By Jen Para Web producer, Houston Business Journal
A popular Italian eatery with a speakeasy is opening its third Houston-area location in Katy.
Grazia Italian Kitchen will debut at 22764 Westheimer Parkway in Transwestern’s mixed-use development Villagio Town Center in the spring, according to a press release. The concept, which is owned by Houston-based Jade Hospitality LLC, has two other locations in Pearland and Clear Lake.
The new Katy restaurant will be 7,100 square feet, seat about 300 guests and include a full bar as well as private dining, per the release. It will also have a speakeasy, which the Pearland location first added in 2015.
“I am very excited about expanding the Grazia family to Katy,” Adrian Hembree, owner of Jade Hospitality, said in the release. “My motto is Grazia = Grace. We have built our business on that very belief. I grew up in the Klein area and opening this location is almost full circle to where I started. Katy has that same small-town family community we love, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.”
The Katy location will feature new offerings crafted by executive chef Chris Loftis in addition to its regular menu that includes pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks and seafood, per the release.
Previously, Steve Haug was the executive chef overseeing Grazia’s two locations. He left in May and is now the executive chef at Killen’s Steakhouse, where Loftis previously worked.
Under Haug’s culinary leadership, Grazia opened its second location in Clear Lake in 2016, won several awards at the 2016 rodeo — including the Rookie Award, Lone Star Entrée Grand Champion and People’s Choice Reserve Grand Champion — and partnered with Peska Seafood Culture to revamp its menu and rebrand as Peska Prime Steaks & Seafood earlier this year.
Peska closed in November, citing Hurricane Harvey and road construction as factors.
Another upcoming addition to the Katy dining scene is Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, which expects to open in the spring in the LaCenterra at Cinco Ranch mixed-use development.