Local Spot Opens, Hypsi Soon, Ostia’s Sad News

Local Spot, 6450 Cross Creek Bend, opened softly in late August in Fulshear. The newest concept from the Local Table team will celebrate its grand opening September 6 beginning at 4 p.m. with music and giveaways.

Owners Ashkan Nowamooz, Arash Noamouz, Alex Nowamooz, Shervin Sharifi and Neima Sharifi are a team of brothers and cousins who have built their Eat Local Concepts restaurant group around the spirit of gathering friends and family together while serving tasty and healthy dishes made with fresh and local ingredients. Sue Nowamooz, Ashkan’s wife, serves as executive chef and co-owner in charge of the menu development for Eat Local restaurants like Hungry’s, Local Table and Local Bar.

Shervin Sharifi says the group’s foundation is built around homegrown communities and he just so happens to be a long-time resident of the Cross Creek community. He said in a press release, ” We really wanted a unique understanding of what the community and greater Fulshear area wanted in terms of a place to dine out and gather, and born was Local Spot.”

Chef Sue has curated a menu of American fare including The Spot Smash Burger, The Spot Sampler Wings and a charcuterie board. There are also sandwiches like an Italian sub and crab roll, plus specialty pizzas such as the Spicy Buffalo and Meatworks. There’s a kids menu with chicken tenders, pizza and cheeseburgers.

The beverage program offers signature cocktails like Cucumber Confidential as well as an exclusive Local Spot-only drink, The Kickback, made with vodka, jalapeno and strawberry lemonade.

In keeping with the community theme, Local Spot is planning events in the fall including gameday watch parties, family-friendly movie nights, bourbon tastings and more.

Hypsi, 347 W. 20th, is slated to debut this November at the upcoming Hotel Daphne. Led by executive chef Terrence Gallivan, the Italian-inspired restaurant will open in phases, first debuting its dinner service before launching its all-day menu as the hotel itself gets underway in January 2026.

The new Heights-area hotel is part of Bunkhouse Hotels, an Austin-based hospitality brand responsible for Houston’s Hotel Saint Augustine, which opened softly in December 2024. It brought in James Beard Award nominated chef and restaurateur Aaron Bludorn to open his restaurant,  Perseid, at the hotel in January 2025.

Like its predecessor, Hotel Daphne will also have a James Beard Award-nominated chef with Gallivan at the helm of Hypsi. Gallivan, whose experience includes a stint at the Michelin-starred Alto in New York City, is a familiar face to Houstonians for his former eateries, The Pass & Provisions and Elro Pizza & Crudo. The menu is Italian inspired with culinary treats like Crispy Skin Vermillion Snapper with salsa verde, plus a tableside mozzarella cart that offers a multitude of cheeses, plus a rotating selection of pickled vegetables, aged vinegars and cold-pressed olive oil.

Taking its cue from the private drinking clubs that once thrived in the dry days of the Heights, the style is both opulent and whimsical with various seating areas spread out, including a lounge.  An indoor fireplace with an antique mantel adds to the cozy vibe, while a lush courtyard offers an intimate oasis. The bar, with its leather Cassina chairs, promises to be an elegant spot for an Italian aperitivo or a craft cocktail.

Gallivan says of the new project, “This is an incredible opportunity to cook for a city I love in a neighborhood with such a unique history and my hope is that Hypsi becomes a place where locals and visitors alike will return time and time again…”

Ostia, 2032 Dunlavy, will shutter September 13, according to an Instagram post made by owner and chef Travis McShane. In the post, McShane cites the “current climate and strains, along with some personal reflections,” for the difficult decision. Thanking his guests and regulars, he added, “When I first started cooking 16 years ago, I dreamed of opening my first restaurant and because of y’all I was able to live that dream. Thank you.”

McShane debuted Ostia in September 2020. Despite the obstacles of the COVID pandemic, the restaurant became a Montrose go-to eatery for elegant Italian fare as well as wood-fired pizzas. His restaurant was listed here in the Houston Press as Best of Houston 2021: Italian and Best of Houston 2023: Brunch.

A Houston native, McShane graduated from the University of Texas and also the Culinary Institute of America in New York. It was in The Big Apple that McShane worked his way up in the kitchens of lauded chef Jonathan Waxman, eventually becoming executive chef at Barbuto and then Waxman’s corporate chef.

We reached out to a restaurant spokesperson who told the Press in an email that “Ostia is experiencing challenges similar to many beloved Houston restaurants that have recently closed.” And indeed, the past couple of months have seen the closures of restaurants like the 44-year-old Arnaldo Richards’ Picos  Mexican Restaurant and Ryan Lachaine’s eatery, Riel.

The email also said that McShane and his wife are expecting their third baby and that there are other exciting opportunities on the horizon. McShane himself referenced his family in his Instagram post, writing, “I will be stepping away from cooking for a while and turning my attention to focusing on my growing family and some other exciting projects.”

Flipp’N Chickens, 211 W. Crosstimbers, reopened last month after a year-long hiatus and had its grand re-opening September 1. The food truck originally served its smoked menu at Eighth Wonder Brewery and Distillery. Owner Reginald Scott, says he is excited to welcome old friends and new guests to the Crosstimbers location, right off the 610 Loop. He added, “This reopening is more than just serving food-it’s about giving the community a place they can gather, laugh and enjoy Houston’s best fried chicken.”

Chef Scott is also known for his barbecue concept, The Smoke, which operated downtown until he decided to focus on opening a brick and mortar location for The Smoke, while also working on rebuilding Flipp’N Chickens. The Smoke continues to pop up at festivals and local markets like Urban Harvest Market, plus catering events. Some of the menu items at The Smoke have even made it onto the menu at Flipp’N Chickens like the 48-hour brined smoked chicken, brisket sandwiches and the MacRib sandwich.

The truck and its Best Damn Everything team will also be serving a variety of wings, dripp’n or seasoned. Flavas include bbq, 22k hot, 22k honey gold and smoke dust. There are also chicken tenders and a chicken sandwich. For veg-heads, there are options like fried cauliflower and vegan popcorn chicken. The combos and kids meals come with fries.

Thirteen, 1911 Bagby, had its doors locked temporarily for unpaid rent totaling in excess of two million dollars, as reported by CultureMap Houston. A notice to the tenant, listed as Thirteens Hospitality Group, was posted on the door and dated September 1, 2025. The notice also listed James Harden, NBA superstar and former Houston Rockets point guard, as the guarantor.

The restaurant debuted in Houston in March 2021 as a fine dining steakhouse with Tobias Dorzon as executive chef. In October 2023, the restaurant closed temporarily as it transitioned to a different chef, Siddartha Cadena, and also made changes in management, staff, decor and menu items.

We have reached out to a spokesperson, but have received no response. The telephone service at the restaurant is currently experiencing “technical difficulties”.

Meanwhile, Harden recently signed a $81.5 million dollar contract with the LA Clippers for two years.

Raising Cane’s, 1529 Highway 6, will reopen to the Sugar Land community September 6 after closing temporarily to do renovations on the interior. The drive-thru remained open during the refresh. The restaurant will host a community event from 10 a.m. to noon. The first 50 dine-in guests who purchase a combo will receive a special gift along with a Free Box Combo Card, to be used on a future visit. There is one swag bag and card limit per combo purchased for ages 13 and up and it excludes the Kids Combo.

Raising Cane’s, 9530 Main, will reopen its renovated dining room later this fall. Its drive-thru remains open for business.

Black Rock Coffee Bar, 9437 FM 1960 Bypass W., is having its grand opening, September 5 in Humble. Guests who attend the all-day opening will receive free 16-ounce drinks. There will be more promotions and giveaways throughout the week.

The Humble store makes number 22 for the Houston metro area. Black Rock now has over 160 retail locations across 7 states. It offers coffee and espresso beverages and teas along with its signature Chillers and Fuel Energy drinks. There is a breakfast and pastry menu with items such as savory croissants, blueberry muffins and bagels.

Piada Italian Street Food, 2630 Pearland Parkway, opened August 28. The fast-casual concept offers piadas, a freshly-baked, thin-crust dough that is filled with Italian-inspired ingredients. Customers can choose from signature items or build their own piadas, salads or pastas. There is a wide variety of toppings and sauces plus protein add-ons such as Italian sausage, grilled chicken, calamari and grass-fed meatballs.