Ben Berg's Latest Bows: What to Know About Benny Chows on Wash Ave

Norton Creative
Ben Berg's Latest Bows: What to Know About Benny Chows on Wash Ave

Peking duck noodles

THE MAN BEHIND some of the city's most successful restaurants in the past decade is at it again — or at it still? Either way, this week brings the grand opening of Benny Chows, Benjamin Berg's 10th concept, located next to his OG on Washington Avenue, B&B Butchers & Restaurant.


Expect his signature blend of classic and fun cuisine, with a Texas twist — this time applied to Chinese food. The restaurant's menu and interiors are designed to bring to mind Chinese restaurants in Berg's native New York, home to "some of my first and favorite dining memories," he says. “I want to give Houston those same moments but put a Texas-touch on it with a localized, ingredient-rich menu that they can experience in a luxe and exciting atmosphere.”

Executive Chef Shirong Mei steered the menu; the Chinese-born chef has more than three decades of experience cooking in Cantonese restaurants across Asia and the U.S. Some dishes will be very familiar to patrons by name, but less so by appearance: The General Tso's chicken, for example, is served as a tempura-fried half chicken. And the Peking Duck at Benny Chow's takes three days to prepare. It's a seven-pound, specially sourced Jurgielewicz duck, and one of the restaurant's private dining spaces offers a front-row view of the process.

Berg's commitment to local is shown in plates like the Smoked Brisket Egg Roll and the Holy Trinity Fried Rice, both starring Truth BBQ, another Wash Ave neighbor. The diverse menu also includes comfort foods like dim sum and cold sesame noodles, and even more indulgent delicacies like foie gras and white sturgeon caviar. Cocktails are equally diverse: There's the Ruby Foo’s Teardrop with gin and butterfly-pea-flower tea (yes, really). Then there's the ultimate tiki drink experience called Mr. K's Scorpion, brought to the table in a towering crystal decanter and garnished with scorpion lollipops, meant to serve several.

As for the interiors, Berg Hospitality’s VP of Design & Experience, Sam Governale, partnered with Gail McCleese of Sensitori to create the "experiential design." They procured authentic Chinese artifacts and architectural antiques, and set them among materials like wood, stacked stone and black lacquered furniture. Motifs of cherry blossoms, bird cages and accents of red and gold can be found throughout the inside, while outside on the patio, diners are transported to New York's Chinatown thanks to ornate lanterns dropping from patio light strands, recreated Chinese storefront signs, and an intricate water feature.

The rest of this year should also bring several additional Berg Hospitality projects, including Turner's Cut steakhouse, Annabelle's brasserie, Buttermilk Baby diner, Dune Road seafood, and the rooftop patio bar Canopy Social, situated atop Benny Chows.

2-pound lobster noodles

Brisket fried rice

Orange beef

18-vegetable salad

Food
Wellness Pro LeBrina Jackson on Gratitude at the Holidays: It’s a ‘Reset Button for my Mind’

LeBrina Jackson

AS WE GET into the holiday season, we’re reminded of what we have, what we want and what might be lacking. As Sheryl Crow says in her song, Soak up the Sun, “It’s not having what you want, it’s wanting what you've got.” We caught up with LeBrina Jackson, owner of Escape Spa in Cypress, Texas, and learned how she tackles the holiday season with hope, love and most importantly, gratitude.

Keep Reading Show less

Chairs Elia and Michael Gabbanelli

ANOTHER YEAR, ANOTHER sold-out Wine Dinner and Collector's Auction for the Houston Symphony. This year's event was chaired by Elia and Michael Gabbanelli, and raised more than $900,000 for the Symphony's education and community programs.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Chef-owner Austin Waiter of The Marigold Club, now serving fried chicken and Champagne on Sunday nights.


IF YOUR SUNDAY nights could use a little sparkle—and a lot of fried chicken—The Marigold Club has just the thing. Starting May 25 at 5pm, the Montrose hotspot known for its playful mix of Southern charm and London polish is rolling out a new weekly tradition: Fried Chicken & Champagne Sundays.

This isn’t your average comfort food situation. We're talking a shareable fried chicken dinner for two, made with farm-raised birds from Deeply Rooted Ranch, and served alongside buttery whipped potatoes, minted peas, aged cheddar scones, and some over-the-top sauces — including a foie gras sauce supreme that’s as extra as it sounds.

Keep Reading Show less
Food