After working in the restaurant industry for 40 years and 35 years, respectively, Ricardo Cantu and Robert Gazdek took the plunge last summer and opened their own restaurant in Cy-Fair.
As the owners of R&R Crafthouse Grill, Cantu said running their own restaurant and calling the shots has been a positive experience.
“The expression is our own,” he said. “We’re not carrying the flag for anyone else. It’s our message. It’s our dream.”
The eatery offers a diverse menu of items the two owners have collected and perfected over the years with a focus on grilled fare, including craft burgers, grilled fish and chicken plates.
Gazdek said he tries to cook as much as he can in-house. The principle applies to everything from the french fries—which are cut freshly every day—to the homemade chili as well as barbecue and marinara sauces.
“When we make cilantro lime rice, we’re using fresh limes,” Gazdek said.
The craft house concept extends to the drinks menu, which includes craft soda options from the Spring-based Real Sugar Soda. Flavors include black cherry, vanilla cream and root beer.
Bar patrons can also order wine, craft cocktails and a variety of craft beer, including local options such as Bearded Fox Brewing Company, 11 Below Brewing Company and Lone Pint Brewery. Gazdek said he hopes to introduce selections from Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. and Platypus Brewing in the future.
Gazdek said the restaurant has been experimenting with specials on certain items, including shrimp on Fridays and salmon specials on the weekends. In the future, Gazdek said he wants to introduce daily specials and a menu specifically for lunchtime customers.
“We’re not sure what exactly those will look like yet, but we could use them as a way to test new items and decide whether we want to add them to the menu,” he said.
In its first year, Gazdek said the restaurant has attracted many regular customers and continues to see first-timers. Moving forward, he said the eatery will continue to work to evolve the menu, which is often updated based on customer suggestions.
“We try to provide a diversified menu to please a lot of people,” he said.
12910 Malcomson Road, Cypress
832-761-1018
www.randrcrafthousegrill.com
Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
