What's in a name?
A restaurant name, that is. This week I've been pondering the rebranding of my beloved MF Lobster & Ceviche — which I just reviewed — into the blander MF Seafood just four months into its life.
I understand the business reasons, as founder Chris Kinjo, of MF Sushi fame, felt potential customers didn't read beyond the word "lobster," and concluded the place was just about that particular luxury shellfish. But I loved the crazy Houston specificity of the "lobster & ceviche" dichotomy: the way it spliced together the worlds of a Vietnamese master of Japanese sushi and his Mexico-City-born first lieutenant, Miguel Alvarez.
There's a reason I'm not running restaurants or making waves in the branding business. Writers do tend to get attached to certain combinations of words. In my head, MF Seafood is always gonna be MF Lobster & Ceviche. Go check it out and you won't be sorry.
There's more to check out in our summer edition of the city's Top 25 Restaurants, which includes some new and seasonal spots among Houston's dining heavy hitters. Why, yes, there's a live-fire restaurant in the mix, because hot is hot.
Comalito, Underbelly Hospitality's Mexico-City-style taqueria, closed this week in the Airline farmers market. I'm hoping hard it will reopen elsewhere in town, because I really liked it.
Finally, a certain Dark of the Moon Pie is calling me down to Clear Lake, where the Space Craft BBQ trailer has earned the respect of our barbecue expert, J.C. Reid.
Will brake for Moon Pies. Or, in this case, drive for them.
Photo by: Michael Wyke, Contributor
Here are restaurant recommendations from the Houston Chronicle food team for the city's hottest season.
Local eats
 Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer |
The newly renamed MF Seafood, in a glamorous round Autry Park pavilion, pools the talents of sushi master Chris Kinjo and Mexico-City-born Miguel Alvarez. |
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 Photo by: Connie Anderson, Connie Anderson Photography |
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 Photo by: Courtesy Of Comalito |
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 Photo by: Yi-Chin Lee, Staff Photographer |
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 Photo by: Steve Gonzales/staff Photographer |
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 Photo by: Karen Warren/Staff Photographer |
Bun B has expressed interest in expanding Trill Burgers, which began as a pop-up in 2021. |
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Houston's top restaurants
 Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer |
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Aprons on
Photo by: Carolina Ayala, Contributor
The recipe from Houston chef Anita Jaisinghani takes advantage of Texas' glorious potato season. No toast required.
 Photo by: Paula Murphy |
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Barbecue
Photo by: J.C. Reid, Contributor
Besides a stellar Texas trinity, the house-made Dark Side of the Moon Pie could be our new favorite dessert at a Houston barbecue joint.
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