Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, where you’ll get a plateful of restaurant, bar, and chefs happenings each week.
The 411
Anvil is giving Houstonians good reason to cut Dry January short this year. The beloved Montrose haunt has reinstated its popular happy hour, with the bar opening its doors at 2 p.m. and offering half off every cocktail on its vast menu until 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Bojangles is making its highly anticipated Houston-area debut on Tuesday, February 4 with a new location at 6710 N. Grand Parkway in Spring’s Grand Parkway Marketplace. The popular North Carolina-based fried chicken restaurant, known for its baskets, tenders, sandwiches, and scratch-made biscuits, has had a presence in Texas since 2023, but this is its first foray into the Houston market.
In honor of National Popcorn Day, River Oaks Theatre, all Houston-area locations of Star Cinema Grill, and Reel Luxury Cinemas in the Woodlands will be treating its movie-goers to complimentary popcorn on Sunday, January 19.
2025 has brought a new, refreshed look for Montrose Live, the open-air space that occupies the busy intersection of Westheimer Road and Montrose Boulevard. Under the management of local entrepreneur, Jessica Ivins, the nearly three-acre area has been a hub for community programming and weekend markets over the last few years, but with the debut of new Container Galleries — air-conditioned shipping containers converted into storefronts — the small pocket of Montrose aims to welcome visitors on a more regular basis. Sunbi Studio and Trusted Kicks were among the first two retailers to open in the fall, with plans for a coffee shop, a farm stand, and working artist spaces in the pipeline.
On the Kirb continues to expand its Houston footprint with the debut of its fourth, and largest, location, now open at 3800 Southwest Freeway in Greenway Plaza. The sports bar is known for sourcing local ingredients and organic free-range dairy and poultry for its large menu of comfort eats, and its Greenway location will follow the same ethos, honing in on Keto-friendly dishes that rotate on a monthly basis. New additions like a cod special and kabob plate join classics like wraps, burgers, and tacos, while the brunch menu will feature a new Brunch Board showcasing a variety of dishes for sharing.
Happenings
Houston’s Rooftop Cinema Club is raising the bar for date night with the launch of Fireside Films, available through the month of February. Moviegoing couples can snuggle up in loveseats with heaters on the open-air roof, and take in a new or classic film from five floors up. A hefty selection of concessions, including popcorn, candy, nachos, hot dogs, and cocktails, beer, and wine from the full bar, are all on offer.
Brasserie 19 is teaming up with Champagne Madame Zero for a cocktail hour-style event on Wednesday, January 29 at 6 p.m. The evening will consist of a selection of bubbles, Champagne-fueled cocktails, and food pairings like yellowtail crudo, chicken liver mousse, pomme paillasson with caviar. Tickets are $85 per person, with reservations available at brasserie19.com
Bandista will host its first ever international pop-up next month, when it welcomes Tokyo’s VIRTÙ on February 3 and 4. Named #11 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars list and recognized among the World’s 50 Best Bars, VIRTÙ showcases modern Japanese ingredients and techniques with classic French traditions from its place on the 39th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi. During the special two-night event, bartenders Keith Motsi and Graham Kimura, will create the bar’s house cocktails. Reservations for 90-minute seatings are required, with proceeds of the pop-up benefitting Camp H-Town.
On the Menu
With the new year comes the return of Tacodeli’s grab-and-go taco service. Houstonians can stop by any Tacodeli location and find a selection of its most popular breakfast tacos, individually wrapped, for a fast and easy meal on-the-go.
Maven at Sawyer Yards has launched weekend brunch service from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with highlights including pain perdu ($16) with caramel ice cream; classic chilaquiles ($16); shrimp and crab campechana ($22); and the Maven muffin ($14), a sandwich built with egg Canadian bacon, and secret sauce on an English muffin.
Norigami is hosting a limited time pop-up with Dallas-based Japanese sando company, Sandoitchi, through Saturday, January 25. Limited to walk-ins only, guests may visit during lunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and find sandos in varieties like classic katsu, wagyu, and tamago, starting at $11. As an epic end to the two-week run, Norigami and Sandoitchi will collaborate on a 12-course dinner with five drink pairings, offered over two seating times at 6 and 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 26 and Monday, January 27. Reservations can be made via Resy.
