The Saddest Houston Restaurant Closings to Know This June
Houston is entering its summer 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
MF Lobster and Ceviche
MF Lobster and Ceviche, sister restaurant to lauded sushi restaurant MF Sushi, quietly closed its doors on Tuesday, June 10, after just over a year in business. Chefs Chris Kinjo and Miguel Alvarez said in a written statement that they closed the Autry Park seafood restaurant to focus more closely on initiatives that reflect their Japanese and Vietnamese heritage (the two opened Vietnamese restaurant Annam, across the street from MF Lobster’s space, earlier this year). The closing will make way for a new restaurant, according to a release. Emmer & Rye Hospitality, the award-winning Austin-based restaurant group behind San Antonio’s dessert tasting menu restaurant Nicosi as well as Austin’s Caribbean hotspot Canje and live-fire restaurant Hestia, will open a new dining establishment in the Autry Park space. It will be the group’s first location outside of Austin and San Antonio.
Churrascos
Houston steakhouse chain Churrascos announced on social media that it will close its oldest location in River Oaks on Sunday, June 16, after 30 years in business. The restaurant, which still owns locations in Memorial, The Woodlands, and Sugar Land, is known for its menu of flame-grilled steak and seafood served with a South American twist.
Mi Tierra Mexican Kitchen
This Northwest Houston restaurant, known for its menu of Mexican and Tex-Mex, closed Wednesday, July 11, after two years in business. Owners Katherine Mancia and chef Martin Weaver announced the closure on Facebook, stating that “the decision did not come easy.” “Mi Tierra was more than just a restaurant . it was a dream, a risk, a labor of love, and a huge part of my soul. It was where we poured our passion, culture, and our heart into every detail -from the recipes to the guest [sic] we welcomed through our doors,” they wrote. Still, Mancia and Weaver say the closure is not a permanent goodbye. “It’s just a pause, a redirection,” they said.
Bistro Menil
Chef Greg Martin, the owner behind Bistro Menil, announced on social media that he is closing the French restaurant in Montrose after service on Sunday, June 22. Martin opened the restaurant roughly 10 years ago, naming it after the Menil Collection, one of Houston’s most lauded museums. Many diners, especially those who are gluten-sensitive or have celiac disease, have lamented the closure. “The Celiac and gluten free [sic] community need you,” said one diner on Facebook. “The 2 celiacs in our family shall miss this safe space to dine, have dessert and never ever experienced [sic] cross contamination,” wrote another. Martin did not immediately respond to Eater’s request for comment, but said in his post that it was “time to conclude this chapter.” He thanked Houstonians in his post for their “unwavering support” throughout the years.
Houston’s French restaurant scene has experienced a series of tough blows over the past year, with restaurants like PS-21 and Eau Tour closing. But there have been some wins, too. More modern French restaurants fused with Houston-friendly and global flavors (think Creole and “Texan”), however, have emerged on the scene, including chef Aaron Bludorn’s Perseid, which opened in Hotel Saint Augustine in January, and Chardon in the Thompson Hotel. Both have seemed well-received by Houston diners.
Artisans
Jacques Fox, the chef-owner of Artisans, shocked Houston diners when he announced on Thursday, May 29, that he was closing the French restaurant that same day after 14 years in business. The restaurant originally opened in Midtown in February 2012 and later relocated to the greater Uptown area on Westheimer Road in December 2023, serving what Fox described as “innovative, eclectic French cuisine.” Fox thanked Artisans’ loyal customers, suppliers, partners, and staff. “This is a difficult farewell for me and my investors, but we will always treasure the memories and experiences created at Artisans,” he wrote.
Fox did not explain the reason for the closure, but he’s expressed to Eater in the past that the changing dynamics of the dining scene, particularly in Houston, had become challenging. He said he mourned the days when people truly spent time dining and enjoying a meal. Leisurely lunches, particularly after the pandemic, had become a thing of the past, which led to restaurants strategizing ways to draw them in with power lunches and prix fixe meals.
Thai Village
Rice Village recently lost an institution and one of its longstanding Thai restaurants on Saturday, May 31. The owners of Thai Village announced the closure in a release shared on Facebook, thanking customers for their support. The restaurant, with its bright neon sign, served up a menu of Thai classics, including crispy egg rolls, soft spring rolls, fried rice, curries, and stir-fries.
Rudi Lechner’s Restaurant
Rudi Lechner’s Restaurant in Westchase, one of Houston’s only German restaurants, closed in May after nearly 50 years in business, according to a Chron.com report. The initial owner, Rudi Lechner, opened the restaurant in 1976 but sold it a few years ago after retiring. Jay Luchun, owner of nearby events venue Chateau Crystale, purchased the restaurant from him and kept everything largely the same, including the staff. He told Westchase Today he felt a responsibility to Rudi’s loyal workers.
Sixes and Sevens
Montrose bar Sixes and Sevens went out with a bang on Sunday, May 25, hosting a final party to say its goodbyes after five years in business. Owner Blake Harris, who also owns Rudyards and Gold Tooth Tony’s, told the Houston Chronicle that the closure is due to high competition in the area. He’s hinted at possibly opening something in its place.
