Guy Fieri’s ‘Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives’ Will Feature Multiple Houston Restaurants This Week

Welcome to AM Intel, a (mostly) daily round-up of Houston’s hottest bits of dining intel.

Trying to stay on top of Space City’s endlessly vibrant dining scene? Keep up with the hottest new openings, essential eateries, and more by subscribing to the Eater Houston newsletter, and following us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Guy Fieri will showcase several Houston restaurants in new episode of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Mayor of Flavortown Guy Fieri will highlight at least two Houston restaurants in a new episode of his Food Network show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, set to air this Friday at 8 p.m. Fieri visited the Bayou City in April to film for the show, hitting up restaurants like Toasted Coconut, Be More Pacific, Traveler’s Table, and Weights + Measures. Now, at least two of the restaurants he visited during that trip will be featured in the show — Weights + Measures, and Greenway Plaza spot Fresco Cafe Italiano are set to air in an episode called ““Cookin’ From Scratch” on Friday, September 3, at 8 p.m. CultureMap also posits that Westchase-area restaurant The Original Marini’s Empanada House, described as “an empanada empire”, will be featured in a second episode, called “Fresh From Flavortown”, airing at 9 p.m. on Friday.

Fieri last filmed for DDD in Houston in 2017. No word yet on when the other restaurants he visited this spring will be featured on the show.

“French Cowboy” Philippe Schmidt has a new restaurant in the works in Montrose

Philippe Schmidt, the chef behind a number of French restaurants in Houston including now-shuttered Philippe Restaurant + Lounge, Toulouse in River Oaks, and Bistro Moderne at the Hotel Derek, has a new project in the works. Documents filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicate that the spot, called Cafe Philippe, will be located at 1830 West Alabama Street. That’s the former location of Italian restaurant Divino, which closed July 31 after 20 years in business.

In an email, Schmidt declined to elaborate on the new spot. No word yet on an opening timeline, but stay tuned to Eater for more details.

BYO wine restaurant Porta’Vino sold as part of ambitious expansion plan

Porta’vino, the relatively new bring-your-own-wine restaurant from longtime Houston restaurateur Bill Floyd, has been sold as part of an ambitious expansion plan. Floyd has sold the rights to the concept, which opened at 7800 Washington Avenue in March 2020 and has done business at a steady clip ever since, to Woodlands businessman Greg Brenneman, according to the Houston Chronicle. Brenneman, who currently serves as chairman for the private equity firm CCMP Capital, has previously worked as the CEO for Burger King and Quiznos. As part of the sale, Brenneman will open several more locations of Porta’Vino in the Houston area. The first, at 207 East Shore Drive in The Woodlands, will open in January. Locations are also planned for the Med Center, in Sugar Land and Katy. Floyd will maintain ownership of the original Washington Avenue location, and will work as a consultant for Brenneman’s expansions.