Houston’s Gourmet Hot Dog Shop Is Closing For Good, Plus Other Restaurant Closings to Know
The closing of a Dallas-born cafe makes way for an Austin restaurant, a steakhouse loses its kosher status, and the last weekend to get your Good Dogs in
Houston is well into the spring season, and while there are many anticipated and new restaurants, there are just as many closing. Owners continue to cite a challenging economy as the reason behind their closures, while others are still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Beryl and last year’s other weather disasters. Here are some of the most noteworthy and heartbreaking closings this month.
The list is by no means comprehensive. Have information on another closing? Send all tips to houston@eater.com
Good Dog Houston
Known for its dedicated menu of gourmet hot dogs, this Houston restaurant will close on Sunday, April 27, after 15 years of operation. Owners Amalia Pferd and Daniel Caballero announced the closure on social media on Thursday, April 24, stating that Good Dog began as a food truck, which would pop up around the city at locations such as the Menil Collection and Antidote Coffee Shop, before opening its brick-and-mortar location in the Heights in 2013. It opened a second location in Montrose in 2016, but that closed in November 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Genesis Steakhouse & Wine Bar
This Meyerland restaurant, renowned for its diverse kosher menu and holiday-friendly Jewish spreads, is closing on April 30, following the loss of its kosher certification earlier this year. The Houston Kashruth Association (HKA revoked Genesis’s kosher certification in January 2025 after Rabbi Nosson Dubin, a member of HKA, visited the steakhouse that month. Owner Jason Goldstein told Culturemap that he was unable to provide Dubin the requested invoice for a package of fish found in the restaurant’s freezer, and the next day, HKA took the certification away. Still, he asserts that all the restaurant’s whole fish and filets were from a certified kosher vendor and were reviewed by the restaurant’s onsite kosher supervisor. After losing the certification, Goldstein says the steakhouse lost out on $500,000 worth of private events and catering contracts.
La Madeleine
The River Oaks outpost of this Dallas-based chain announced on its website that it is closing permanently, and there’s already a restaurant headed in its place. Austin restaurant Honest Mary’s announced in November 2024 that it would be expanding to the Houston area with four new locations, including the former La Madeleine location at 2047-A W. Gray Street.
Sharky’s Tavern
This Galveston bar and pizza joint announced its immediate closure on social media on Wednesday, March 27, due to failure to negotiate its lease. “This is not the outcome we had hoped for, and we know it will be disappointing to many of you who have been part of our journey. We want to express our deepest gratitude for your support, loyalty, and the incredible memories we’ve built together. It has been an honor to serve this community, and we will cherish the connections we’ve made along the way,” the Sharky’s team wrote in a Facebook post. “While this chapter is coming to an end, we hold onto hope that our paths will cross again in the future.” Sharky’s had initially announced that it would temporarily close days before the announcement to “remedy” an issue. The restaurant has been at odds before, particularly during the pandemic, when it reopened and went against state-mandated guidelines in May 2020, according to a Chron.com report.
Avenida Brazil
Steakhouses in The Woodlands area haven’t had the best luck this year. Following the closure of Tris and Killen’s Steakhouse, the Shenandoah outpost of Brazilian steakhouse Avenida Brazil announced its own closure on Sunday, March 23, on its website. The restaurant’s team says it is “thrilled to pass the torch of authentic Brazilian flavors” to nearby Sal e Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse. “We’re confident they’ll continue to bring the true taste of Brazil to The Woodlands community,” they wrote. Avenida still has outposts in the Houston area, including Stafford and Clear Lake, as well as one location in San Antonio.
Kirin Japanese Seafood & Sushi Buffet
Houston Chronicle reported that this sushi and seafood restaurant closed its doors earlier this year. The restaurant, which last posted on its social media in June 2024, served a variety of sushi, including nigiri, hand rolls, and sashimi, as well as bento boxes, rice and noodle dishes, and entrees such as baked quail and salt and pepper shrimp.
Passerella Ristorante & Wine Bar
The Washington Avenue location of this Italian restaurant, which opened in May 2023, closed sometime this year. The restaurant, owned by Gr8 Plate Hospitality (Union Kitchen, Jax Grill), offered pizza, pasta dishes, including a lobster mac and cheese seafood, and a 10-layer dessert lasagna. Passerella still has a sole location in Cypress at the Boardwalk at Towne Lake.
Grace Pizza & Shakes
Known for its pizza, shakes, and sandwiches, the Heights outpost of this small pizza chain closed its doors in mid-March after just over a year in business. Grace’s team announced the closure on social media, noting that they decided to close “despite [their] best efforts and optimism for this location.” “While we had hoped for better success, we remain committed to our mission and look forward to continuing our expansions – with grace,” they wrote. Fans of the restaurant can still visit its location in Pearland. The Alvin location, however, is temporarily closed for the next several weeks as it undergoes renovations and “important modifications to the restaurant, the kitchen, and the menu,” according to a Facebook post.
