Advertise on podcast: What's Eric Eating

Aaron Bludorn is back on the podcast! He joins Eric today to discuss the opening of a 2nd location of Bar Bludorn, why the Woodlands was the right spot for the 2nd location of the concept, why he decided to go with a 2nd location of Bar Bludorn rather than go with a new concept or a new location of one of the other Bludorn Hospitality Group concepts, the food options at the 2nd location versus the 1st location, what the community is saying ahead of Bar Bludorn's opening, the team at the location, whether the perception of The Woodlands is changing from a lackluster food destination to more of a hot spot, and more! Plus, Aaron speaks with Eric about how things are going for the hospitality group as a whole, Houston's strength as a dining community, plans for anything outside of the city, working with the Houston Texans, and the work he's doing with C•CAP. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Beard-Recognized Houston Chef's Rooftop Restaurant Now Open in Midtown Stylish Tavern Known for 'World's Coldest Martini' Adds 2 Houston Locations Houston Steakhouse's Treasured 79-Cent Pork Chop Deal Returns this Friday Caribbean-Spiced Houston Fried Chicken Joint Takes Off with 2 New Locations Bun B Dishes on New Trill Burgers, Future Plans, Trill Tenders, and More

This week Mary Clarkson joins Eric to discuss: News on restaurants Southern Jerks, BARI Ristorante, and more! Restaurant of the Week - Fine dining steakhouse Mack Allen's Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Love Croissants opens first stand-alone bakery with Heights drive-through Caribbean-spiced Houston fried chicken joint takes off with 2 new locations Bun B dishes on new Trill Burgers, future plans, Trill Tenders, and more Chinatown's AYCE sushi spot rolls into Midtown with late night DJs

What's Eric Eating with host Eric Sandler! This week's special guest is Brian Gendron, the owner of The Riot Comedy Club! Eric and Brian discussed how he got his start in comedy, some of the comedy legends who have stood on their stage, changing locations to a new spot on Washington Ave, their new food service, and more!Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Meta's first Texas store brings virtual reality to the Galleria Art-filled boutique hotel in the Heights earns coveted Michelin Key Rodeo Houston reveals name, breaks ground on $300M agricultural complex Mexican restaurant with private tequila lockers sets Cypress opening First look at all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse's new Katy outpost Growing Houston Hospitality Group Rolls into Briargrove with New Sushi Spot

What's Eric Eating with host Eric Sandler! This week he's joined by special guest Rafael Nasr, the founder of Craft Pita! This week the pair discussed... Food & Wine naming Houston chef Lucas McKinney their best new chef Picos has found a new home, on Westheimer Hamari sushi coming to Briar Grove And Rafael has a new pop up, with a Peruvian-Chinese fusion menu! PLUS, restaurant of the week - Exilio Latin Flair Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Art-filled boutique hotel in the Heights earns coveted Michelin Key Mexican restaurant with private tequila lockers sets Cypress opening First look at all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse's new Katy outpost Growing Houston Hospitality Group Rolls into Briargrove with New Sushi Spot

Joe Cervantez and Raz Halili of Parkwood American Grille and Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House join Eric on the podcast today. The pair speak with Eric about the initial idea of the Parkwood American Grille concept, why this style of cuisine, developing the menu, building the steak program, the vast array of caviar options on the menu, making chicken nuggets in house, balancing the steaks/seafood at the concept, the secret to great fried shrimp, increasing their sushi options, working with the Ladies of Libation on their cocktail program, what inspired the design of the restaurant, how things are going so far, and more! Plus, Joe and Raz give an update on how things are going at Pier 6, what's going on over in Galveston with Fish Company Taco, possible future concepts, and they hear Eric's pitch for a restaurant concept that could work here in Houston... or be a complete bust... you be the judge. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Growing Houston Hospitality Group Rolls into Briargrove with New Sushi Spot Food & Wine's Best New Chef List Includes Gulf Coast-Obsessed Houstonian Chef-Backed Nonprofit Will Train the Next Generation of Houston Hospitality 2 Treasured Houston Mexican Restaurants Reopen After Brief Closures Houston's Steak and Wine-Fueled New Fine Dining Restaurant Sets Opening Date

Felice Sloan, a.k.a. The Swanky Maven, is back! Felice joins Eric to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston food scene including H&H Bagels opening their first Houston location, Ronnie Killen's push to get a Michelin Star, and the closure of the final remnants of Underbelly Hospitality. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Parkwood American Grille and chrôma are featured.   Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Seinfeld-Approved New York Bagel Shop Sets Opening For First Houston Spot $1 Million Renovation Aims to Earn Pearland Steakhouse a Michelin Star Chris Shepherd Founded Houston Burger Joint Goes Belly Up After 4 Years 2 Treasured Houston Mexican Restaurants Reopen After Brief Closures Successful Houston Patio Bar Kirby Ice House Now Open in Clear Lake

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Douglas Rodriguez and Pedro Teyuca of Exilio Latin Flair. Pedro was unable to join for the first portion of the podcast so Douglas speaks with Eric about his career, where it's taken him, why he came to Houston, getting the "Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine" moniker, winning a the James Beard Rising Star Chef Award back in 1996, redesigning the menu at Exilio to reflect his style, and being on the hunt for marlin. Then Pedro joins the discussion and speaks about why Douglas was the right fit, why Exilio was the right next step for the company, their service standards, and more. Plus, the group discuss the must have dishes on the menu, their goals, and Pedro drops some exclusive breaking news. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Chris Shepherd Founded Houston Burger Joint Goes Belly Up After 4 Years Houston's Steak and Wine Fueled New Fine Dining Restaurant Sets Opening Date Houston's Ismaili Center Adds an All Day Cafe with Tacos, Chai, and More Seinfeld-Approved New York Bagel Shop Sets Opening For First Houston Spot Innovative Houston Steak Restaurant Flames Out After Only 2 Years

It's a Post Labor Day edition of What's Eric Eating! Today Eric is joined by Houston BBQ Festival co-founder Michael Fulmer to discuss some of the latest happenings from the Houston food scene. The pair speak about the decision by Pappas Restaurants to close the original location of Pappasito's and Graham Laborde's new gulf coast seafood concept called Little Bird. Then in the Restaurants of the Week portion, the focus is on the mini barbecue boom of 2026. The guys speak about 3 relatively recent openings including; Eastbound Barbecue, Willow's Smokehouse & Tavern, and Terry Black's BBQ. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston Tex-Mex Institution's Original Location to Close After 43 Years Houston Chef Takes Flight with New Gulf Coast Seafood Spot in the Heights Innovative Houston Steak Restaurant Flames Out After Only 2 Years Exclusive: Outspoken Houston Sushi Chef Sounds Off on Ghost Kitchen Pivot Affordable Texas Burger Joint Reaches Major Milestone for Inner Loop Store

Today on the podcast Eric is joined by Juan Antonio Hernandez, a.k.a. Tony, and Aquiles Chávez of Pochitos Mariscos y Más. The duo speak with Eric about working together, where the name of the concept came from, creating the new menu for Pochitos Mariscos y Más, the fusion of ideas in creating some of the menu items, the origin story of the sushi hot dog, Aquiles being happy to be back in Houston for this project, goals, and more. Plus, Aquiles speaks about what he's been up to, Tony shares what took him from music to the restaurant business, having stars do TikTok dances to his music, and more. Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Aaron Bludorn's Michelin-Recognized Tavern Sets Woodlands Opening Date Award-Winning Houston Smash Burger Restaurant Sets Katy Opening Date Pier 6's James Beard-Nominated Duo Fires Up a New Grille in Friendswood 2 Michelin-Rated Houston Restaurants Teamed Up for Taco-Fueled Fundraiser Houston Tex-Mex Institution's Original Location to Close After 43 Years

Chelsea Thomas is back on the podcast today to speak with Eric about all the latest happenings and annoying things happening in the Houston food scene. The pair discuss Pizzaro's expanding with 2 new locations and CultureMap contributor Brianna McClane's Steak Night Round Up article. In the Restaurants of the Week portion, The Audrey is featured. Then the duo react/discuss former Houston Chronicle Food Critic Alison Cook's recent blog post regarding her recent experience at Osteria di Mercato. Was she fair in her critiques? Eric and Chelsea, say nope... not at all.     Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Family-Owned Houston Pizzeria Rises with 2 New Locations Houston Tex-Mex Institution's Original Location to Close After 43 Years 2 Michelin-Rated Houston Restaurants Teamed Up for Taco-Fueled Fundraiser Staple West Houston Chinese Buffet Reopens After Glamourous Makeover Houston Restaurateur's Posh Italian Spot Closes After 4 Years in Cypress

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Marco Thompson and Mauricio Alvarado of Osteria di Mercato. Marco and Mauricio share how they both got into the world of culinary, what brought them back to Houston, working together at Osteria di Mercato, what brought each of them to the concept, why the small menu, developing the menu, the benefits of working in a small concept, the neighborhood restaurant feel, the creation of some of the dishes including the tuna crudo, the wine list, how things are going so far, their goals, a comment regarding Alison Cook's recent blog post, and more! Plus, the guys share a couple stories about the late Grant Gordon.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Family-Owned Houston Pizzeria Rises with 2 New Locations Houston Restaurateur's Posh Italian Spot Closes After 4 Years in Cypress Tilman Fertitta's Seafood Restaurant Sets Sail with New Sugar Land Store New Pitmaster Brings Top 50 Cred to Historic Houston Barbecue Joint Houston Chopped Champ's Casual Indian Restaurants will Shutter in Midtown

Today on the show Eric is joined by Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita! The guys dive into some of the latest news from the Houston food scene including Chris Williams' restaurant Late August closing, Agnes and Sherman being recognized by Bon Appetit as one of it's Best New Restaurants of 2026, Pochitos Mariscos y Más soon featuring a new menu created by chef Aquiles Chávez, and the Michelin Guide making changes to how it'll announce this year's Texas recipients... Eric's not a fan. Then in the Restaurants of the Week portion, One Roast is featured. Plus, Raffi shares a bit about what diners can expect from his upcoming collaborative pop up with Agnes and Sherman called Pepitas, coming this September.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Michelin-Recognized Houston Restaurant Quietly Closes After Only 2.5 Years Michelin-Recognized Houston Diner Makes Bon Appetit Best New Restaurants Superstar Mexican Chef Returns to Houston via New 3-Year Partnership Michelin Guide Makes Big Change to 2026 Texas Restaurant Announcement Terry Black's Co-Founder Dishes on Houston Opening and Future Hotel Plans

On today's edition of What's Eric Eating, Eric is joined by Luis Lopez, Jake Granville, & Ryan Penn of Eastbound Barbecue. The guys speak with Eric about how they got their respective culinary starts, their experiences working with Ronnie Killen, why the time was right to start Eastbound Barbecue, what aspect about the new concept appealed to them, developing the menu to incorporate other items besides just barbecue, making items very distinct from other places like Killen's, doing their best to keep costs low for themselves as well as customers, mixing up the menu at times, why their burger is special, the birth of Eastbound Gold, the service experience, the cocktail program, how things are going so far since opening, and much more! Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Houston's Asian American Diner Featured on Good Morning America Historically-Minded New Coffee Shop Perks Up Downtown Houston Hotel Michelin-Recognized Houston Restaurant Quietly Closes After Only 2.5 Years Bun B Serves Up Smash Hit Smash Burgers at Houston's Rice University Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Heads to Portugal for New Season

Today on the podcast, Eric is joined by Mary Clarkson of Heights Grocer and Montrose Grocer. Eric speaks with Mary about some of the latest news from the Houston restaurant and bar scene including the closure of Barbecue Inn after 80 years of service, Pudgy's Fine Cookies/Underground Creamery head to Meyerland to open their 2nd collaborative location, and the hometown chef that Beat Bobby Flay recently. In the Restaurants of the Week portion Angie's Pizza and Bar Angie are featured.  Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Historic Houston Fried Chicken Destination Will Close After 80 Years Collaborative Cookie Bakery and Ice Cream Shop Spin Up New Meyerland Spot Houston Chef Thomas Bille Sounds Off on his Beat Bobby Flay Appearance Family-Friendly Houston Sports Bar Scores with New Katy Location Michelin-Starred Houston Restaurant Heads to Portugal for New Season

Time to reveal the winner of The Ultimate Chain Restaurant Draft! Graham Laborde of Winnie's joins Eric on today's podcast to serve as the special guest judge for the draft. Graham speaks with Eric as to why he felt [redacted] won the draft, what stood out from the winners selections, who was closest in beating [redacted], restaurants he was surprised didn't get picked, the rest of the teams selections, and more! Plus, Graham shares with Eric the latest happenings over at Winnie's and what they're doing for Houston Restaurant Weeks.   Got a question for Eric? Email him at [email protected]. Follow Eric on Instagram @ericsandler and check out some of Eric's latest articles online at Culturemap.com: Top Houston Chefs Fire Up New Pizza Pop-Up Series for Local Nonprofit 10 Eateries Participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks for the First Time Houston Ice Cream Shop from 'World's Best Pastry Chef' Quietly Closes Historic Houston Fried Chicken Destination Will Close After 80 Years Michelin-Recognized Texas Barbecue Chain Fires Up Houston Opening Date