The Branch, 5501 La Branch, opened October 1 at Forme, a luxury hotel, residential and lifestyle development in Houston’s Museum District. It’s the newest concept from James Beard Award finalist Chris Williams and Lucille’s Hospitality Group.
Located of the 12th floor, the wellness-inspired restaurant spans across 20,000 square feet with views across the city including downtown. In addition to the dining room, lounge and bar area, there is a rooftop patio and pool.
Guests can help themselves to a seasonal continental-style breakfast, with awesome views. Credit: Rebekah Flores
To cater to hotel visitors and residents, there is a daily Harvest Table featuring a $20 continental-style set up with pastries, baked goods, charcuterie, fruit and cheese. There is also a yogurt and honey bar. A full pour of coffee or espresso is included.
Hot breakfast dishes include baked chilaquiles, a Southwestern omelet and The Branch Benny, with lump crab cake, green masa, poached egg and chipotle hollandaise. Thursday through Sunday, the restaurant transitions to a Cabo-inspired menu beginning at 11 a.m., offering seasonal crudo, a curated cheese selection from a Cheese Affair and an oyster program.
Low-alcohol cocktails make day drinking a breeze. Credit: Rebekah Flores
For beverages, Williams has Erica Mota in charge of the drinks program with a number of low-ABV cocktails that complement the daytime dishes. There will also be a happy hour as the restaurant begins to roll out its operations, which will include private events, catering and community programming.
Williams, who also owns Lucille’s in the Museum District, says he is excited to partner with Forme on this new venture. “It’s not only an opportunity to utilize our culinary toolkit through room service and an entirely different dining experience across the street from Lucille’s, but it’s also another opportunity to create equity in one of the country’s most dynamic culinary cities.”
Westheimer is getting smashed. Credit: Quit Nguyen
Trill Burgers, 7616 Westheimer, opened its fourth location September 25. The smashburger concept from rap legend Bun B and co-owners Andy Nguyen, Nick Scurfield, Mike Pham and Fernando Valladares has been going strong since 2021 and the momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing. In addition to its four brick and mortar restaurants, Trill has a campus location at Rice University, plus concessions at Reliant Stadium. It also sets up shop each year at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
The Trill Lemonades are not your ordinary lemon beverages. Credit: Quit Nguyen
The award-winning burgers are the highlight of the brief menu, with the signature OG Burger being the top seller. With two smashed all-beef patties, caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles and Trill sauce, served on a potato roll, it delivers the crispy edges and messy goodness that Houston has embraced. Those who dare can attempt the Triple OG and there is a Vegan OG Burger with plant-based patties and vegan cheese. The menu also offers seasoned Trill Fries and kids meals.
The fresh-squeezed lemonades are another treat at Trill and come in flavors like classic, strawberry, Blue Wave and Desert Pear. There are also milkshakes in chocolate, vanilla and strawberry flavors.
Everyone can “Be Someone” in H-Town. Credit: Quit Nguyen
The 3,100 square-foot restaurant is done in the same black and yellow colors that are its calling card. The new location also features a “Be Someone Trill” mural, plus a wraparound drive-thru. The newest location will also offer late-night hours on the weekend beginning this October.
Viola & Agnes’ Neo Soul Cafe, 3659 Nasa Road 1, has closed for relocation and is currently working out of Durb’s Restaurant (109 Meadow Parkway) in League City, as reported by CultureMap Houston. Chef and owner Aaron Davis has been taking to social media to keep loyal patrons apprised of the GoFundMe activity as well as the ongoing work at the new location, which seems to be wrapping up. However, we’re still not sure where the new location will be.
A culinary love letter to both of his grandmothers, the restaurant first opened in 2015 at 18091 Upper Bay before moving to its Seabrook spot in 2020. Davis has received national recognition for his brand of Creole and Louisiana soul food including making the New York Times list of the Best New Restaurants 2024.
Seven takes AYCE to a new level. Credit: Jenn Duncan
Seven Sushi & Robata, 3304 Milam, is opening later this fall in Midtown. It will be the second location for the all-you-can-eat concept from Grace and Leo Xia. The original first opened in Bellaire’s Asiatown at Dun Huang Plaza in 2025. The couple also own Duck N Bao and Hongdae 33.
Sashimi so good, it’s ethereal. Credit: Jenn Duncan
The new location will take advantage of the vibe of the Midtown area, adapting to the youthful energy of late night revelers by offering later hours and bringing in DJs on the weekends. While the AYCE sushi and robata are the main draw, the owners plan to also offer guests unique cocktails and a lively bar scene to keep the party going. With a 50-seat indoor/outdoor bar, guests can enjoy the beverage program as well as the quality sushi.
Leo Xia says Midtown has a different energy at night. He added “We wanted to create a place where the food is strong enough to be the reason you come, but the cocktails, music and energetic setting give you a reason to stay.”
Seven is aiming to be a spirited destination in Midtown. Credit: Jenn Duncan
Part of the plan to keep people lingering is to transition from dinner service on Friday and Saturday night to Seven After Dark, in which the lighting is lowered and DJs roll out the tunes. Starting at 10 p.m., there will be a separate late night menu of Japanese-inspired bar bites and shareable dishes.
When it opens, Seven Midtown will offer both AYCE dining and an a la carte menu for lunch and dinner.
Southern Jerks includes a buttery roll and fresh jalapeno with its box meals. Credit: Hungry AF Media
Southern Jerks, 111 Greens, is opening in early October, followed by another new spot at 12374 Martin Luther King Boulevard in November. And it’s a good thing, too, because the lines get long at its original location at 2950 Gears.
Owner and chef Jabril Riddick opened the first SJ chicken kitchen with his business-focused brother Jordan in a Valero gas station in 2025. The unique flavors of the crispy chicken tenders and wings have led to this recent and rapid expansion. Like the original spot, the two new Southern Jerks will operate out of gas stations as well, a trend that seems to be on the rise. Gone are the days of shriveled weenies and mystery meat tacos. Drivers can now fuel up their vehicles and their bellies at the same time, though the food is probably cheaper than a full tank of gas.
At the upcoming Greens Road location, customers can relax and dine in. Credit: Hungry AF Media
Unlike the original location, the Greens one will have a full, family-friendly dining room. The southside location will also have dine-in space.
The menus will still feature the same fried chicken that some on social media call the best in Houston. Blending Southern and Caribbean flavors, the jerk-marinated chicken is fried with a crispy batter and is available in wings, strips and a delicious chicken breast sandwich. While chicken is its claim to fame, it also offers a double patty Jerk Burger with pepper jack cheese, golden ranch sauce and pepper relish. Both the burger and chicken sandwich are served on a brioche bun.
Side options are short and sweet and include mac ‘n cheese, jerk dirty rice, seasoned fries and slow-cooked collard greens.
A mezze table awaits you and a friend or two at Ayla. Credit: InterContinental Houston
Ayla, 6750 Main, opened September 26 at InterContinental Houston, a AAA Four-Diamond luxury hotel from IHG Hotels and Resorts. The new Mediterranean restaurant promises to be more than just a hotel eatery, however. With executive chef Ibrahim Alsharif at the helm and an elegant dining space by Vince Stroop of Stroop Design, the restaurant aims to be a destination for both hotel visitors and local residents alike.
Pretty cocktails pair well with the Mediterranean fare. Credit: InterContinental Houston
Born in Jordan, Alsharif has decades of experience in the luxury hotel space across the United States, as well as international markets such as Jordan, Kuwait and Dubai. The menu is a blend of global flavors inspired by countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Greece, France, Spain and Italy. Ayla is derived from the Turkish word for “halo of light” around the moon and is meant to conjure up feelings of warmth and connection, reflecting the Mediterranean tradition of generous hospitality.
To foster that feeling of community is the Ayla Mezze Table, a selection of small shareables meant for passing around while enjoying conversation with companions. Some of the dishes include beet root hummus, mint labneh, muhammara (roasted red pepper dip) and whipped feta with hot honey. Served with wood-fried pita, it’s a tasty introduction to a Mediterranean feast.
Linguine and seafood are a scrumptious combination. Credit: InterContinental Houston
Other menu highlights include olive-crusted tenderloin, flame-grilled lamb chops and pan-seared sea bass served with saffron risotto and lemon beurre blanc. To accompany the vibrant flavors is a beverage program of Mediterranean wines as well as botanically-focused cocktails and fruity mocktails.
Guests not staying at the hotel can enjoy complimentary valet and self-parking validation for up to two hours while dining.
Southern Oak Brewing, 308 Market, will have its grand opening October 7 in Tomball. Taking over the former space of Fire Ant Brewing Company, which closed this past May, the new taproom and restaurant comes from Kendra and Josh Schwaiger and Tatia and Doug George. The couples are not new to the hospitality and brewery biz. The Schwaigers are co-owners at Paradigm Brewing while the Georges operate Graze restaurant, both located in Tomball as well.
We have reached out for more information, but the website and social media are still pretty sparse with details as far as the beer choices and food menu go. So far the information includes the fact that there will be 28 taps, including in-house and guest brews, plus wine, champagne, ciders and non-alcoholic options. Though the food menu has not been released, a social media photo shows a fried chicken sandwich, burger and loaded fries.
Hudson House will open two new locations in 2027. First up will be a location in Katy at 2634 Commercial Center Boulevard at La Centerra, followed later in the year by a spot in Memorial at 1085 Gessner.
The Big Breakfast at Little Ruby’s is the Australian version of the full English. Credit: Wish You Were Here Group
Little Ruby’s, 1990 Post Oak Boulevard, has signed a lease with Central Park Post Oak, a multiuse campus owned by Midway, 3Edgewood and Parkway. ONESWEAT, a boutique fitness brand, also was named in the announcement for the newest tenants.
Little Ruby’s is an Australian-inspired cafe from the Los Angeles-based Wish You Were Here Group, which previously announced that it was opening Elephante and Bar Bambino at Central Park Post Oak, as reported here in the Houston Press.
The Houston location will be similar to the Little Ruby’s in Dallas. Credit: Wish You Were Here Group
Though born in New York, the restaurant’s all-day menu is in keeping with the Australian theme with a menu of Brekkie items such as vegemite sourdough toast, ricotta hotcakes and the Big Breakfast with eggs, bacon, mushrooms and even baked beans. There are homemade pastas such as creamy chicken rigatoni and tagliatelle Bolognese, plus healthy dishes such as shrimp avocado salad and crispy grains bowl. Burgers and chicken sandwiches round out the menu, along with specialty coffee drinks and craft cocktails.
The Riot Cafe, 1925 Washington, will have its official grand opening October 17, after softly opening in September. Located in The Riot Comedy Club, the new cafe is a coffee shop by day, serving specialty caffeinated drinks, baked goods and to-go breakfast. At night it transitions into a bar and comedy club with light bites and cocktails.
Restaurants Reported Open September 2026:
The Bixby, 7202 long Point, opened early September
Burger Bodega, 21904 Franz, opened September 19
Galiana’s Casa Del Tequila, 11231 Greenhouse, opened September 28
H&H Bagels, 2850 Westheimer, opened September 10
Killen’s Steakhouse, 6425 W. Broadway, reopened September 10
Mack Allen’s, 4400 Post Oak Parkway, opened September 14
Parkwood American Grille, 2131 W. Parkwood, opened September 1
Tapestry, 2323 Allen Parkway, opened September 8
Restaurants Reported Closed September 2026:
Bistro Le Cep, 11112 Westheimer, closed mid-June
Cyclone Anaya’s, 3736 Westheimer, closed early September
Fuzzy’s Tacos, all Houston locations, closed early September
Medium Rare, 3201 Louisiana, closed September 6
Pappasitos Cantina, 6445 Richmond, closed September 13
Underbelly Burger, 1222 Witte, closed September 13
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