Three Houston Culinary Pros Team Up for a Chill New Po’ Boy Spot in Midtown

A group of Houston restaurant and bar industry veterans will open Winnie’s, a laid-back new drinking spot at Mid-Main later this fall.

Winnie’s, which will open at 3622 Main Street, will reunite Johnny’s Gold Brick owner Benjy Mason with chefs Graham Laborde and Chris Roy. The trio previously worked together at Height’s restaurant Bernadine’s, which closed in 2017. The new bar is also an extension of a po’boy pop-up restaurant the group hosted in the midst of the pandemic last year. The address was the previous location of Natachee’s Supper ‘N’ Punch, which closed quietly last year.

Winnie’s will serve cocktails as well as lunch, dinner, and late-night eats, perfect for folks leaving concerts at the nearby Continental Club or events at MATCH, the Midtown Arts and Theater Center. The all-day menu will feature eight different po’ boys, including a Mississippi Beef Debris sandwich, with ranch-braised beef, beer queso, roasted carrot ranch dressing, and Cool Ranch Doritos, and a shrimp and oyster Peacemaker Po’Boy. The bar will also serve raw and roasted oysters, salads, and sharable snacks.

Drinks-wise, the bar will offer Houston takes on some classic cocktails, including a Vietnamese iced coffee version of the Irish coffee, and a take on ranch water made with grapefruit and tequila. A daily happy hour will offer house cocktails for $5 before 5 p.m.

The name Winnie’s is an homage to the area’s historical roots — nearby Winburn Street was named after the original developer’s two daughters, Winifred and Bernadette. The restaurant will be housed in a historical building that was once a pharmacy, and the group is renovating the property to preserve some of that historical charm. The large patio, one of Natachee’s biggest draws, will also remain.

No word yet on an exact opening date for Winnie’s, but diners can keep tabs on the restaurant’s progress via Instagram.