When Crisp opened April 17 in the former location of Black Walnut Café on Research Forest Drive, the restaurant brought with it a reputation among local foodies for creative and quality menu items.

Dave Dobbins, general manager and owner-operator of Crisp, said he and his business partners chose The Woodlands for its second location to offer area residents a new independent restaurant option.

“We thought The Woodlands was a great market for our concept,” Dobbins said. “We looked around and saw a lot of great restaurants, and a lot of chain restaurants. There were not a whole lot of independent restaurants operating in The Woodlands area. We thought people might be wanting something a little bit more of what we run down in the Heights.”

Crisp’s menu was created by chef Jared Estes and features American food with Italian flair, Dobbins said.

The restaurant has tweaked its menu selections to offer lower-priced happy hour items and new brunch selections, he said.

“We want a menu that is chef-driven and unique with very different flavors to it,” Dobbins said. “[We want] menu items that would pair very well with our wines and beers.”

2520 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, 832-562-2520, www.crispwoodlands.com

Hours: Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-midnight, Sat. 9 a.m.-midnight, Sun. 9 a.m.-10 p.m.