Top Houston Restaurants Reverse Course, Jump Into Take-out and Delivery Scene After Originally Closing Completely for Coronavirus
MAD is Back, Delighting the River Oaks Crowd — and It Has Company
BY Shelby Hodge // 04.22.20
Ignacio Torras and chef Luis Roger have opened MAD in River Oaks District for takeout, offering menu items from both BCN and MAD. (Photo by Jenn Duncan)
BCN and MAD, the widely embraced Spanish-influenced high-style Houston restaurants of businessman Ignacio Torres and chef Luis Roger, closed in March due to COVID-19. Now they’ve combined resources and reopened for take-out. It happened with little fanfare at the MAD location in River Oaks District on Wednesday.
When the restaurants closed, the thought was that the pandemic problem would be alleviated by the end of April. With that not happening, the owners have taken a second look at their business operation.
“We have decided start up delivery/curbside service starting today,” the MAD group says in a statement. “It is very possible that delivery services will become an important part of our hospitality industry segment in this new reality … We cannot wait to receive you back in our home, but in the meantime, we will go to yours with the same quality and flavors that you are accustomed to.”
MAD’s return follows the high-profile return of Kata Robata (which briefly offered take-out and delivery before closing completely), Ford Fry’s Superica and Feges BBQ, which also now offer take-out and delivery too. For River Oaks diners, MAD may be the biggest return.
Fans will be happy to see menu items from both BCN and MAD, such as Spanish Ibérico ham, burrata salad with watermelon, grilled Spanish octopus, grilled rack of lamb, and the melt-in-y0ur-mouth grilled salmon on this enticing new take-out menu. There’s even a full menu of Spanish wine and beer offerings, as well as gin-and-tonic kits.
Those kits are a bonus for diners who have fallen in love with MAD and BCN’s magical gin and tonics. The kits are for the BCN Gin Tonic and include Hendrick’s, Fever-Tree Indian tonic water, cucumber, juniper berries, and lemon twist; the Elderflower Gin Tonic with Tanqueray, Fever-Tree Elderflower tonic water, grapefruit juice, juniper berries, and mint; and the Ultimate Gin and Tonic with Monkey 47, 1724 tonic water, pink peppercorns, and lime juice — a high-end concoction priced at $75 for six drinks.
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“Originally, we were hopeful that restaurants would open, but we fear that this will go on for a lot longer,” the statement continues. “Even if we are allowed to open, who knows what the condition will be? Will customers be ready to come dine in? Will it take several months to return to normal?”
Menu items are also available on Uber Eats and Doordash.
