keepin' it re-al

I have been spending quite a lot of time around the Westheimer/Montrose area lately for work.  We (Collaborative Projects) currently have a really big and exciting project brewing up in the old Chances location.  Sometime this year it will be completely transformed into two concepts...bar and restaurant...Hay Merchant and Underbelly (respectively).  The individuals involved are Chris Sheperd of Catalan and "the boys" from Anvil, Bobby Heugel and Kevin Floyd.  There is no doubt this collaboration will be a reeeeal good thing!

That said; while in the neighborhood the other day, I noticed that El Real Tex-Mex was OPEN. I am looking forward to trying it out and seeing what they did with the place.  It is located in the old Tower Theater on the lower section of Westheimer, in what was last home to Hollywood Video.  Although it is another Tex-Mex joint in Houston, this one promises something unique...so I expect!  The menu will consist of vintage Tex-Mex...authentic and original. 

Robb Walsh, Bill Floyd, and Bryan Caswell are the people behind this place.  Robb Walsh had his home kitchen designed and built by Collaborative Projects a few years back.  It was our most adventurous concept to date...but appropriately so.  Robb is an adventurous guy! Check out his book Sex, Death, and Oysters. 

Bryan is a true celebrity for Houston.  He is behind the ever popular REEF and Little Bigs.  He also was featured on The Food Network's IRON CHEF. With a combo like this I have nothing but good feelings...

In the next couple of years, this area will develop into a real hip section of Houston.  Already quirky, the Montrose area needed a little polish around the edges and some pep in it's step.  With the recent integration of places like Royal Oak, Little Bigs, and Anvil...the current developments of El Real, Underbelly and Hay Merchant...and then the future projects of Uchi and the TBD replacement in the Ruggles spot, there's no doubt it will really become quite the spot!