Zanti Cucina Italiana brings authentic Italian taste to The Woodlands area in a casual environment
After taking about 2 1/2 years to select a location and design a concept, Santiago Pelaez opened Zanti Cucina Italiana to bring authentic Italian cuisine to The Woodlands area in June 2019 on Research Forest Drive.
Southern concept Craft Grill Breakfast Club offers array of breakfast
Years after founding their Texas scratch kitchen Craft Grill just south of Creekside Park, co-owners Chris and Connie O’Donnell and Joe and Patti Copus brought a new, Southern-style concept to the area with the launch of Craft Grill Breakfast Club in January 2020.
Hearsay on The Waterway brings antique chic to dining
When the original Hearsay restaurant launched in downtown Houston 11 years ago, it opened in a building that has been in place since before the Civil War. According to Shawn Collier, a marketing representative for Hearsay On The Waterway, the style of that building has been a touchstone for the other three locations, including the one in The Woodlands, which opened in 2020.
Baja Cantina and Fiesta brings authentic Mexican taste to The Waterway
Before Baja Cantina and Fiesta found its home at The Woodlands Waterway, the restaurant got its start operating out of a food truck on Gosling Road for around a year.
Homemade barbecue and baked goods on tap at local food trailer CT's Sweets N Meats
CT’s Sweets N Meats, a cooking- and baking-centered food trailer and outdoor dining space east of Oak Ridge North, is built on partnership. The husband-and-wife ownership team of Cynthia and Anthony Anastasiades said they founded CT’s to provide customers with a blended menu of savory and sweet handcrafted barbecue and baked goods.
The Republic Grille founder brings local focus, themes to The Woodlands restaurant
Founder and owner Terry McBurney opened the first location of Republic Grille seven years ago because he wanted to provide a truly local restaurant to The Woodlands community, he said. “The mom and pops were getting squeezed out, so this was sort of my way to develop a concept for locals,” McBurney said.
The Woodlands location of Killen's Steakhouse emphasizes quality ingredients, experience
Since expanding to The Woodlands in April 2019, the management of Killen’s Steakhouse said they have paid extra attention to the quality and presentation of its food to make it stand out in the area. The restaurant is owned by Houston chef Ronnie Killen, who enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Institute in London in 1997 before returning to Texas in 2003.
JW’s Place Soul Food and Barbeque brings homemade Southern dishes to Spring area
Jack and Cassaundra Webb, owners of JW’s Place Soul Food and Barbeque on Springs Trails Ridge in Spring, said they pride themselves on providing a menu of completely homemade dishes based on recipes passed down from generations of both family trees.
Uncle Tony's brings extra emphasis to burgers and tacos in The Woodlands area
From a young age, “Uncle” Tony Marron, owner of Uncle Tony’s Burgers, said he loved good food and wanted to work as a cook in a restaurant. After graduating from high school, Marron said he went into the automotive industry to make a living. However, when the industry began to decline, he opened the first iteration of his restaurant focusing on burgers and chicken tacos in Porter around 2007.
Baja Sur brings fresh Mexican cuisine, tequila bar to Creekside
The owners of Baja Sur Fresh Mex + Tequila Bar joined together to open in December 2020 with a goal of creating a contemporary, casual restaurant with an upscale feel.
“The initial plan and the idea was to just be a place where you can come on a date night, do brunch on the patio; you can have drinks at the bar,” owner John Amato said. “It’s a multifaceted concept. We still wanted to have that upscale feel.”
Cosmic Cowboy Lounge pairs curated drinks with classic American tastes
As the owner of local burger chain Jax Burgers, which has seven Houston-area locations, John Recio said he wanted to expand his offerings into a different service environment. The opportunity came up in October 2020 when he opened the Cosmic Cowboy Lounge.
Uli’s Kitchen brings a culinary tour of Mexico to The Woodlands
Uli’s Kitchen, named after owner and chef Ulises Alcaraz, was a concept developed by Ulises and his wife, Bonnie Alcaraz. The owners wanted to provide a culinary tour of authentic Mexican food to The Woodlands.
“The Woodlands chose us,” Bonnie said. “We came across this space, and it was perfect. It was absolutely perfect.”
