Agnes and Sherman
Diner · Greater Heights
250 W 19th St A, Houston, TX 77008
Highlights
Savory scallion waffles, bold cocktails, and Asian American comfort food
Savory scallion waffles, bold cocktails, and Asian American comfort food
"The newly opened Asian-American diner in Houston led by chef Nick Wong experienced sudden supplier shocks when vendors notified them that prices could surge rapidly — "everything is going to cost 20 percent more than it did the day before" in the example given. Ingredients such as rice flour, tofu, and spice mixes — crucial for the concept — became far more expensive than planned. Wong has sought domestic alternatives and cooperative buying strategies: he has begun working with a local tofu purveyor to save some costs, and his team reached out to other local restaurants about buying nitrile gloves in bulk so they can take advantage of discounts. On the broader impact he warns, "I think it's going to be a reckoning," and he asks pointedly, "Why is my fried rice so expensive? Food is politics." He is trying to keep the diner-style menu affordable but cautions that diners may ultimately have to accept higher prices to preserve flavor and keep businesses afloat." - Jaya Saxena
"The scene at this Asian-American diner in The Heights plays out like a cross-generational montage. Toddlers turn chopsticks into drumsticks, Gen Z-ers toast with yuzu highballs, and boomers tear into scallion waffles like it’s their first time, while Salt-N-Pepa plays on the speakers and steam rises from the open kitchen. The food here mixes traditions, but never feels gimmicky. Disco fries go Taiwanese with melty cheese, pickled mustard greens, and sweet-spiced pork gravy. Crackly shell-on shrimp are infused with the tangy flavor of Filipino sinigang and lit up with serrano heat. Egg foo young lands doused in crawfish gumbo, with a bottle of Crystal hot sauce riding shotgun. And it all comes in huge portions. Round up your hungriest friends, lock down the table with the Lazy Susan, and get ready to take some leftovers home. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - brooke viggiano, mai pham, nicolai mccrary, andrew ryce, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"The scene at this Asian-American diner in The Heights plays out like a cross-generational montage. Toddlers turn chopsticks into drumsticks, Gen Z-ers toast with yuzu highballs, and boomers tear into scallion waffles like it’s their first time, while Salt-N-Pepa plays on the speakers and steam rises from the open kitchen. The food here mixes traditions, but never feels gimmicky. Disco fries go Taiwanese with melty cheese, pickled mustard greens, and sweet-spiced pork gravy. The must-get crackly shell-on shrimp are infused with the tangy flavor of Filipino sinigang and lit up with serrano heat. Egg foo young lands doused in crawfish gumbo, with a bottle of Crystal hot sauce riding shotgun. And it all comes in huge portions. Round up your hungriest friends, lock down the table with the Lazy Susan, and get ready to take some leftovers home." - Brooke Viggiano
"The chef behind UB Preserv is back with a new spot in the Heights, taking over the Alice Blue space on 19th. Named after his parents, Agnes and Sherman gives diner classics an Asian-American makeover, like sambal honey butter scallion waffles, crawfish egg foo young in gumbo gravy, and sundaes made with ice cream from local creamery Milk + Sugar. It’s indoor seating for now, with a patio to come. Get access to exclusive reservations at this spot with Chase Sapphire Reserve. New cardmembers get $300 in annual dining statement credits." - brooke viggiano, gianni greene, chelsea thomas
"Chef Nick Wong, formerly of UB Preserv and New York’s Momofuku, returns to the Houston dining scene with his new Asian American diner. Named after Wong’s parents, the bright Heights restaurant offers a distinct lineup of dishes informed by Wong’s upbringing, resulting in an exciting menu of interesting mashups, like its savory scallion waffle topped with a melting scoop of sambal honey butter, al pastor fried rice, and crawfish egg foo young made with a gumbo gravy. Drinks also pay homage to where Wong’s been, with the cleverly named Lean Kwai Fong, a riff on an Old Fashioned that also nods to Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s bustling Central district filled with bars and restaurants, and Houston’s fascination with the cough-syrup-laden drink, Lean." - Brittany Britto Garley
