x
Breaking News
More () »

Katz’s Deli and Bar to unveil new look in Montrose

Restaurateur Barry Katz of Katz's Deli and Bar announced March 7 that his 20-year-old flagship Montrose location will unveil a major interior facelift in early April.
Katz's Deli and Bar in Montrose will unveil a major interior facelift designed by Michael Hsu of Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.OFFICE OF ARCHITECTURE

(HOUSTON BUSINESS JOURNAL) - Restaurateur Barry Katz of Katz’s Deli and Bar announced March 7 that his 20-year-old flagship Montrose location will unveil a major interior facelift in early April.

Michael Hsu of Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture designed the changes, which encompass the entire two floors of the 6,800-square-foot diner at 616 Westheimer Road, according to a press release. Steve Morse served as general contractor, a spokeswoman said.

The changes are being phased in to allow the 24/7 diner to remain open throughout the process. The first phase started Feb. 7 with the second floor, including flooring, ceiling, bathrooms, furniture and layout, the spokeswoman said. The second phase began about a week ago with the downstairs dining area, and the final phase will cover the entryway and part of the kitchen. All three phases are lasting about three weeks each.

“(Barry Katz’s) goal is to take Katz’s into the future by thoughtfully meshing the old and new, ultimately creating an environment that is more in line with the evolving needs and wants of the neighborhood’s eclectic and increasingly discerning residents and visitors,” the release states.

On the first floor, changes include a custom brass Warbach chandelier in the bakery area, a tile mural at the front counter, a community table and a substantially expanded bar area with 14 stools. The main dining room will have seating for 100, with 58 booth seats. The upstairs design features a stone countertop stretching the length of the stair rail and incorporating electronic charging stations, diamond-tufted booths in red leatherette paired with old-school diner chairs and a subway-themed restroom, per the release. The second-floor dining room accommodates 75.

The physical menu has been reformatted, and the food has been revised dish-by-dish, per the release. Katz’s new bar bites menu will be available nightly until 2 a.m. and will be $5 per item during happy hour — from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday — at the bar area only. It will include loaded chips, fried pickles, a potato stack with lemon-feta sauce and a duo of reuben or beef sliders with house-made chips. New $6 cocktails also have been added, like the SATC Cosmo (a "Sex and the City" reference), Texas Palomita and a rotating Mules section.

“Elements of this project are a long time in coming, and the process has reignited my passion for this business,” Katz said in the release. “Guests are in for a treat, and the proof will be in the pickle, as we’re not just remodeling the space, but rather reimagining and enhancing the concept.”

Last spring, Katz’s location in The Woodlands, at 19075 Interstate 45 North in the Portofino Shopping Center, transitioned from an "Express" location with set business hours to a 24/7 diner. Hsu also designed an interior transformation for that location at the time, per the release.

At the time, Katz told the Houston Business Journal that he planned to expand the business by at least three delis in Houston but hadn’t signed any leases. Now, the release notes that he will return to scouting locations around the greater Houston area once the Montrose project is complete.

In 1979, Katz’s father opened the first Katz’s Deli & Bar in Austin on Sixth Street, which eventually closed in 2011. The company has no affiliation with Katz's Delicatessen in New York.

Click here to read a 2013 interview with Barry Katz about running his business and the people he's met over the years.

Before You Leave, Check This Out