Dallas-Founded Restaurant Drake’s Hollywood Opens Its Largest Location in Houston | Eater Houston

"Opening August 29 at 1100 Westheimer Road in Montrose, this outpost from Vandelay Hospitality channels Golden‑Era Hollywood with timeless, luxe decor — sultry red leather seating, gold-amber onyx surrounding the bar, and black-and-white TVs — and will add a private dining room and piano lounge later in the year while featuring live entertainment and rotating DJs. The menu highlights upscale American staples and cult favorites: cracker-crust pizza, dry-aged steaks, spicy salmon crispy rice with gochujang and serrano pepper, the fiery Pasta ZaZa (spicy rigatoni), Hollywood-themed sushi rolls, and a towering 24-layer strawberry cake; the bar leans into elegance with Vandelay’s signature “World’s Coldest Martini.” Early VIP and media previews reported a bustling, boozy atmosphere with select bites, and owner Hunter Pond describes the opening as a surreal follow-up to the brand’s explosive Dallas success and a warmly received debut in Houston. The restaurant group has faced controversy in recent years — including accusations of copying design and dishes at other locations and lawsuits from former employees alleging discrimination — some of which were later resolved." - Brittany Britto Garley