An abundance of new businesses have opened or are making their way to the Heights, Washington Corridor and Montrose area, including a new Mediterranean-style restaurant on West 20th Street, Cava, and a new steakhouse by chef Don Bowie.
1. The soft opening phase is underway for Native Coffee at 1712 W. Dallas St., Houston, with a grand opening potentially taking place in late March. Paiam Alavi, who founded the business with his mother, May, and brother Pouya said the focus is on serving locally sourced coffee drinks, teas and a selection of pastries and other foods. Paiam said he hopes to add a deli counter as well as local beer and wine options in the near future. After working for 12 years in the Austin area, he said he hopes to bring the neighborhood coffee shop vibe of Austin to the Houston area. 281-561-6068. www.instagram.com/nativecoffeehtx
2. The latest dining concept by chef Don Bowie, Rare Restaurant and Lounge, is opening March 17 at 4105 Washington Ave., Houston. The steakhouse will serve U.S. Department of Agriculture prime steaks, such as a New York strip and a tomahawk, along with seafood and other Southern-inspired dishes and appetizers, according to a March 16 press release. Some menu items guests can choose from include charbroiled oysters; crispy Cajun calamari; sweet potato souffle; blanco mac and cheese topped with lobster, crab or bacon; and warm lemon pudding cake. 713-684-7129. www.instagram.com/rarehtx
3. New dance venue and nightclub Citizen is opening in mid- to late April at 5922 Washington Ave., Houston. Milkshake Concepts hospitality group opened the first location of the nightclub in Dallas in 2015. According to Milkshake’s Chief Marketing Officer Meredith Vachon, the nightclub will be made to feel like home with wallpapers, chandeliers and a service-oriented feel. Citizen is heavily focused on bottle service but has house-branded Pedialyte—Citi Water and Citilyte—to keep guests hydrated. www.citizenhtx.com
