The FM 1960 Italian restaurant also offers catering, with an assortment of pasta dishes, salads and bread.[/caption]

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.

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

This story is one update from The January Issue. View the full list of 6 notable dining openings here.