Longstanding Mykonos Island Closes

IN THE NEWS: The Houston Chronicle's Dai Huynh reports on the Aug. 31 closing of 27-year-old Greek eatery Mykonos Island Restaurant on Richmond. Huynh reports that H-E-B, which controls the lease, chose not to extend it with the restaurant. ... The Chronicle's Eyder Peralta features Moo Hive Honey Ice Cream (6285 Bissonnet, 713-774-4200), while Alison Cook reviews Reef (2800 Travis, 713-526-8282, reefhouston.com) and Café Pita + (10890 Westheimer, 713-953-7237) and reports the closing of Craiganale's Little Italy. chron.com ... The Houston Business Journal features the growing restaurant developments along Washington Avenue, with chef Monica Pope, owner of T'afia restaurant in Midtown, the latest restaurateur to land there. Pope and a group of investors are planning to open a new concept called Beaver's in October at Sawyer and Washington Avenue, just south of the former Pig Stand restaurant. Benjy's, the trendy West University-area restaurant at 2424 Dunstan, is also expanding to the area with a two-story restaurant at 5922 Washington Ave. set for next June. And Rice Village-area tenant, Azuma Sushi & Robata Bar, will open an eatery on Washington Avenue in the Washington Square shopping center later this year. Meanwhile, Catalan Food & Wine Bar, Cova Hand-Selected Wines, El Tiempo Cantina, Molina's Cantina, Max's Wine Dive and Cyclone Anaya's have all recently set up shop on the busy street. ... The Journal also reports that Jenni's Noodle House has opened its second location at the corner of Shepherd and West Alabama. houston.bizjournals.com ... The Houston Press' Jason Kerry reviews Genji Japanese Restaurant and Karaoke Bar (7964 Westheimer, 713-780-0827), while Paul Galvani visits Fonda Doña Maria (120 Tidwell, 713-695-5540). houstonpress.com ... Ruggles Restaurant Group LP, a company formed in 2005 to expand the Houston-born Ruggles restaurant concept into Austin, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Austin Business Journal reports. The bankruptcy does not include three Houston restaurants owned by Molzan Inc.: Ruggles Grill at 903 Westheimer, Ruggles Grille 5115 in the Galleria, and Ruggles Cafe & Bakery at 2365-A Rice Blvd. austin.bizjournals.com ... The third edition of the guidebook Houston Dining on the Cheap – A Guide to the Best Inexpensive Restaurants in Houston by Mike Riccetti (a Where the Locals Eat contributor) has recently been released. The third edition has been completely revised, updated and thoroughly researched to provide profiles of the best 300 inexpensive restaurants in the Houston area, plus restaurant-related asides, and helpful indices such as listings by cuisine and area. It is available in bookstores around town, selected gift stores and Amazon.com

Compiled by Pat Embry, WhereTheLocalsEat.com