Openings and Closings: Liberty Kitchen, The Henry

Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette, 5212 Morningside, opens November 5 in Rice Village. Taking over the space that formerly housed Gratify, the new restaurant will feature the same coastal vibe of its sister locations in River Oaks and Memorial. It will celebrate its grand opening with $1 Gulf oysters, available through the end of the year at all three locations. 

Part of the Culinary Concepts portfolio, the restaurant has been designed by its in-house Star Commercial Construction Group, in collaboration with Laura Loreman Interiors. It follows the signature look of its predecessors with Kelly green and sea blue colors with a mix of comfortable booths and tufted chairs. Even the barstools are designed to make guests want to linger a while. Adjoining the bright interior dining room are two patios, giving the space an indoor-outdoor feel. 

In addition to its seafood-centric menu with dishes like pan-seared Chilean sea bass and shrimp and crab risotto, there are bistro offerings such as the Liberty cheeseburger and 8-ounce filet mignon. The new Rice Village location will also introduce its Chef’s Table, a rotating menu of seasonal dishes including braised octopus, seared monkfish, green curry mussels and duck three-ways. 

Liberty Kitchen Rice Village will host a grand opening brunch celebration November 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music from Andy Mac. The festive brunch menu features lobster avocado toast, blueberry cloud pancakes and a decadent caviar omelet. 

The Henry, 700 Town and Country Boulevard, will open its first Houston area outpost November 12. It will be the ninth location for the neighborhood-style eatery from Fox Restaurant Concepts, a Phoenix-headquartered hospitality group that operates a dozen concepts with more than 60 U.S. locations. In Houston, FRC operates locations of Flower Child, Cocina + Cantina and North Italia.

And that success in Houston is what keeps Fox Restaurant Concepts returning with new brands. Anita Walker, vice-president of marketing at FRC says, “Houston is a vibrant city with a flourishing culinary scene, making it the perfect place for The Henry.”

And what is so great about The Henry? Well, for a start, it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus weekend brunch. The modern American menu covers all the bases with its fresh and seasonal breakfast offerings like the Flower Child Scramble and quinoa bowl with eggs, black beans, peppers, avocado and cotija cheese. There is a variety of espresso-based coffee drinks , plus smoothies and morning cocktails.

The lunch menu features tasty starters including short rib potstickers and truffled brie toast, as well as entree salads and sandwiches such as the roasted turkey French dip. There are heartier mains like Korean prime skirt steak and Scottish salmon. The dinner menu is similar with a filet mignon with Burgundy sauce and roasted chicken frites.

There’s a good-sized wine list plus cocktails such as Hank’s Espresso Martini and the Hideaway Mai Tai.

The Henry will open a second Houston location at 1990 Post Oak Boulevard, with a date to be determined.

Paulie’s, 1834 Westheimer, and Camerata at Paulie’s, 1830 Westheimer, will both shutter after service December 31. The announcement has hit Houstonians hard, especially residents of the Montrose area in which the dual concepts are located. Owner Paul Petronella’s Facebook post stated, ” After 27 years of serving our beloved community, it is with a heavy heart that we announce the closing of Paulie’s Restaurant and Camerata Wine Bar…Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach a fair agreement with our landlord that would allow us to continue providing the quality experiences that you have come to know and love.”

The post continued with gratitude toward loyal customers, staff and suppliers and a heartfelt message about Petronella’s love for the business that he and his family have dedicated their lives to.

Bernard and Kathy Petronella first opened the Italian restaurant, named for their son Paul, in 1998. Paul Petronella took over the restaurant from his parents in 2007, keeping many of the recipes and local favorites, including Kathy’s iced shortbread cookies, which were a fusion between her Italian grandmother’s pizzelles and her Irish grandmothers’ shortbread.

The reasonable prices and fresh pasta dishes have created a regular fan base over the years. In 2013, Petronella extended the hospitality offerings when he opened Camerata Wine Bar next door. It was a little more upscale with a serious focus on wines and wine education.

Both concepts will operate as usual through the end of 2025, so Houstonians still have time to grab a panini or pizza at Paulie’s, or get together with friends for a bottle of wine and cicchetti at Camerata. The conversation may veer toward the changing face of Montrose and how many of its much-loved businesses are fading away in the face of overdevelopment. Online chatter has not been kind about local landlords, either.

As for Petronella’s future endeavors, he ended his Facebook post with, “Although there are no current plans to relocate Paulie’s or Camerata, I plan to transition into an industry that will still involve food and nutrition. I will share that as it evolves, for now I’m focusing on celebrating 27 years.”

The Taco Stand, 1503 Westheimer, debuted its Montrose restaurant October 30. It’s the third location for the concept from chef Matthew Pak and business partner Shawn Bermudez, who also own The Burger Joint. Located in a 1920s building, which was formerly an apartment complex, the space offers a total of 2,101 square feet, including a 1,000 square-foot patio. It also features a drive-thru for wake-me-up breakfast tacos and late-night cravings. 

The menu offers traditional street-style tacos with proteins such as carne asada, al pastor, barbacoa, lengua, pollo and carnitas. Other taco options include fish, shrimp and vegetables like mushroom and poblano peppers. There are even nopales tacos and a vegan Picadillo Vegano, made with Beyond Meat. Other items include burritos, quesadillas and bowls. 

For sides, there are charro beans, rice, chips and queso, guacamole and elote en vaso (street corn in a cup). Drinks include agua frescas, canned and frozen cocktails, plus a selection of domestic and Mexican beers. 

Paris Baguette, 18203 Egret Bay Boulevard, opens in Webster November 3. For the grand opening day, the first 100 guests in line at 7 a.m. will receive a free pastry with purchase of any pastry. 

The global bakery brand originated in South Korea in 1988. It expanded to the United States in 2005 and now has over 250 locations, with plans to reach 1,000 by 2030. The Webster store will be the 7th in the Greater Houston area and makes number five for franchisee, and owner of JW Concepts, Jim Wang. 

The new bakery and cafe will feature in-store dining as well as online ordering, delivery and curbside pick-up. Guests can stand and drool in front of the display cases, trying to make up their minds on an indulgent pastry or grab a quick sandwich for lunch or dinner. There are doughnuts, macarons, croissants, fresh-baked breads and pre-packaged baguette and loaf bread sandwiches. The bakery also sells beautifully-decorated cakes like Biscoff Cookie Butter and Blueberry Chiffon. 

To accompany all those sweet and savory flavors, there is a wide selection of coffee drinks, plus sodas, juices and sparkling waters. 

Live Mas Cafe, 19400 Interstate 45, debuts its first Houston area location November 20. Located within the Taco Bell restaurant, the concept has been introduced in California and is now making its way to Texas. That same day, it will open another Live Mas Cafe at 1730 Fry Road in Cypress. The first Texas store opens November 6 in Dallas. 

Taking advantage of beverage trends across the country, the menu offers refreshing drinks meant to be paired with the Taco Bell’s line-up of tacos, burritos and many other items made with tortillas. There are Agua Frescas, Limonada Frescas and Rockstar Energy Refrescas. Guests can also enjoy a Churro Chiller in flavors such as wild strawberry, caramel dulce and Mexican chocolate. There is a selection of iced coffees as well, all handcrafted by “Bellristas”. 

The November 20 grand opening takes place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with complimentary swag, a cup sketch artist and free sips, while supplies last. 

Hey, Taco Bell! You know what would taste great with one of those fancy drinks? An Enchirito. 

Shawarma King, 3121 Hillcroft, has a new chef leading the kitchen as of last month. Chef Khaled Charif was born and raised in Lebanon to a Lebanese father and a Greek mother. He was the founder of Pita Bites, a food truck and catering company, prior to joining the Shawarma King team.

His arrival in the kitchen is part of the new direction that owner Akram Khader is taking the longtime Mediterranean restaurant. Khader acquired the family-owned eatery last year and gave the space a full renovation, including the addition of a charcoal grill. He also launched a more modern website with an advanced online ordering system.

The 100 percent halal menu still offers many of the same items that have brought in customers for more than two decades, including chicken shawarma, falafel platters, kofta kababs, moussaka, and beef or chicken shawarma arabi.

Shawarma King also offers catering services for private events.

Little’s Oyster Bar, 3001 S. Shepherd, is now offering private dining, just in time for the holiday season. Celebrations and festive parties can be held in its sunny solarium with accommodation for up to forty guests. Hosts can choose from pre-set menus that will wow corporate bigwigs or esteemed family members. Whether it’s a three-hour lunch event or a special evening dinner soiree, there are options for three-course menus, with vegetarian choices available as well.

The $95 per person banquet menu might include first course options like scallop chowder, Little’s Caesar salad and local greens. Main courses could include Gulf grouper, Texas redfish, Amish chicken and petite filet of beef. There are shareable sides such as crisp eggplant, Texas cheddar grits and roasted marble potatoes. Dessert options include seasonal sorbets and chocolate pot de creme.

Howdy Homemade Ice Cream, 20920 Katy Freeway, will close its shop for the winter November 1 and reopen March 1, 2026. It will offer private event opportunities during this time, so interested parties can contact [email protected]

The ice cream will still be available at Anthony’s, Pearl and Vine, Jax and Union Kitchen.

Cocody, 1971 W. Gray, is parting ways with brothers Chef David Denis and Operations Manager and sommelier Sylvain Denis. The duo are well known in Houston for their longtime French restaurant Le Mistral, which closed in 2019 after 18 years. In 2023, the brothers partnered with Edwin and Edith Bosso, along with fellow chef and Le Mistral alum Lionel Debon, to open the swanky and stunning River Oaks restaurant, Cocody, in December of that year.

No reason was cited for the departure, but the press release stated, “The Denis brothers extend their best wishes to Cocody Restaurant and its team as the establishment continues forward. They remain committed to their craft and look forward to the next chapter of sharing authentic French culinary experiences in the Houston community. “

The restaurant is still under the co-ownership of the Bossos and the kitchen will continue to be led by Chef Debon.

Restaurants Reported Open October 2025:

The Bell & Crane, 908 Henderson, grand opening October 18

Bread Zeppelin, 9753 Katy Freeway, opened October 7

Charm Taphouse & BBQ, 525 Woodlands Square Boulevard, opened October 25

A Cheese Affair, 5302 Morningside, opened September 13

CoCo Crepes & Coffee, 24818 Morton Ranch, opened early October

Eberhard Social House, 1216 W. Clay, opened October 21

Eculent Restaurant + Liquid Lab, 709 Harris, opened October 1

Einstein Bros. Bagels, 14090 FM 2920, opened October 21

Golden Chick, 233 W. Parker, opened October 7

Kolache Shoppe, 10321 Katy Freeway, opened October

Leaf & Grain, 9655 Katy Freeway, opened October 18

Maison Chinoise, 1958 W. Gray, opened October 31

Mountain Mike’s, 22314 FM 529, opened early October

Murray’s Pizza & Wine, 9655 Katy Freeway, opened October 24

Raising Cane’s, 7531 Westheimer, reopened October 18

Raising Cane’s, 1501 Research Forest, reopened October 25

Slip Sliders, 1801 Binz, opened early October

Truboy BBQ, 8035 Highway 6, opened October 9

Zaranda, 1550 Lamar, opened October 18

Restaurants Reported Closed October 2025:

Corelli’s Sugar Land, 3229 Highway 6, closed in September

Cylone Anaya’s 5761 Woodway, closed late September

Houston This Is It, 2712 Blodgett, closed October 12

Kim Son, 2001 Jefferson, closed October 12

This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.

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