A new chef-driven restaurant called Lila's will debut this fall on Fannin Street, featuring a New American menu influenced by Houston's diverse culinary traditions.
What we know
Lila's is expected to be an all-day restaurant and gathering place that "moves naturally" from morning coffee and lunch to happy hour, dinner and late-night cocktails, according to a Sept. 1 news release.
The concept is the brainchild of Houston-based hospitality management company Rebees.
“We’ve spent years thinking about how hospitality can fundamentally change the experience of a place,” said chief hospitality officer Matt Ragan. “With Lila’s, we’re taking the level of service, attention to detail and sense of welcome you expect from a great boutique hotel and applying it to an everyday restaurant. We want someone grabbing coffee before work, meeting a client for lunch or settling in for dinner and drinks to feel equally at home.”
The menu will showcase seasonal ingredients sourced from local farmers, dishes layered with Houston's multicultural influences and familiar flavors with "chef-driven" creativity.
Meet the staff
The kitchen will be led by executive chef Garee Battad. Battad has two decades of experience at luxury hotels and restaurants such as Nobu, Charlie Palmer and Gordon Ramsay. Per the release, he most recently served as executive chef of Azumi, a Japanese restaurant in the River Oaks District.
Along with Battad, mixologist Zach Smigiel will lead the cocktail program. Smigiel, a former beverage director for Dallas-based FlavorHook Restaurants, has designed a menu that is expected to emphasize "craveable flavors, seasonal ingredients and refined techniques," alongside a list of wine, local beers and nonalcoholic offerings.
What's special about it?
Lila's interior design is expected to blend the "warmth and comfort" of design-forward boutique hotels with relaxed lounge seating, collaborative gathering areas, an energetic bar and a dining room.
“Some of the most memorable restaurants where I’ve worked have been gathering places inside great hotels, and that’s the spirit and sense of place we’re bringing to Lila’s,” Battad said via news release. “We want every dish to feel familiar yet unexpected.”
