Openings and Closings: The Kennedy Opens, Kaiten Sushi Debuts

[ { "name": "Related Stories / Support Us Combo", "component": "11591218", "insertPoint": "4", "requiredCountToDisplay": "4" },{ "name": "Air - Billboard - Inline Content", "component": "11591214", "insertPoint": "2/3", "requiredCountToDisplay": "7" },{ "name": "R1 - Beta - Mobile Only", "component": "12287027", "insertPoint": "8", "requiredCountToDisplay": "8" },{ "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2", "component": "11591215", "insertPoint": "12", "requiredCountToDisplay": "12" },{ "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size 2", "component": "11591215", "insertPoint": "4th", "startingPoint": "16", "requiredCountToDisplay": "12" }The Kennedy, 3210 W. Dallas, opened this week in the former home of Emmeline and more recently, Muse. The glitzy restaurant and piano bar comes from Ninety3 Hospitality Group, owned by Native Houstonian and entrepreneur Andres Q Castro. With hand-crafted cocktails and an elegant ambiance, it is sure to appeal to the Montrose and River Oaks residents as well as being a destination hotspot for well-heeled trendsetters. The restaurant itself is impressive with 7,000 square feet of space offering a central indoor bar, a clubby lounge and dining rooms with a mix of banquettes, sofas, leather chairs, tables and gorgeous booths. There are outdoor terraces both upstairs and down that offer shade and comfortable seating. Original art pieces adorn the walls with a blend of classic and contemporary styles. A baby grand piano stands at the ready for live performances and there will be late-night lounge DJs on the schedule. In fact, a dual-sided fireplace transforms into a DJ booth like a secret passageway in an English manor house. Leading the kitchen is Chef Adrian Maldonado. Her pared-down menu is both classic and playful. Traditional dishes like Ribeye Tartar and The Kennedy Wedge Salad will please the steakhouse crowd while more whimsical plates like the Mozzarella Stick topped with caviar will certainly become an Instagram must. Other starters include Lobster Bisque and Truffled Deviled Eggs. For mains there are a couple of steak choices including the Prime Wagyu Ribeye and Petit Filet plus Gremolata Lamb Chops, a Wagyu Smash Burger and Lobster Spaghetti. There are dessert options such as chocolate chip cookies and The Kennedy Sundae. For brunch there are plates like Crabcakes Benedict, Montauk Lobster Roll and Pancakes and Berries. The wine menu is solid, if not extensive, and The Signature Cocktails menu offers creations like Cucumber Hibiscus Smash and Mango Ember. There is a lengthy martini menu which offers a Lychee Martini as well as its Dalgano Espresso Martini. Most cocktails range from $16 to $18 but the Clarified Millionaire Margarita is for big spenders at $26. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Sunday for dinner with a lunch menu on Friday only. It also offers a weekend brunch, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kaiten Sushi Ginza Onadera, 12270 Westheimer, opens November 16 at 11 a.m. It's the first U.S. mainland location for the Japanese brand which opened its first spot outside of Japan last April in Honolulu, Hawaii. It comes from the Onadera Group and originated in Tokyo's Ginza district when Chef Akifumi Sakagami opened the first Sushi Ginza Onadera in 2013. In addition to the two U.S. Kaiten Sushi restaurants, the group operates the high-end Sushi Ginza Onadera which has been the recipient of a Michelin star 15 times for its 20 locations. Located at the recently debuted NewQuest development, West on West, Kaiten Sushi offers guests a unique dining experience. It's a revolving Edomae sushi bar allowing diners to make choices from the conveyor belt. Edomae sushi began in Japan in the 1800s as sort of a fast food option for travelers on the go, taking advantage of the island's wealth of seafood. Kaiten Sushi continues that legacy with fresh ingredients and fish sourced from Japan. Traditional Edomae techniques require experienced chefs and the new location has executive chef Kotaro Sato leading the team. While sushi is the main star of the revolving menu items, there are other Japanese culinary favorites such as tempura and teppan-yaki. CEO Shinji Nagao said in a press release, "As a new culinary landmark in Houston, a city where diverse cultures converge, we are committed to providing a delightful and memorable dining experience rooted in the local community." The new restaurant will celebrate its grand opening from November 16 through November 18 with special deals and an opportunity to win gift cards each day. , 2502 Dunlavy, is expected to open late this December in the space that was formerly Kau Ba, the Vietnamese-Cajun restaurant from Nikki Tran that closed several weeks ago and yet, garnered a Michelin Bib Gourmand earlier this week. That honor has now been rescinded, according to a press release from the Michelin Guide. Kau Ba was owned by Southern Dandy LLC which has been acquired by Louis Lamson Quy and several business partners. In its place, the team is opening a Peruvian Vietnamese-inspired restaurant. Its executive chef and management team will be announced soon. Alora will fuse the flavors of Vietnamese and Peruvian cuisines in dishes such as Shaking Lomo Saltado. Ceviche will also be a prominent menu item. Medium Rare, 3201 Louisiana, has pushed back its grand opening date. Originally slated to open November 18,the Steak Frites restaurant will now open November 25. Portillo's Hot Dogs will open in 2025 at The Grand Parkway Town Center in Tomball. The retail center is still under development so a definite date has yet to be determined. The 6,250 square-foot restaurant will be one of Portillo's "Restaurant of the Future" designs with an American diner theme. In addition to its seating for 160 guests, it will offer a double drive-thru so customers can pick up its famous Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and char-grilled burgers with ease. It will also feature its Portillo's Pick Up Shelves and Grab and Go area. Portillo's opened its first Houston area location in Richmond this past October and another is planned for Willowbrook at 7511 FM 1960 very soon. MF Lobster & Seafood, 3711 Autry Park, is moving a portion of its kitchen outside, along with a unique machine that will allow Autry Park visitors to order drinks during the live music events every Friday and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. through the end of December. And it's all legal thanks to the drinks being pre-sealed in hard plastic recyclable cups. Every cocktail that the restaurant offers will be available. In addition to the portable cocktails, MF Lobster & Seafood will be serving its menu outdoors during the music events from a moveable kitchen on the patio. The concerts are free and there are park restrooms adjoining the patio of the freestanding restaurant. For those who prefer to dine indoors, the restaurant will still operate at its normal hours. has signed a deal to develop 32 new locations across 6 states over the next 8 years including a five-unit agreement for the southeast Houston area with new franchisees Dana and Richard Biddy planning shops targeting Galveston and Pearland. In all, it plans to open 50 locations in some of its major markets in the first half of 2025, including Houston and San Antonio which have been particularly successful. The restaurant chain is known for its big sandwiches like the Mediterranean, Cubano, Sweet Heat Pork BBQ, Mama's Meatball and more. There are several salads, soups, sides and cookies. For drinks, there is a variety of soft drinks, teas, waters and shakes. Dandelion Cafe, 611 W. 22nd, is celebrating its grand opening November 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The free event is open to the public and there will be family-friendly activities such as face painting and balloon twisting. Located at the historic Heights Clock Tower, it opened back in September as the third location for the all-day cafe from owners Sarah Lieberman and executive chef JC Ricks. Five Guys, 9620 Fry, is expected to open December 9 if the internet is to be believed. We have reached out for more information but so far, Google and Yelp are the only entities listing the opening date. P.F. Chang's has unveiled a new fried chicken menu for the first time, inspired by South Korea's first snowfall of the season. In South Korea it is a special cultural moment that is celebrated with friends and family by toasting to renewal, romance and connection with a glass of bubbles and fried chicken. To honor the tradition, P.F. Chang's is offering a new dining experience called The Golden Feast. The new Asian fried chicken menu has an optional pairing of champagne, prosecco or beer. The menu includes Korean Fried Chicken that is offered with a dry-rub five spice seasoning or a sweet and spicy Korean sauce. The chicken is available as bone-in (3 or 6 pieces) or boneless. The new menu also offers Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken made from lightly battered boneless chicken thighs in a five spice seasoning with the addition of roasted guajillo chili and basil leaves. The Golden Feats also includes fresh, pickled cucumbers and red onions plus a curated sauce flight with Sweet Soy Glaze, Dynamite, Hot Honey and Chili Crisp. Chilangos Brothers Taco Shop #2, 9355 Long Point, opened October 23 in Spring Branch. It's the second location for the taqueria that serves authentic Mexico City-inspired cuisine. Its original location opened last year at 708 Holiday in Galveston. Its menu is extensive so the hardest part will be deciding what you're in the mood for. True to its name, there are street-style tacos with options like , pastor, , birria, , asada and much more. There are burritos wet or dry and a wide variety of tortas. Its specialties include the Alhambre, Quesabirria, Green Chilaquiles and its signature The Machete, an 18-inch corn masa quesadilla that gets loaded with your choice of two meats plus lettuce, tomato, cheese and sour cream.