Where to Eat in Houston Right Now: 10 Cool New Restaurants for October

Editor’s note: The Houston restaurant scene is constantly changing, with new hotspots, must-try places and major food events coming along on a daily basis. Even the most dedicated foodie can have trouble keeping up. Don’t worry, PaperCity has you covered.

With the weather finally starting to cool down, it’s time to check out these cool, must-eat Houston restaurants.

Eunice

Legendary New Orleans chef Drake Leonards blends Cajun-Creole classics with European influences at Eunice, the Southern Louisiana-inspired restaurant at 3737 Buffalo Speedway. The restaurant and raw bar are as much nostalgic as they are forward-thinking.

The seasonal menus will highlight all the Gulf Coast has to offer, with Royal Red Shrimp, blue crab and oysters from Louisiana and the Lone Star State. You can expect roasted seafood like shellfish-stuffed oysters, and New Orleans-style gumbo, crispy bandera quail and Texas Redfish Courtboiullon.

It all comes to a creamy close with hand-spun ice creams and homemade pies. Pretty sweet, right?

Diana American Grill

Chemistry meets cooking at Diana American Grill, the brand new restaurant replacing Artista at The Hobby Center. Cafe Annie chef and James Beard award winner Robert Del Grande spearheads the revamped restaurant with his twist on theater district dining.

His simple, straight-forward but creatively executed dishes are meant to be enjoyed quickly, but with no sense of rush. Think good food cooked to its finest potential with just the lightest embellishment, like red snapper in a Gulf crab cioppino sauce and cavatelli pasta with Maine lobster and lobster-infused marinara sauce.

For now, you can hit up Diana for lunch or dinner on performance nights. Munch on Texas pimento cheese or Gulf crab cocktail with remoulade sauce while you look out over Downtown. Just don’t forget to honor Diana Hobby, the inspiration behind it all.

Superica

Ford Fry, the celebrity restaurateur behind State of Grace, has graced Space City with two new spots — both in The Heights, nestled side by side in a sort of culinary compound. Tex-Mex Superica brings cheesy, spicy goodness to 1801 North Shepherd.

Superica first opened in Atlanta, delighting Georgia folks with its dishes from Fry’s “Tex-Mex Playbook.” Expect queso, tacos, tamales, flatuas and guacamole galore at this restaurant, which evokes the Old West.

Fry may be known for his great success in Atlanta, but never forget he’s a Houston-grown guy who knows his salsa like the back of his hand.

La Lucha

For this savory spot, Fry took inspiration from the former San Jacinto Inn. The Gulf Coast-centric bar, lounge and restaurant is a Bayou City throwback that pays homage to Fry’s childhood. The chef pulled up a seat to tables heaped with fried chicken dinners and hearty seafood when he was just a boy.

La Lucha is Spanish for “the fight,” paying homage to the Battle of San Jacinto. For the history buffs out there, that’s the battle that own Texas Independence. You just may have to fight with your friends over that last biscuit.

An oyster-shucking room and exposed wood-burning hearth to roast the goodies will be center stage. Take your oysters inside, or out on the garden patio.

Cedars Tapas Bar

The Lebanese tapas at 403 W. Gray in Montrose is the tops. It comes courtesy of the fan-favorite family behind Lebanese-style Cedars Bakery. You’d better believe those perfect pitas made their way to the tapas menu.

The dishes take cues from Spain, Greece and Turkey. The result? Your savory shawarma sandwich with thin-sliced beef drizzled in tahini sauce. It’s served in a way you wouldn’t expect called sushi-style, cut into sections.

Or have it as a taco, and mix up your meal with small plates like grape leaves, coconut shrimp, falafel and fried goat cheese balls. These little plates are definitely a match for your big appetite.

Wagyu Hibachi and Sushi Bar

If you’re looking for dinner and a show where food is the star, set your sights on Wagyu Hibachi and Sushi Bar. At this West University spot at 3239 Southwest Freeway spot, you’re right up in the action to get some mouthwatering bites of beef.

 Interaction is the name of the game, with the chef front and center serving up filet mignon, hibachi steak and even kid’s steak for the little ones. It’s all slice and dice with akaushi beef. The sushi’s not too shabby either, if you’re going for a more raw experience.

The veggie sides and dishes are bright and inspired, providing the perfect balance for a meaty meal. Snag a cocktail or even a mocktail — we hear the Lychee “mojito” shouldn’t be missed.

EggHaus Gourmet

A brand new breakfast-driven concept from King’s Biergarten and King’s BierHaus? Well, haus about that? EggHaus Gourmet hit The Heights just last month at 2042 East T.C. Jester, next to the beloved beer house.

It comes after much-applauded, super-lauded kolache pop-ups in both The Heights and Pearland locations. The kolaches were deemed a knockout early on, coming in sweet — think apricots, peaches and cream cheese —  and savory, like the drunken chicken with buffalo sauce.

But it goes beyond kolaches. There’s breakfast tacos and egg sandwiches galore, and you can feel good about eating it all. That’s thanks to non-GMO tortillas, cage-free eggs and sausages with zero preservatives. It’s all-natural, all the time.

Cooking Girl

Who’d have thought Sugar Land had the best Szechuan? This September, Cooking Girl spread from the ‘burbs to the Medical Center, delighting physicians and Rice students like no other.

Variety is the spice of life, and folks will tell you there are a broad variety of dishes they’ve enjoyed at Cooking Girl. This organic-lover’s menu runs the gamut from pork to chicken, beef, shrimp, fish, lamb, tofu and veggies.

Spice may be intimidating, but don’t worry. There are little chili pepper designations to guide your way. Feeling bold? Go for Colorful Beef with peppercorn, or Pyramid Wings. The Hot Diving Fish, Lobster tail and jelly, and red dumplings will have you coming back for more.

Treacherous Leches

This one’s satisfying for anyone with a sweet tooth — or a taste for top-notcb puns. The quippy specialty bakery brings a generous helping of both to downtown with its Conservatory Food Hall outpost.

It’s hopelessly devoted to the Mexican dessert, mastering the tres leches cake in all formats and flavors like pina colada, red velvet and chocolate. Sure, there are some other options — key lime pie, doughnut bread pudding — but you know what you came for.

This is only stop No. 1 for the dessert haven. The owners are plotting a second and third shop as we eat. Er, speak.

La Villa Saint-Tropez

Provencal cuisine comes to life in the heart of Montrose at La Villa Saint-Tropez. Traditional gets a modern twist in dishes that are all about taking the finest French ingredients of the season and putting a unique spin on them.

You can get things started with a classic salad like burrata with mozzarella, drizzled with virgin olive oil. Or start things off with flair, digging into an octopus salad with steamed fingerling potatoes, chives and shallots.

Find all the French fixtures, from duck foie gras to ratatouille, beef tartare to Riviera bouillabaisse. Perhaps the best part of the experience is the light, bright, airy atmosphere — a graceful white palette studded with plush blue chairs.