Woodlands Steakhouse Gets a True Howard Hughes Billionaire Makeover: Eccentric Icon’s Legacy Crops Up in a Most Unexpected Place

When Robard’s Steakhouse opened in 2014, the Howard Hughes connection was already established. Robard was the native Houstonian’s middle name and the restaurant was an integral part of Howard Hughes Hospitality‘s portfolio in The Woodlands. As of late May, thanks to a renovation, the imprint of the eccentric billionaire/record-setting pilot/film director is even stronger in the sophisticated eatery.

Dallas-based Studio 11 Design was tasked with a redo that would more strongly emphasize the Hughes connection as well as delivering a lighter touch to the restaurant interiors. The very masculine, clubby ambience with the heavy use of dark colors, brown leathers and plaids would be replaced.

The overall concept for the transformation was to recreate Hughes’ home and library, a redesign that would include memorabilia from the era when he made some of his most famous films and broke aeronautical records.

The 1930s vibe is evidenced in antique sporting equipment including golf clubs and tennis racquet cases; a vintage camera; and a solid brass replica drill bit head of Howard Hughes Sr.’s design that made the Hughes fortune. The Wine Room was designed around Hughes’ personal library, outfitted with custom millwork and lined with rows of antique books.

Out with the brown, in with the blue! That would be the custom blue of Hughes’ 1936 Lincoln Boat tail Speedster, the color employed throughout the restaurant — in carpeting, seating, throw pillows and even the Adirondack chairs flanking the outdoor fire pit.

In a nod to his aerodynamic interests, the private dining room features a mural of Hughes’ famed Spruce Goose airplane. And playing off the story that Hughes taught himself Morse Code practically overnight, the bar lounge features a custom artful diagram of the combination of long and short signals.

Robard’s Steakhouse overlooks Golf Trails of the Woodlands at The Woodlands Resort where area executive chef David Morris oversees the delivery of the restaurant’s popular dry-aged steaks and crab cakes.

What’s with this Howard Hughes connection?

Dallas-based Howard Hughes Corporation purchased The Woodlands in 2011 and the Howard Hughes Hospitality portfolio includes Embassy Suites by Hilton at The Woodlands Hughes Landing, The Woodlands Resort & Conference Center, and The Westin at The Woodlands.