Late August
American restaurant · Museum District ·
Afro-Mexican restaurant serving regional dishes & cocktails
Afro-Mexican restaurant serving regional dishes & cocktails
"I found Late August to be an airy midtown restaurant with cobalt-blue velvet banquettes housed in an Art Deco building that, until 2018, was a Sears department store and that was repurposed in 2021 as part of Rice University's and the city's Ion District incubator. Chef Chris Williams—who opened the restaurant last year—uses a culturally kaleidoscopic approach, testing recipes in intense kitchen sessions and collaborating broadly: Sergio Hidalgo developed a Mexican American–inspired fry bread using Williams's great-grandmother Lucille B. Smith's yeast-roll recipe (often finished with mole butter or benne seeds), and cousin Jennifer Parsons created a decadent banana-pudding–stuffed churro taco that Williams calls “ridiculous and overwhelming,” describing it as the story of the restaurant in one dessert. Late August also earned a Michelin Recommended distinction." - Kayla S. Stewart, Matt Ortile
"Offers a more formal dining experience that blends precise Cajun and Creole cooking with the unwavering passion of communal soul-food traditions." - Jesse Sparks
"Chef Chris Williams of Houston’s Lucille Hospitality partnered with Gin Design Group to transform a 2,800-square-foot space at the historic Sears building into this restaurant, which honors Afro-Mexican cuisine. Located on the first floor of the Ion in Midtown, Late August pays homage to the iconic department store with its original terrazzo tile flooring, built-in millwork, and jewel tones. Special touches any diner can appreciate are its open kitchen, which gives glimpses into the culinary process, and artwork by local artists Robert Hodge and Moon Pappas. The menu, a blend of Black and Latin flavors, offers dishes like smoked chicken drumettes, chili relleno, stellar fried chicken, and cabrito stew." - Marcy de Luna
"An Afro-Mexican restaurant tucked into the Ion in Midtown that opened in 2024 and drew attention as a notable new arrival." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Designated by Michelin as "recommended" in the Texas selection (a category distinct from Michelin stars)." - Brittany Britto Garley