An oral history of what Covid-19 has done to the Houston hospitality industry.
By
Timothy Malcolm
3/17/2021 at 9:48am
Published in the Spring 2021 issue of
Houstonia
Covid-19 dominated everything in 2020, from the way we lived (mostly at home) to how we ate (again, mostly at home). In Houston it significantly altered the restaurant industry, with more than 100,000 workers temporarily finding themselves out of work during the year, according to the Greater Houston Restaurant Association. Restaurants closed for weeks, and in some cases permanently, chefs and workers found themselves out of jobs, and a city known for how much its residents go out to eat retreated.
Despite The Green Light, Houston’s Restaurateurs Are Reluctant To Raise Occupancy Or Ditch Masks
After a year of lockdowns, closures, occupancy limits, social distancing and face coverings, Texas restaurants have been given the green light to reopen at full capacity.
The removal of statewide mandates on occupancy and masks will allow businesses to operate as they see fit, offering a path back to pre-pandemic normalcy. But despite the business opportunity presented by the changes, many restaurateurs told
Bisnow they are reluctant to rush back to full dining rooms and naked faces.
Instead, some Houston restaurant owners and operators are opting to keep limited occupancy and masks for both staff and customers for the foreseeable future, preferring to take their cue from official health agencies and national disease experts rather than from Texas politicians.
10 things to know in Houston food: The latest news + a legendary loss
Photo by Kirsten Gilliam
Courtesy of BlendIn Coffee Club White Rhino is committed to sustainability.
Courtesy of White Rhino
Federal Grill - Katy/Facebook
Photo courtesy of ABC13
Photo courtesy of West Sandy Creek Winery
Editor’s note: Houston’s restaurant scene moves pretty fast. In order to prevent CultureMap readers from missing anything, let’s stop to look around at all the latest news to know.
Openings, closings, and coming attractions
KP’s Kitchen opened quietly last week. Led by Benjy’s veteran Kerry Pauly, the restaurant in Town & Country Village (700 Town and Country Blvd #2440) offers classic American fare in a family-friendly, fast casual environment. Menu items include market vegetables with Champagne vinaigrette, a bacon cheeseburger, and baby back ribs. KP’s Kitchen is also BYOB with a $5 corkage fee; it is open daily from 4-8:30 pm with lunch hours to follow.
The state is expected to receive three new U.S. House seats. But those looking to expand the GOP majority in the congressional delegation won’t have an easy task.