Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, where you’ll get a plateful of restaurant, bar, and chefs happenings each week.
The 411
The team behind Kirby Ice House announced it will open a fourth location of its bustling patio bar at 1421 North Loop West in the Heights next fall. Like its Upper Kirby, Memorial, and Woodlands outposts, there will be ample indoor and outdoor seating spread across 24,000-square-feet, with the new Heights bar slated to have the most covered patio space and indoor seating of all four locations. It will also set a new record for housing the longest bar in Texas, at 146-feet, surpassing the previous record held by Kirby Ice House’s own Woodlands location by five feet.
For the first time in 46 years in business, Treebeards has brought on a Director of Culinary Operations for its four Houston locations. Houston native and veteran chef Matt Marcus has signed on with the goal of making operational improvements and introducing chef specials at Treebeards, all while maintaining the quality of the beloved restaurant’s time-honored menu. Fitting into a storied concept like Treebeards will likely be a smooth transition for Marcus, who has previously worked at other iconic Houston restaurants, including James Coney Island and Perry’s Steakhouse.
On the Menu
Jethro’s has launched a special on its signature smash burger, giving diners a great excuse to venture into the Montrose haunt sooner than later. The single patty iteration of the indulgent handheld is available for $7 until 7 p.m., discounted from its usual price of $10, every Tuesday through Sunday.
Trill Burgers is raising the bar for Taco Tuesdays with the return of Trill smash tacos, available a la carte or as a combo with fries every Tuesday. The swoon-worthy tacos layer meat from a crispy beef smash burger patty with American cheese on a white corn tortilla, and are topped with citrus slaw, jalapenos, chipotle aioli, and Trill taco seasoning. The piece de resistance is a slathering of Houston Astro, Alex Bregman’s own Wild Sol salsa, to create a seriously Houston-inspired taco.
The seats have hardly had a chance to cool since Toca Madera opened at the Lifestyle Pavilion at the Allen this summer, and it’s only getting hotter this fall season. The restaurant launched Taco Tuesday, a festive weekly happening from 5 to 7 p.m. during which guests can enjoy taco specials and discounted signature margaritas from the Toca Tuesday menu, with entertainment from DJs and fire dancers. The fun will soon extend to weekend brunch as well. Beginning Saturday, October 19, brunch service will be offered on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Look forward to sweet and savory entrees, raw bar items, and mimosa kits, plus all of the highlights of the restaurant’s vibey evening atmosphere.
Thanks to Zanti’s new three-course prix fixe power lunch menu, it’s never been easier to ball out on a budget in River Oaks. The $35 meal is available Wednesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes an appetizer, entree, and dessert with choices like cacio e pepe salad, tagliatelle bolognese, flank steak, and panna cotta. Let lunch roll into happy hour, which kicks off at 4 p.m. and bask in even more savings.
Heights hot spot Best Regards has launched “Sunday’s Best” brunch, a collaboration with Thrive Juices that pairs imaginative morning cocktails with a menu of health-conscious dishes. Kicking off at noon each Sunday, highlights from the brunch service include the Thrive juice acai bowl ($13), blueberry lemon oat milk pancakes ($14), and the Spill the Tea cocktail, a shareable teapot filled with Roku gin, lemon, lavender, and honey syrup.
