulf Coast, which, if you know anything about Chris Shepherd, makes total sense. The chef has always been an evangelist of Houston’s unique culinary identity, and now he’s setting his sights on the region beyond Space City. In the coming weeks, Shepherd will, according to a press release, hit the road to Louisiana to research the state’s “meat markets, shrimp shacks, and back roads.”

Shepherd is set to close One Fifth Mediterranean on July 31 as planned, even though his team liked the concept so much that they considered sticking with that theme until the restaurant’s five-year lease is up. As far as the food at One Fifth Gulf Coast is concerned, think dishes like hearth-charred okra served with pimiento cheese, muffaletta salads, and stone crabs sourced directly from Texas. Classic dishes like jambalaya, oysters on the half-shell, and flounder amandine, will also be on the menu.

One Fifth Gulf Coast is set to make its debut on August 12. Stay tuned for more details on the menu.

• One Fifth Mediterranean Is Now Taking Reservations for Its Opening This Weekend [EHOU]