Openings
CityCentre is fast becoming the foodie mecca of west Houston with more and more eateries opening up in the multi-use development. Austin import Eddie V's Prime Seafood is now open, serving up fresh fish and more in an elegant second-story locale. Executive chef Bill Greenwood turns out crab cakes and a wonderful Chilean sea bass in a delicate lemony butter sauce as well as thick steaks and some very good desserts. The raw bar may have some of the best oysters in town, from cold Island Creeks to Pleasant Points on the half shell. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, CityCentre, 12848 Queensbury Ln., Houston, TX 77024, 832-200-2380.
Brennan's of Houston is still closed and likely won't reopen from Hurricane Ike damage until early 2010---but that doesn't mean restaurateur Alex Brennan-Martin is sitting idle. He's opening two new eateries in the West Houston multi-use CityCentre. Bistro Alex and Café Rosé will open this month in the Hotel Sorella in CityCentre. Brennan-Martin is bringing in chef Juan Carlos Gonzales to helm both spots from the Brennan family's famed Commander's Palace in New Orleans. Bistro Alex and Café Rosé, 3300 Smith St., Houston, TX 77006, 713-522-9711.
News
Bytes
Sunday in the Park at The Grove The Grove is now open on Sundays, and what better way to enjoy the fall foliage than dinning in the middle of Discovery Green park in downtown Houston? The Schiller/Del Grande restaurant joins the Sunday brunch bunch with an inspired menu by chef Ryan Pera that includes everything from cheeseburgers to Caesar salads and the house specialty: Dustin's Farm deviled yard eggs with spicy chorizo. Throw in a clear bloody Mary made with chipotle vodka and housemade tomato water and you've got plenty to be thankful for on any Sunday. The Grove is also now offering a limited Sunday supper menu from 5 to 9 p.m. The Grove, 1611 Lamar St., Houston, TX 77010, 713-337-7321.
Jason Gould and Bryan Caswell Team Up to Open New Restaurant Sometimes you need a cheat sheet to keep up with the comings and goings of Houston chefs. Last month Jason Gould abruptly left Gravitas, which he co-founded with Scott Tycer. And founding chef Robert Gadsby left Bedford, which he helped open last year. Now seafood and burger whiz Bryan Caswell, and his business partner Bill Floyd (REEF and Little Bigs), have bought Bedford and are teaming up with Gould to create a casual Italian spot called Stella Solo ("Lone Star" in Italian). Look for an opening date before the end of the year. REEF, 2600 Travis St., Houston, TX 77006, 713-526-8282.
Chef Shuffle
The Azuma Group's popular Washington Avenue Soma Sushi has tapped Jason Hauck as the new executive chef, the role originally held by Robert Gadsby. Hauck has been charged with bringing the concept back to its original vision of perfectly executed Franco-Japanese fusion. Hauck's culinary background includes working under Fritz Gitschner at the Houston Country Club, Tim Keating at Quattro and Scott Tycer at Aries. His new menu debuts this month. Soma Sushi, 4820 Washington Ave., Houston, TX 77007, 713-861-2726.
Chef Randy Rucker is on the move again. He's left Rainbow Lodge, where he was wowing foodies, and says he's heading to Peru to help a friend open a new restaurant there. In the meantime, he'll continue his private Tenacity supper clubs (see information at http://greensandbeans.wordpress.com/) and says not to count out a return to the Houston restaurant scene sometime in the future. Rainbow Lodge, 2011 Ella Blvd., Houston, TX 77008, 713-861-8666.
Closings
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