LOCAL Houston | The City Guide JANUARY 2016 | Page 53

FOOD | ARTS | COMMUNITY | STYLE+LEISURE

R

...IS FOR RESTAURANTS

As the temps outside cool down, the culinary scene in H-town is heating up. The
diverse range of cuisines at the spots below
spans from Korean-fusion to classic French
to modern American, assuring that there’s
something for everyone. Here is your guide
to 14 openings slated to make their big
Houston debut between now and the end of
February 2016.
By Marcy Luna

Open Now

AXELRAD BEER GARDEN

MORNINGSTAR

Who: Owners Monte Large, Adam Brackman and Jeff Kaplan.
What: An eclectic mix of art, lush landscaping, a covered deck, balcony
seating, a hammock garden and live music set the background at the sprawling brew spot with a curated selection of 25 craft beers on tap, plus additional beers in cans and bottles.
When: Mid-December | Where: 1517 Alabama St.

Who: Greenway Coffee & Tea’s David Buehrer and Ecky Prabanto.
What: Expect fare by Priscilla Nguyen (Blacksmith) and donuts and
kolaches by Sam Phan (Donald Donuts) at the neighborhood hub for breakfast, lunch and coffee. Don’t skip the house special, a glazed yeast donut
made with local honey.
When: Mid-January | Where: 4721 N. Main St.

LA FISHERIA – Downtown

THE HALAL GUYS
Who: Popular street meat cart out of New York City.
What: Fast-casual halal food including chicken and rice plates, gyros
and kebabs.
When: Mid- to late-January | Where: 3821 Farnham St.

Who: Celeb chef Aquiles Chavez, originally from Mexico City, recently
closed the Heights locale of the ceviche and seafood joint with plans to
reopen at a new address Downtown. Mexico’s Vidal Elias Murillo will relocate
to Houston to head up the kitchen.
What: New and old favorite menu items, live music on the weekends and
a margarita bar.
When: December | Where: 213 Milam St.

ANJU
Who: Owner An Vo of Dosi.
What: Casual Korean-fusion eatery in Midtown serving traditional Korean
dishes, Korean-fusion dishes with southern flair like pork shoulder and chicken
and waffles, and a selection of soju (Korean liquor usually distilled from rice).
When: December | Where: 510 Gray

Opening this month

Coming in February

LE COLONIAL
Who: French-Vietnamese fine dining chain.
What: Signature dishes include Ca Hap (steamed fillets of Chilean sea
bass with cellophane noodles, oyster mushrooms, tomatoes, scallions and
fried ginger in ginger broth) and Cari Tom (sautéed jumbo shrimp with eggplant in a curried coconut sauce) along with steamed snapper, five-spice
roasted duck and the likes.
When: February | Where: River Oaks District, 4444 Westheimer Rd.

TOULOUSE CAFE & BAR

What: Housed in a waterfront setting, The Woodlands-area spot will boast
seasonal modern American fare, a demonstration kitchen and an interior tree
trunk sculpture.
When: Late February | Where: 2 Waterway S ]X\