The Lake Houston area has no shortage of Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants, so restaurateur RC Gallegos said he wanted to try something different. His success as the owner of RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta—first in Conroe in 2003, then in Kingwood and in The Woodlands—allowed him to explore his dream of offering comfort food that originates from Southwestern region of the U.S. Gallegos opened Tularosa Southwestern Grill in June 2016, with a menu that included dishes inspired by recipes from his family’s hometown. He is originally from El Paso, Texas, but has childhood memories of spending time in Tularosa, New Mexico, where his mother, Lynn, and her grandmother, Bessie Gomez, would always have a hot meal waiting for him. Diners can expect enchiladas made with green and red chiles, flat enchiladas, and vegetarian in addition to shrimp or beef fajitas. Meanwhile, the chicken-fried steak is served with the restaurant’s Cajun-spiced pork Tasso gravy, which was crafted for Tularosa by celebrity chef Lee White. “I want when you come in and smell the food, you feel the memories of your childhood and you remember all the good times,” he said. “When opening RC’s Pizza or any restaurant, I was interested in being able to help people identify with their past experiences.” Customers who walk in will receive full table service and will be treated like a country club member, Gallegos said. He said offering this level of service is important to him. Gallegos also offered free meals to first responders  at Tularosa and his two other Greater Houston-area restaurants after Hurricane Harvey made landfall on Southeast Texas, he said. “These people have much more of a need for our help now,” he said. “We’re happy and proud to help our community. It’s the least we can do.”