LOCAL Houston | The City Guide JANUARY 2015 | Page 47

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Local January 2015_FINAL_002houston 12/18/14 4:17 PM Page 47

...IS FOR RESTAURANT

The Del

COULD THE HOUSTON RESTAURANT SCENE BE ANY HOTTER THAN
RIGHT NOW, 2015? IN ADDITION TO BEING HOME TO THE
CURRENT REIGNING JAMES BEARD BEST CHEF SOUTHWEST (CHRIS
SHEPHERD OF UNDERBELLY), AND ONE OF FOOD & WINE’S
BEST NEW CHEFS (JUSTIN YU OF OXHEART), NEW, EXCITING
RESTAURANTS ARE POPPING UP MONTHLY, WITH EXCITING NEW
ENTRANTS PROJECTED FOR THE NEAR HORIZON.
The last quarter of 2014 saw flurry of activity as restaurants such as Dak & Bop, Houston’s
first official Korean fried chicken joint, opened quietly in the Museum District. There, craft
beer, killer cocktails, and a hip, trendy vibe set the scene for twice-fried, crispy, spicy fried
chicken — so good. Urban Eats Bistro + Bar + Market Dishes debuted on Washington Ave
with a locally-sourced menu, bar, where you can pick up gourmet products and grab a cup
of brewed-to-order Java Pura coffee. Claire Smith also successfully opened Woodbar, next
to Canopy in Montrose, serving craft coffees and house made pastries in the morning, with
a full service bar, and a small bites at night.
This month, look for Curate, the exclusive
tasting menu concept by the owners of
Hubbell & Hudson to open in The
Woodlands. Featuring the cuisine of chef
Austin Simmons, there’s an interactive
chef’s table that seats u