Eat

The wait is finally over. Hotel Granduca has officially reintroduced its legendary Sunday brunch buffet, a meal that was long beloved by both hotel guests and locals before eventually being phased out for a la carte brunch service.

Shake Shack has officially opened its doors in Rice Village. The much-anticipated location at 6205 Kirby Dr. has some tasty surprises, including a frozen custard concrete exclusive to the neighborhood: West U-nicorn, a delectable combination of vanilla custard, unicorn bait cookie from Fluff Bake Bar, strawberry puree and salted caramel sauce.

One of the oldest observations on the Christian calendar, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, taking place this year on Feb. 14.

Even more options for a delicious, moveable feast:

Houston will soon be home to the first Texas outpost for acclaimed Chef Michael Mina. The award-winning toque along with lifestyle expert, TV personality and cookbook author, Ayesha Curry, will unveil their wildly popular International Smoke collaboration at CITYCENTRE in early 2018.

State of Grace’s 2nd Anniversary is on the horizon, and to celebrate its entry into the terrific twos, executive chef Bobby Matos and team are gearing up for a major culinary celebration Sunday, October 29 from 4 to 7 pm.

Fun fact: The only person to successfully cut the line at Austin’s Franklin Barbecue is former President Barack Obama (Kanye West was denied when he tried to do the same).

Get excited, Houstonians! Texas-born, award-winning restaurateur Ford Fry is heading back to his hometown with not one, but TWO new concepts in the Heights.

The newly opened King’s BierHaus kicks off pre-Oktoberfest festivities on August 18 with plenty of food, fun and LOTS of schnapps. On Friday night, revelers can sip on $5 drafts and schnapps while chowing down on delicious sausages. Kolaches — a King’s specialty — will be available at certain times throughout the weekend (Hint: MORNING!).

Inferno Pizza is bringing the heat to a ground-level retail space at SkyHouse River Oaks, steps away from the River Oaks District.

Hotel Derek is adding a rock star to its roster in the form of new Executive Chef Roshni Gurnani.

Cafe Azur, inspired by the Cote d’Azur and located in the heart of Montrose, recently launched a brand new happy hour menu featuring a variety of $6 small plates and $5 cocktails. Small bites include classic dishes like Bruschetta and grilled Butternut Squash topped with creamy, melted Taleggio cheese, along with Houston-inspired dishes like the Duck Confit Taco.

Let’s be honest – having to plan your own birthday party is kind of annoying. But sometimes, it’s simply the only way to get all of your friends on the same page.

Choosing where to dine can be a daunting task, especially when you throw a business meeting into the mix. Lucky for you, we’ve done all the heavy lifting when it comes to finding the perfect power breakfast spots.

Houston may be short on white-sand beaches, but you don’t have to travel far to experience the cuisines of Hawaii, Mexico and more. Tuesdays by the Beach at Nobie’s – Montrose’s chef-driven neighborhood charmer – take place the last Tuesday of every month.

When has octopus ever let us down? First, it was the classic Bond film “Octopussy.” Then came the stellar Disney villain Ursula in “The Little Mermaid.” And, who could forget the World Cup-predicting soothsayer in Paul the octopus?

Fifth-generation Texan Levi Goode is taking the family’s storied Goode Company Restaurants to The Woodlands with not one, but two side-by-side restaurant concepts that will share patio space. Our enigmatic neighbors to the north will soon get a true taste of Texas with their own Goode Company Barbeque. Fine.

Montrose is a magic carpet – you can even take a trip to the French Riviera without leaving the neighborhood.

Fried chicken connoisseur Allen Nicholson launched his Chicken Box Delicious pop-up concept this spring as a result of not being able to find affordable, high-quality chicken nuggets. We’ve always drowned our drive-thru variety in sweet and sour sauce to hide the pain and totally get it.

Many of us have gone gray waiting for construction to start on the Regent Square development that will create a dynamic bridge between River Oaks and Midtown. Until that happens, two veteran Houston restaurateurs have stepped in to add new life and destination status to a quiet stretch of W Dallas steps from Buffalo Bayou Park.

It’s National Fried Chicken Day y’all. While we might have a way to go before we get this holiest of national food holidays off, there’s still cause to celebrate. Pull on your Daisy Dukes and pull up your Ropers for some delicious and delectably priced specials to mark July 6.

Homegrown Texas boy Ford Fry and Executive Chef Bobby Matos will have you singing for Sundays at State of Grace.

Sushi = sublime. Steak = great. Sushi + steak = fandamntastic.

Food is as much of a visual experience as a gustatory one, and in trying times like morning hangovers and 100-degree afternoons – when it’s difficult to find an appetite for anything other than a cocktail and a pool – we recommend turning to Instagram for inspiration.

The Southwest Airlines sale has come and gone…and you missed out. Not to worry — Picos restaurant has the remedy to take you on a journey south of the border without needing a passport.

Ever get that feeling that the safe route just won’t suffice? That you need to throw caution to the wind? We’ve all been there a time or two. It’s the feeling of needing to go BALLS OUT. Embodying that adventurous sentiment, Balls Out Burger in The Heights opened its doors to the Houston community on Saturday, June 3.

Houston culinary icon Goode Company’s Armadillo Palace recently unveiled a brand spanking new menu that has been in the works for over a year.

In a bind for Mother’s Day? Forgot to make a reservation for that fancy, multi-course brunch extravaganza? Skip the pomp and circumstance this year – plenty of awesome Houston eateries are offering low-key a la carte options this Sunday.

Austrian father-son duo Hans & Philipp Sitter are at it again with their newest concept. King’s BierHaus serves giant sausages and the world’s best brews. The Pearland pair eased into the restaurant business by sliding bratwurst into car wash customers’ hands on the DL. Aaaah, those were the good old, pre-Purell, safety-second days. That operation transformed into the Biergarten, a restaurant born from a brash impulse that became Pearland royalty.

Cranking temps = time for al fresco brunches.