Openings and Closings: Soliz Tacos Expands, Ford’s Garage Houston

Soliz Tacos des Casa & Cafe, 11131 Harlem, will open October 9 in Richmond. It’s the second brick and mortar for the fast-casual taco brand which also operates a stand-alone spot in Stafford and a food stand at Fair Food Co. Food Hall in the Galleria area. The taco restaurant was founded in 1984 by Connie Soliz and many of the recipes are hers. In 2014, grandson Eric Otto took over the operations. Last year, he created Soliz Tacos Inc. with business partner Michael Miller and the duo are looking toward franchising next year.

D’Alba Craft Kitchen & Cocktails, 32823 FM 2978, is shooting to open the first week of October in Magnolia. It opened its first spot in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area in September 2021, followed by a location in Midtown in 2023. The Midtown location has since shuttered.

According to an email from owner Daut Elshani, the Magnolia restaurant will begin with the dinner menu only and gradually add the lunch and brunch services. The menu will be similar to the GOOF location, but there will be some different options for the happy hour specials. Like its first location, there will be an extensive patio for enjoying one of its wood-fired pizzas accompanied by a spicy margarita. We’ll have more information next week about the definitive opening date.

Ford’s Garage has signed an agreement to open three full-service restaurants in the Houston area. The first site is currently being determined. It’s part of a development deal between the vintage-inspired eatery and local restaurateur Baryalay Razi of the family-owned SVR Hospitality LLC. Razi’s experience includes 30 years with major brands like Whataburger, Bojangles and Aloha Poke, but Ford’s Garage is an opportunity for Razi to fulfill his dream of opening a full-service restaurant.

In a press release Razi said, “When I visited a Ford’s garage, I realized it wasn’t just a great place to eat, but it was also an amazing experience. From the moment you walk in, you’re stepping into something unique, almost like a museum that celebrates Americana and the Ford legacy.”

The concept was founded in 2012 in Fort Myers, Florida and is backed by The Ford Motor Company as the only official licensee to be able to use the logo and brand imagery. The restaurants are decorated in 1920s style and offer guests American-style burgers and craft beers. Since franchising in 2015, it has expanded with 32 locations across 8 states. The deal allows for Razi to open three locations within the next three to five years. Helping him in the new venture is his daughter, Lema Hudson Razi, who oversees operations, marketing HR and financial management at SVR Hospitality.

1111, 1111 Westheimer, is slated to open in Montrose this December. Whether you call it One-One-One-One or Eleven Eleven is up to you, but it’s sure to be a hotspot considering the talent behind the venture. Local hospitality entrepreneurs Army Sadeghi and Brandon Duliakis are the visionaries behind the cocktail bar and dining destination and they’ve already made a splash in the nightlife scene with the ultra-chic Melrose, which opened this past January.

Not only are the duo bringing in award-winning cocktail consultants for what promises to be a an elevated bar program, they’ve also tagged superstar chef Emmanuel Chavez to create the progressive menu for 1111. Chavez is a James Beard Award finalist for Best Chef: Texas and his restaurant, Tatemo, earned its first Michelin star in 2024. Born in Mexico City, the chef’s travels through regions of Mexico and around the world have shaped his culinary point of view and those influences are echoed in the menu. Guests can indulge in one-bite wagyu empanadas and tuna tostadas finished tableside. There will also be stunning entrees such as Contramar-style whole grilled fish, served with house-made mini tortillas and two salsas. The sophisticated and sculptural interior will have a centerpiece bar that measures 26 feet long, offering an interactive omakase-style experience for patrons with mixology stations with expert bartenders creating cocktails with rare ingredients and unique infusions. All of these elements are meant to give guests an experience beyond just a night out. Duliakis says, “It’s an invitation to escape into something more refined, more beautiful, more intentional.”

Black Rock Coffee Bar, 1811 Grand Pkwy, celebrated its grand opening September 25 in Katy. It momentum in Texas just keeps on rolling and it recently opened a location in Humble September 5. The Katy store will make number 23 in the Houston metro area and the 45th in Texas, making the Lone Star State one of its most successful markets.

Its signature design is modern industrial, but still welcoming and relaxing. Guests can enjoy one of its many beverages including gourmet coffee drinks, a variety of teas and delicious smoothies. It also offers its proprietary Fuel energy drinks. It also offers a few pastries and breakfast items.

State of Grace, 3258 Westheimer, has brought in Ryan Lachaine as executive chef. The Canadian-born chef very recently made the decision to close his modern bistro, Riel, after 8 years. In a press release, Lachaine had hinted that there exciting things to come and apparently, this is it.

Lachaine has known founder Ford Fry of Rocket Farm Restaurants for over ten years, as well as RFR’s culinary director Bobby Matos. The trio will be working together to usher in a new chapter for the upscale River Oaks restaurant. Anitra Broussard, Lachaine’s former sous chef at Riel, joins him at State of Grace as lead line cook, according to CultureMap Houston.

Lachaine will be introducing new items like Pan-Roasted Halibut with maple-miso, Duck Agnolotti and Hearth-Roasted Hakf Chciken with pommes puree and Burgundy truffle. Fans of Riel will be happy to know that the Butter Burgers and Caviar Tater Tots will now have a place on the menu at State of Grace.

Doc’s Houston, 1201 Westheimer, is slated to open in December 2025. Taking over the Tower Theater space, which most recently housed Acme Oyster House, the new supper club will feature a world-class line up of musical performers along with a full-service upscale restaurant, headed by chef Jose Avila. The bar program will also be impressive with sommelier Sergio Valladares in charge of the wine curation.

Owner Doc Watkins is a well-known jazz pianist and band leader. He opened Jazz, TX in San Antonio in 2016 and performs there regularly with his orchestra.

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Mayahuel, 811 Buffalo Park, will launch its lunch service October 1. Guests can enjoy the new menu Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chef Luis Robledo Richards has created a midday lineup of fresh Mexican flavors like tortilla soup with a tomato and ancho broth or grilled hearts of palm with salsa verde. There are also entrees such as Cochinita Torta and Chicken Milanese. There’s also a prix-fixe lunch option with a trio of tacos based on seasonal ingredients, plus a starter and dessert. 

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

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