Candente Expands to Bellaire, Tacos A Go Go Does a Two-Step

Candente, 5101 Bellaire Boulevard, is shooting to open by the end of this year. It will be the second location of the Tex-Mex restaurant from Sambrooks Hospitality, which received a recommendation in the first-ever Texas Michelin Guide last year. Owner Michael Sambrooks is taking over the lease of the spot which currently houses Mandito’s Tex-Mex, or did until this past weekend. Mandito’s apparently shuttered its Bellaire restaurant quietly. It still operates locations in Katy and Round Top.

Candente debuted in 2019 and was a hit immediately. Houstonians were already familiar with Sambrooks’ barbecue spot, The Pit Room, which itself received a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide last year. The Pit Room opened in 2016 and expanded with a second location in 2024. Now Candente will also have a twin.

The menu at Candente emphasizes the Tex in Tex-Mex. Smoked meats appear in dishes like Smoked Chicken Flauta and Brisket Nachos. There’s even a Smoked Campechana. The steak fajitas are made with Prime Niman Ranch skirt or ribeye and there are true Texas add-ons like jalapeno cheddar sausage links. There’s still plenty of Mexican-inspired dishes including cheese enchiladas and tortilla soup. Its chile con queso can be ordered plain, but many guests like to add on the chopped brisket.

As for the Mandito’s Bellaire closure, Matt Johns, director of marketing at Palacios Murphy hospitality group, told the Houston Press in an email that the company is heavily engaged in the expansion of its luxury hotel, Hotel Lulu, in Round Top.

He added, “We have successfully transferred the lease to our friends at Candente. Mandito’s currently operates locations in Round Top as well as Katy with the latter continuing to offer full-service catering, boxed lunches and bulk pick-up options to the Bellaire and surrounding communities.”

Tacos A Go Go is opening two new locations this winter. Its Heights location on White Oak will soon be relocated to 1102 Yale in the former Lola Neighborhood Diner building which will allow for more space and more parking, a much-needed asset in the area. Lola closed earlier this year.

Tacos A Go Go, 2231 S. Voss, will take over the former home of Killen’s STQ. It will be a new neighborhood for the funky taco brand that was founded in Houston by Sharon Haynes in 2006. Its menu is led by chef and co-owner Maribel Gomez who has shaped the menu over the years with unique tacos like Lamb Barbacoa and Crispy Fried Chicken. There’s even a veggie Tater Tot Taco with refried black beans.

The larger space at both new restaurants means that Haynes can finally achieve her dream of having a real bar inside Tacos A Go Go. To help her realize that vision, she’s brought in two-time James Beard Award finalist Bobby Heugel. Known for such cocktail meccas as Anvil Bar & Refuge, Better Luck Tomorrow and  now-shuttered The Pastry War, Heugel will create a cocktail program with Mexican spirits like tequilas and mezcals from family-owned producers and distillers.

Heugel says he’s been a fan of Tacos A Go Go for nearly 20 years and he’s excited about the project. He added, “I’m working to bring the same creativity and care their team puts into the food into the bar program, so guests can enjoy an experience that feels just as fun and delicious as the tacos.”

Though the tacos are indeed delicious, the menu also features other items such as quesadillas, burritos, nachos and breakfast plates.

Blue Claw Seafood Restaurant & Bar, 13232 Northwest Frwy, will have its grand opening September 21 in Northwest Houston. Located in the former home of Red Lobster, the seafood concept from Ye’s Group of Companies, based in Canada, is not only making its Texas debut, but its U.S. one as well. The nearly 8,000 square-foot space can accommodate 272 guests.

Founders Ivan Ye and Dr. Mandi Lei were inspired by the seafood and flavors of the East Coast and the energy and bounty of the Gulf. Lei said in a press release. “Houston welcomed us with open arms and warm smiles. This city’s culture of connection, comfort and community made it the perfect place to start our next chapter.”

Ye and Lei are both seafood industry veterans and the sourcing of products for the restaurant is focused on sustainability and quality. The lobsters are sourced directly from the company’s proprietary fisheries in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and show up in menu items like the Signature Lobster Roll, Lobster Cakes and Lobster Chowder. Other fresh seafood includes the East Coast Seafood Boil filled with snow crab, mussels, calamari, shrimp, corn and potato, plus coastal sushi options like Salmon Sushi and Blue Claw Roll.

In addition to seafood, there are burgers and steaks, plus house-made desserts like chocolate mousse and creme brulee. The surprisingly inexpensive cocktail menu lists drinks like the East Coast Mule, Pink Cowgirl and Lychee Martini.

Truluck’s, 5350 Westheimer, has reopened after a temporary closure for remodeling. The restaurant first debuted in 1992, serving prime steaks and delicious seafood in an elegant, upscale atmosphere. The multi-million-dollar renovation includes a more relaxed environment that transports guests to the Mediterranean coast with cool marble, leather booths and lush olive trees. The piano-key tile floors add a striking note to the new interior.

The dining room has been reconfigured to include a semi-private dining space that can accommodate up to 56 guests. Moveable screens allow for the TRU Room to be partitioned off from the rest of the dining area. The bar itself has undergone a transformation with gleaming chandeliers and more petite olive trees that echo the feel of the main dining room.

Truluck’s is famous for its signature fresh Florida stone crab, which is sustainably harvested from its own fishery. Other seafood standouts include South African cold water lobster, Texas redfish and Norwegian salmon. In addition to its hand-cut prime steaks, there is a three-course Prime Rib Sunday menu for $59.

Partner and beverage director Dave Mattern, who has spent most of his career at Truluck’s, says that the renovation is more of a rebirth than a facelift. In a press release he said “We wanted to preserve the soul of Truluck’s while creating an experience that resonates with longtime guests and appeals to a new generation and our upscale Uptown neighborhood that draws residents and visitors from around the world.”

The press release also gave a shout out to server Rosemarie Foster who has been with Truluck’s for 32 years.

Moon and Soleil, 1800 Post Oak Boulevard, are coming to Houston this fall. Part of The Bastion Collection, the two concepts will be located above another of the brand’s concepts, Tavola. The Bastion Collection of restaurants also includes Michelin-starred Le Jardinier at The Museum of Fine Arts Houston and Cafe Leonelli, plus establishments in New York City and Miami.

Partnering with its off-site catering company, Cafe Natalie, The Bastion Collection is launching Bastion Events which will offer its culinary artistry for special events such as weddings, corporate gatherings and social celebrations. Soleil will be its private events venue while Moon will operate as an intimate bar that takes inspiration from the lunar cycles for its design and cocktail program.

Arnaldo Richards Picos, 3601 Kirby, will remain open until the end of the year and possibly into early January. The longtime Tex-Mex favorite (44 years!), announced that it was shuttering in August, though a closing date had not been decided. Now, after an outpouring of support from the community and the restaurants loyal diners, the Richards family has made the decision to keep the restaurant open through the end of 2025. The owners anticipate that it will actually close in the first few weeks of 2026.

Founder and chef Arnaldo Richards said that the closing announcement showed how deeply the restaurant had touched the lives of so many people, from heartfelt messages and visits, to encouragement to keep the doors open a little longer. “We’re humbled to have the opportunity to stay open through the holidays, a time that is so ingrained in tradition and full of memories for us.”

Some of the holiday traditions at Picos include its 12 Days of Mole celebration and its much-craved handmade tamales, which will be available from mid-November through the beginning of January. The restaurant has also kicked off Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 through October 15) with a special menu of dishes like Machete de Huitlacoche, Chiles en Nogada and Tequila Tuna Tartare.

Saltgrass Steakhouse, 300 Gulfgate Mall, opened September 16. One of the featured brands at Landry’s Inc., the Houston-born restaurant serves Angus beef steaks, chargrilled over open flames, that are then seasoned with its signature Saltgrass 7-Steak Spice. Other menu favorites include BBQ Baby Back Ribs, Double-Bone Pork Chops and Salmon Oscar.

In addition to its entrees, Saltgrass has a menu befitting its Texas-themed decor. Guests will find appetizers like Range Rattlers, jumbo jalapenos stuffed with shrimp and cheese, and Bourbon-glazed Bacon. There are also burgers, chicken sandwiches, Vaquero tacos, plus scratch-made soups and salads.

Senior vice-president and COO of Saltgrass, Terry Turney, said in a press release, “This location offers our largest private dining room to date, accommodating over 60 guests, giving us even more opportunity to host celebrations and special gatherings.”

Salad and Go is closing all of its Houston and Greater Houston area locations September 19. It is also shuttering locations in Austin, San Antonio and some in Oklahoma. We reached out for more information and were given an email statement from CEO Mike Tattersfield in which he said the decision to close all the Houston stores was difficult and extended his gratitude to the local community in Houston. He added, “We continue to believe in the Texas market and its long-term potential and will continue to operate many stores in the Dallas Metro area.”