Osaka IZAKAYA

Finally Open: Osaka Izakaya on S. Shepherd Drive 

2802 S Shepherd Dr Houston, TX 77098

Trader Joe's in the Crosshairs

Trader Joe's on S. Shepherd at Alabama Shopping Center 

Swordfish at the Seafood Kitchen

Seafood on S. Shepherd 

Pappas Seafood House on South Shepherd near West Alabama 

Américas River Oaks

Americas 

Tila's Mexican Restaurant & Taco Truck

Tila's Mexican Restaurant with patio and bar & Taco Truck

Café Adobe fades into history at 32 - Long live Tex-Mex!

Adios Café Adobe

Another fiesta is over. Café Adobe at Westheimer and Shepherd is now closed. Like the Montrose Fiesta store a few blocks to the East, the property will see redevelopment as multi-story residential project following demolition. The way things go in Houston.

The architecture of the double-decker patio venue was rather unique; not to mention the coloring scheme and illumination at night. It even offered rain-or-shine patio brunching or dining in a courtyard with a water fountain in the middle and glass roof aloft; winding staircase to the cantina on the second floor. Worthy of land-mark status, and no doubt the object of many fond and cheery memories for at least two generations of innerloopers.

Moving truck at back entrance to Adobe Cafe

It’s not the only Mexican restaurant fading into Margarita-infused memories of good times had. Aztecas on the corner of Richmond and Greenbriar has folded too, following the earlier demise of Maggie Ritas, whose effort  to spice things up at Ninfa’s on Richmond at Kirby were all too lamentably to no avail. Iconic patio restaurant Bocados on West Alabama near The Menil just went out with a bang too; in a fitting gesture on Cinco de Mayo. Taco Milagro on the corner of Westheimer and Kirby is next. It’s days are numbered.

Aztecas Restaurant on corner of Richmond and Greenbriar closed

Maggie Rita's was short-lived in former Ninfa's location on Kirby Drive

Bocados on West Alabama (before closing)

Patio at Taco Milagro on Westheimer at Kirby

Not that the neighborhood is on the way downhill. Much rather, it looks like rising land values and rents are squeezing the moderately-priced Tex-Mexes out of the market. There are big construction projects under way all around.

So what’s still there on the Mex and Tex-Mex culinary front?  A Lupe Tortillas on the SW Freeway feeder between Greenbriar and Kirby; Little Pappasitos on Richmond next Indian Restaurant Khyber; Ruchis on the SW corner of Shepherd and West Alabama; La Tapatia and Selma Maria on Richmond. And then there is Chuy’s near where Taco Milagro is calling it quits; although its display of Elvis-paraphernalia and other such stuff put its Tex-Mex credential somewhat in doubt. And then there are a couple of burrito joints: Mission Burritos on West Alabama and FreeBirds on Greenbriar across from the Post Office. 

Seems like there is room in the market for a new Tex-Mex startup; to cater to those loath to navigate down Lower Westheimer to the El Real to crunch chips loaded with salsa in a former movie theater, not to mention driving all the way to EaDo to honor the memory of Mama Ninfa’s in her original establishment, which now features a large patio with outdoor bar, or the new El Tiempo Cantina next to it, which was opened earlier this year by a descendant of the iconic Mexican matron that got Houstonians of all ancestries – Hispanic or otherwise -- hooked on fajitas. 

Goodbye Sugarbaby's Cupcakes Boutique

Sugarbaby's Cupcakes on South Shepherd, next to Gusto Gourmet, closed for good May 10, 2013 

after six years at that location.

From Zake to Onaga Pan Asian Bistro - Sushi Lounge Rebranding

Onaga Pan Asian Bistro has taken the place of what was Zake Sushi Restaurant & Lounge at the corner of W. Alabama Street and Shepherd Drive next to the Whole Earth Provisioning Store and Trader Joe's (former W. Alabama Theater).

Japanese Sushi Dining- Evening view of Onaga Pan Asian Bistr

The change-over seems to have taken place overnight. (The application for approval of alteration of sign on this City Landmark, which is owned by Weingarten Realty, was filed April 3, according to Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission records.).

Zake signage some time before rebranding

Tilas Mexican Restaurant Food Truck passing West Alabama Theater, now occupied by Trader Joe's
Onaga Pan Asian Bistro now occupies the corner space in the NW quadrant of W. Alabama - Shepherd intersection

Zake Japanese Restaurant & Lounge (now Onaga Pan Asian Bistro) on the Neighborhood Map

Demeris Bar-B-Q (est. 1964)

Demeris Bar-B-Q - Barbecue outfit with staying power on S. Shepherd

2911 S Shepherd Drive Houston, Texas 77098

Zoe's Kitchen on Shepherd Drive North of SW Freeway

Trumeals at Greenbriar / S. Shepherd / Fwy 59

Trumeals Store

Trader Joe's brings Alabama Theater on Shepherd Drive back to life (photos)

Historic preservation inside the Loop when it's working:  The re-purposed Alabama Theater with the new Trader Joe's signage. The iconic former theater faced the prospect of demolition after Bookstop moved out. Not to mention that Trader Joe's product packaging, advertising, branding and marketing style, with all its evocations of times past (like the Spaghetti Warehouse in its historic venue downtown) make for a good match.

Trder Joe's after moving into West Alabama Theatre (signage at dusk)

West Alabama Theater in its re-found nocturnal glory

The obelisk-like neon sign out at the Shepherd Drive sidewalk was fixed up too.

Tilas Food Truck passing West Alabama Theater on S. Shepherd

Gusto Gourmet

Gusto Gourmet on Shepherd Drive

Cafe Adobe Acapulco Bar - Enjoy it before it closes

5/14/2013 UPDATE: Sunday, May 12, 2013 was the last day

Iconic, richly colored Mexican Cafe with plenty of patio seating at ground-level and on the upper decks; and a fountain at center of paved courtyard (atrium) with glass ceiling. It's been reported that the property was sold and that the structure, located near the corner of South Shepherd and Westheimer faces demolition. 

Adobe Cafe upper duck seen from Shepherd Drive across Citgo gas station on corner

Cafe Adobe  also has other locations in the greater Houston area: at the MarqE movie/entertainment complex and in Sugarland and Clear Lake. 

Papa Mio Italian Grill on Lexington off Shepherd

Papa Mio Italian Cafe - (Feb 2014 photo)

Papa Mio Italian Cafe opened late in 2012 in the location that was previously a mia bella trattoria. Mia Bella still has other locations around town, including two in Downtown (one on Main, one near the Toyota Center) and more in the burbs.

mia bella trattoria signage that is now gone