Sterling Lewis, the restaurateur behind Confessions, said he wants to change how the world sees the restaurant industry.
The gist
Lewis started Confessions, which is his first restaurant, in April 2025, and it quickly gained popularity throughout the year, attracting guests such as Shaquille O’Neal, 50 Cent and GloRilla, he said.
While quality food and atmosphere are important for a restaurant, Lewis said he prides himself on the consistent level of hospitality the restaurant offers.
“I wanted to create something where we primarily focus on hospitality,” he said. “How we treat guests, making guests feel like family, and then everything else will follow.”
What’s special about it?
Decorated with modern art, brightly colored seating and sparkling chandeliers, Confessions blends Southern flair with nightlife.
Lewis, a Houston native, said the menu items reflect foods he ate as a kid and include dishes such as Strawberry Cornbread, Spicy Peach Wings and Honey Truffle Fried Chicken.
Additionally, guests can enjoy a traditional dining environment until around 9 or 10 p.m., when a “DJ starts curating moments and experiences.”
In the future, Lewis said he wants to expand his hospitality approach globally. (Eric Taylor/Confessions)
The backstory
Lewis first entered the hospitality industry when he began promoting events and passing out flyers at 17 years old. He said he wanted to go into hospitality to bring people together to have a great time.
While researching the industry before opening, he said he noticed restaurants closing within the first year and wanted to know why.
“So what I noticed is that a lot of these restaurants focus on just the dollar and the customer,” he said. “They don’t really focus on hospitality, and they don’t focus on having quality food.”
His thoughts
For Lewis, Confessions’ success feels like a dream come true, and he said that sometimes he feels he is still dreaming. He said three things have kept him grounded in his journey: perseverance, having a vision and his faith.
“I failed so many times, so many times I wanted to give up, but having faith in God and knowing exactly what I wanted to do and who I wanted to become, and wanting to take care of my family got me to where I am today,” he said.
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