From Canada with Love: Bright, Casual Canuck Eatery to Bow in Galleria Soon

Rachel Barke
From Canada with Love: Bright, Casual Canuck Eatery to Bow in Galleria Soon

A BREEZY RESTAURANT concept from Canada is opening in the Galleria in a couple of weeks. Joey Uptown, the parent company's first Texas outpost, is set to bow July 28.


Billed as a "modern, urban retreat" with world-class service in a news release from yesterday afternoon, the spacious restaurant touts a globally inspired menu highlighted by seasonal, local takes. One design element that's sure to delight al fresco diners is a sunny, climate-controlled patio with a retractable roof.

Menu items include roasted corn guacamole and flame-seared salmon sushi. The resto says its Watermelon Drink, a summertime sip made with fresh watermelon, is a great bet. Its signature Joey Super is a classic highball with a citrus slush twist.

Finishes of natural wood and textured concrete — accented by brass, stone and leather — are the backdrop. Décor highlights also include a chic wine wall and, in one section, a "living green ceiling" fashioned of plants, the restaurant says.

"We're thrilled to expand down South with the addition of Joey Uptown to our collection of restaurants," said Layne Krienke, president of the Joey Restaurant Group, in a statement. "Texas and Joey hospitality go hand-in-hand, as we have both garnered a reputation for genuine warmth and care. We recognized Houston's passionate foodie scene and are honored to be a part of this restaurant community."

Joey Uptown's spacious patio has a retractable roof.

A cozy corner with a living wall at Joey Uptown

Food

Jacob Hilton, a.k.a. Travid Halton, at home in his kitchen, where he enjoys cooking as a form of therapy.

PINK FLOYD'S THE Wall. Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours. Beyonce’s Lemonade. Three divergent examples of the album as a cathartic, psychological, conceptual work, meant to be experienced in a single sitting. Houston singer-songwriter Jacob Hilton, 37, who records as Travid Halton, a portmanteau of his mother and father’s names, might balk at being mentioned in such company. (This is a thoroughly unpretentious man, who describes himself as an “archaeologist turned singer-songwriter.”)

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How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

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