Café Express to reopen River Oaks spot following renovation, menu revamp

The River Oaks location of Café Express, a Houston-based European cafe concept, is set to reopen Oct. 4 with a new interior, a revamped menu and the return of a condiment bar offering Europe-imported condiments.

“Not only have we totally renovated our River Oaks location, but we have also elevated the menu and overall dining experience while maintaining prices that are in keeping with a family-friendly, craft-casual neighborhood restaurant,” Café Express President Sarah McAloon said in a Sept. 29 statement.

Café Express was founded by Lonnie Schiller and Robert Del Grande in 1984, and the River Oaks outpost first opened in 1991, according to the Sept. 29 release. The menu features European dishes that are served with scratch-made dressings and sauces.

New menu items include the Amalfi chicken, steak bavette, tuna nicoise salad and Spanish romesco chicken. Café Express also offers a beverage program with beer, wine and housemade iced teas.

Under a new philanthropic program Café Cares, the eatery will donate up to 20% of sales to local nonprofits. A portion of the proceeds from the first week of opening will be donated to Search, a nonprofit that works to educate, employ and house homeless individuals in Houston.

Officials said future plans for the chain also include the opening of a new location in The Woodlands before the end of 2022 as well as another location in Webster. Broader plans include opening 15 new stores in Houston and another 15 in Dallas by 2030, according to the release.

713-522-3100. www.cafe-express.com