As Houstonians count down to new beginnings and a fresh start in the new year, they can also look forward to a new location of Bari Ristorante, which is debuting its second location at 24 Waterway Avenue in the Woodlands Waterway Square District in early 2026.
Bari Hospitality Group, which also operates Georgia James Steakhouse, opened Bari in River Oaks District two years ago, and the sceney Italian restaurant swifly became a hot spot within the luxe shopping development. On weekdays and weekends alike, locals pour in for its table-side offerings, stylish setting, and highly sought after patio overlooking a pocket green space. Soon, the hospitality group will bring that same combination of style and substance to the Waterway Square District by way of a 200-seat restaurant meant for eating, drinking, and lingering.
Like its River Oaks counterpart, the kitchen at Bari in the Woodlands kitchen will be led by chef Renato De Pirro, a certified Master Italian chef with 30 years of contemporary and fine dining experience across the United States and Italy. Keeping sourcing at top of mind, De Pirro utilizes both imported and locally-sourced ingredients when it comes to ingredients like semolina flour, cheese, and tomatoes, with much prepared in-house.
At the new Woodlands restaurant, plenty of favorites from the River Oaks menu will be on offer. The social media-famous truffle pasta finished tableside in a parmigiano reggiano cheese wheel and garnished with freshly shaved truffles is among them. Another familiar entree will be the headturning Chateaubriand, a center-cut filet cooked in the pizza oven and flambéed table-side. With the signature entrees, Woodlands’ diners can anticipate an expanded selection of premium meat cuts
Woodlands-area residents can count on Bari being a regular go-to. Once open, they will be able to venture in seven days a week, as Bari will serve lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch.
The Woodlands continues to sprout as a hub for inner loop restaurants expanding into the suburbs. This year alone, On the Kirb debuted its fifth location in the Woodlands, Duckstache Hospitality opened Kokoro Handroll Bar in the Woodlands Town Center, and Bludorn Hospitality Group announced it would be opening a second outpost of Bar Bludorn at 24 Waterway Avenue, neighboring the soon-to-be-open Bari.
Bari, 24 Waterway Avenue, #125, The Woodlands, bariristorante.com
