Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen
What we reported: Ambriza features tapas-style sharable dishes and a daily happy hour. The restaurant focuses on authentic Mexican dishes and includes burgers, fajitas, tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas.
The latest: The restaurant opened Oct. 17. The restaurant’s featured items are a number of dishes created to be shared at larger tables. Roasted corn, yuca fries, fried plantains as well as specially prepared chicken and vegetable dishes are among the “social” plates offered.
Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen[/caption]
What’s next: In January, Ambriza will begin to offer brunch on the weekends. A brunch menu will be offered Saturday, and a brunch buffet will be served on Sunday.
10115 Louetta Road Houston • 281-205-1240 www.ambriza.com
Banh Mi Houston
What we reported: The owners of Banh Mi Houston left the insurance industry to open the restaurant in December 2015, serving a variety of Vietnamese sandwiches consisting of grilled meat and fresh vegetables. The restaurant also serves blended coffee, tapioca tea beverages and other drinks.
The latest: The eatery began to introduce its diners to pho, a homemade beef noodle soup. It also serves a Vietnamese curry chicken stew. The restaurant also began to offer catering, providing custom assortments of sandwiches and other homemade items for events and parties.
The sandwich shop now serves fresh homemade pho, Vietnamese beef noodle soup, as a daily menu item.[/caption]
What’s next: Pho will become a regular menu item, made from scratch with rice noodles, beef and fresh herbs, as the restaurant continues to expand its regular offerings.
3835 FM 2920 Spring • 281-651-2263 www.banhmihouston.com
Oooh La La Elite Cupcakes
What we reported: Elita Fielder opened Oooh La La Elite Cupcakes in 2015 and the bakery celebrated its first anniversary in July. It initially offered cupcakes and cake pops for purchase individually and for group orders and events.
The latest: The location now offers custom cakes, including sculpted, round and wedding cakes. Customers can also rent the facility for evening events and daytime parties. Reservations for two- or three-hour events come with complimentary cupcakes or an 8-inch cake.
Oooh La La Elite Cupcakes[/caption]
What’s next: The bakery will launch a monthly series in January featuring local businesspeople discussing topics of interest to the community such as how to write a resume. The location also plans to launch a new website in January and will install a 50-inch television for movie nights and other community viewing events such as awards shows.
5203 FM 1960 W. Houston • 281-781-7437 www.ooohlalaelitecupcakes.com
Martini Blu
What we reported This live jazz and dinner club opened in January. The dinner menu features American cuisine, including salads, chicken, seafood, steak and desserts. It features an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet on Sundays.
The latest: A new chef, Paul Tolliver, brings a “new American/Louisiana cuisine flair” to the restaurant, owner Leonard Hayes said. The restaurant also began serving brunch on Sundays and offers blues music on Sunday nights.
Martini Blu[/caption]
What’s next: In addition to live jazz performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, the restaurant will have a poetry night on Wednesdays. It also plans to add new menu items, such as the Cajun dish shrimp etouffee.
5060 FM 1960 W. Houston • 832-965-5580 www.martiniblu1.com
Pasta e Pesto
What we reported: In January, we reported this family-owned and -operated Italian restaurant opened in December 2015. It provides catering and delivery services as well as refrigerated items that customers can cook at home. The menu includes antipasto, salads, panini and Italian pasta entrees.
The latest: “The first year is the hardest; it’s been an interesting journey for us,” owner Matt Vernon said. The restaurant offers a five-course Italian dinner once a month. It has begun to make its own pasta, including porcini mushroom pasta and spinach pasta, and desserts such as zeppoli, which is fried dough dusted with powdered sugar.
Pasta e Pesto[/caption]
What’s next: Pasta e Pesto offers customers samples of new items it is developing. Specials will be offered regularly as the chefs experiment with different flavors and styles, Vernon said. “We are probably going to continue on the same course—being creative and artistic and enjoying food,” he said.
1678 FM 1960 W. Houston • 281-580-1430 www.pastaepestotx.com
Ellen’s Cafe
What we reported: The cafe celebrated its first year under the ownership of Jessica and Matthew Lynn in May. It offers American cuisine including soups, salads, sandwiches, five kinds of quiche and 21 kinds of fudge. The restaurant began offering weekend breakfast and dinner options to its daily lunches.
The latest: The cafe has expanded its hours and its dinner service, which is now offered Wednesdays through Sundays. The new dinner menu includes “designer plates,” Jessica said. “We allow you to choose from a list of proteins, starches, vegetables and sauces to create your own plate,” she said.
Ellen’s Cafe[/caption]
What’s next: Ellen’s Cafe will change its dinner menu seasonally to reflect local offerings and seasonal ingredients, such as local Akaushi cattle. The breed of cattle is known for its tender meat. Chef Matthew experiments with new dinner specials incorporating a variety of international cuisines such as a Mexican enchilada dish featuring green and red sauces during the Christmas season.
307 Gentry St. Spring • 281-353-9229 www.facebook.com/ellenscafeots
