Whether you’re looking to dine, shop or enjoy a frothy beverage, you’re sure to be pleased with these fun new Houston hot spots.
Eat
The latest “it” restaurant for happy hour is CRISP Wine, Beer & Eatery, a warm new spot that opened its doors just before the new year and is ideal for enjoying a frothy beverage with friends. Tucked into the Shady Acres area of the Heights, it has more than 100 hand-selected fine wines and 24 craft beers on tap. If that’s not enough to make you do a hoppy happy dance, it also offers guests the option to taste-test any bottle of wine with its Enomatic dispensing system. CRISP is known for its Stone Deck Fired Pizza; while you can choose to build your own, we advise giving the chef’s creations a try. The Blue Southern Belle is a rare combination of flavors that are surprisingly perfect for each other: Gorgonzola, peach, arugula, basil and Texas sweet tea syrup. Also be sure to order the Death By Brownie. Let’s just say it caused a foursome of very polite ladies to argue over the last bite.
Housed in an historic Italian import warehouse, The Pass and Provisions offers ingredients and flavor combinations that will throw your taste buds for a loop (in a good way). The goal of co-owners Terrence Gallivan and Seth Siegel-Gardner was to create “elegant regional cuisine all their own,” and this tasty mission was surely accomplished. The ambiance is casual yet intimate, with a 20-seat communal table situated in the middle of the dining area. It’d be a mistake to bypass one of The Pass and Provisions bread and cheese pairings. Both the whipped lardo challah with bacon charoset and Grayson and the kimchi pan au lait with warm egg yolk are luscious. Patrons adore the flatbread pizzas, and those who are a bit more adventurous should try the coffee cassarecci or suckling pig for two.
Play
Texas sweetheart Kendra Scott has opened her second Houston store in the prime location of Citycentre. Known for her vibrant colors and unique, bold designs, the addition of a second location has satisfied the appetite of many a bauble-loving fashionista on the west side of town. The new location is clean, sleek and feminine and home to a gorgeous “color bar,” which allows you to design your very own custom jewelry on touchscreen TVs and iPads — and take your design home with you that day. All of the KS stores are built to host events, so it’s the perfect place for bridal showers, bachelorette parties or other gatherings. As if you needed another reason to love Kendra, the company focuses on philanthropy, so all of the stores are built specifically to hold events hosted by local organizations.
The newly reopened Willow Accessories Boutique is back with a vengeance, and with it comes the return of the beautiful, stylish and talented owner Jill Faucetta. After taking a little break from the boutique world, Jill is back to bring us more of her one-of-a-kind statement pieces that are sure to be a conversation piece at your next dinner party. Jill is known for picking out the best cuffs, rings and high-fashion jewels at a fraction of the price you’d expect. To find the next captivating gem to add to your jewelry box, visit her new shop at Sackett Street & Westheimer in the heart of River Oaks.
Lounge
There’s never been a better reason to have a spirited evening. At OKRA Charity Saloon, an innovative creation from the owners of Poison Girl and Anvil, 100 percent of the bar’s proceeds are donated to a different Houston-based charity each month. Several of the city’s best mixologists donate their time so money can go to the pockets of the local nonprofits that need it the most. With each drink purchased, eager patrons have the opportunity to cast their vote for the nonprofit they’d like to see represented the following month. The more you drink, the more likely your cause will win the vote.
Photos Courtesy of iStock/Daniel Stein
