News of Chris Kinjo’s ambitious MF Lobster shuttering this week is bittersweet, as it paves the way for another worthy concept to move into the space overlooking the lush environs at Autry Park. Emmer & Rye Hospitality, the Austin-based restaurant group known for its long list of accolades and multiple concepts in Austin and San Antonio, has set its sights on Houston for its next venture: a new restaurant set to debut inside the unique circular pod at 3711 Autry Park Drive later this year.
“We’ve had our eye on Houston—and specifically Autry Park—for quite some time,” said Tavel Bristol-Joseph, partner of Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group. “When the opportunity to take over such a unique space came along, we couldn’t pass it up. Houston has such a vibrant and diverse culinary community, and we look forward to opening our doors and contributing to the city’s incredible culinary landscape.”
You don’t have to live in Austin to know that Emmer & Rye Hospitality is a big deal in Texas. The group’s thriving portfolio of concepts includes Michelin-starred Hestia in Austin; Emmer & Rye, one of only two restaurants in Texas to receive a Michelin Green Star, also located in Austin; and Pullman Market in San Antonio, a sprawling culinary destination that boasts a specialty grocer, four restaurants, and five quick service eateries.
With both cities just a short road trip away, Houstonians have had plenty of opportunity to get a taste of all that Emmer & Rye Hospitality is serving up, but a local concept in the budding Autry Park development is wholly welcomed.
Further details on the group’s new restaurant are forthcoming, but news that it will open inside the 2,200-square-foot circular structure previously housed by MF Lobster is reason enough for interest to be piqued. The pod, designed by Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, is an eye-catching piece of real estate, quietly nestled against large oak trees in a central location within Autry Park. When it opens, it will join the area’s crop of other high-profile restaurants including Berg Hospitality’s Turner’s Cut and Annabelle Brasserie; Duckstache Hospitality’s Doko and Bar Doko; and Chris Kinjo’s own Annam.
While MF Lobster’s departure is most certainly the most disappointing takeaway, Kinjo is optimistic in his decision to close at this time. ““As much as we loved MF Lobster, it sat in an American dining genre that’s outside our natural wheelhouse,” he relayed via a press release. “We decided it made sense to sell the restaurant and concentrate on culinary ventures that reflect our Vietnamese and Japanese heritage.”
As Autry Park continues to develop and keep Houston foodies on their toes, the countdown is on for what is sure to be one of the city’s most talked about restaurant openings of the year.
