In a vivacious food city like Houston, restaurant closures can come in droves, just as restaurant openings do. This month, the news of three lauded Houston-area steakhouses permanently ceasing operations, leads the gamut. Here are five Houston restaurant closing to know right now:
Karne Steakhouse
According to a social media post made to Karne’s Facebook page, the Heights restaurant, known for its tasty grilled meats, has shuttered. The lengthy post attributes the restaurant’s sudden closure to “circumstances beyond our control”, and goes on to express gratitude to its staff and supporters. The note concludes by hinting that Karne may reemerge in some capacity in the future.
Killen’s Steakhouse Woodlands
Ronnie Killen has permanently closed the Woodlands location of his namesake steakhouse. While its own social media pages remained active well into January with promotion of Valentine’s Day dining, rumors of the restaurant’s closure began to swirl among Woodlands foodies Facebook groups early this month. This is Killen’s second restaurant closure in six months, following the announcement to shutter Killen’s STQ in September.
Andiron Grille & Patio
Andiron Grille & Patio will serve its last meal on Saturday, March 1. The live-fire steakhouse opened as Andiron in the spring of 2023, but opted for a revamp of its space and menu at the end of last year that would reposition it as a more relaxed and approachable choice than its previous iteration. Less than two months after adding a sprawling outdoor area and reopening as Andiron Grille & Patio, the news of its permanent closure was shared via the restaurant’s publicist.
Andiron owner, Michael Sambrooks, who also operates the Pit Room and Candente under the restaurant group Sambrooks Hospitality, shared his sentiments. “After two memorable years, our time at Andiron has come to a bittersweet end. While it’s always an extremely difficult decision to close a concept, I am incredibly proud that our team brought to life something unique on the Houston dining scene, and continuously delivered the highest levels of food and service. Andiron was a magical place, and we are proud of the experiences we were able to create for our community. Sambrooks Hospitality remains intensely committed to our Michelin recognized Candente and two Pit Room restaurants, where our love for quality barbecue and authentic Tex-Mex shine brightest. We look forward to what’s to come in the future for our company and both restaurant concepts. To our loyal Andiron customers, thank you endlessly for your patronage on our journey. We look forward to serving you again soon at our other concepts.
MoneyCat
The sister concept of Tobiuo Sushi at La Canterra in Cinco Ranch has shuttered two years after opening in Upper Kirby’s Levy Park. Led by esteemed chef Sherman Yeung, MoneyCat had all of the makings to follow in the success of its Katy counterpart, with an inner loop address. Despite a number of inventive ways to reel in diners, including a Japanese sando pop-up in the fall, its run was inevitably cut short.
Vibrant
Kelly Barnhart, owner of Montrose health food restaurant Vibrant, shared news of its closure on February 11 via a social media post to Instagram. A black and white photo of Barnhart with her young daughter accompanied photo memories of the restaurant, along with a caption that expressed her “desire to bring people together over conscious food, and see what magic could happen.” The restaurant experienced a lengthy closure in the middle of its nearly seven-year run, reopening in November 2022 with a new menu.
