4/1/2013 UPDATE: The Chatter's signage is back up on the building. Apparently, Cebiche was just a brief Latin interlude.
New Latin restaurant opening in the Energy Corridor, offering South American soul ("alma") and "cebiche" ... Really? Is that a new Tex-Peru version of ceviche, or the appellation original for the truly authentic Andean variant? -- Intriguing. The press release upon grand opening might have served as an opportunity to educate the less-Latin-savvy public. Perhaps it's just clever marketing: something new and different to pique the interests of exotic-cuisine-friendly local palates and linguists alike, not to mention would-be polyglots and spelling-bee aspirants.
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| And as to the branding ... Is that how soul is spelled in Peruvian? You better know the name of the place you are headed to, for deciphering the signage is something of a challenge Perhaps the Latin America expats at CITGO on the next block have an advantage here |
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| Chatter's Cafe & Bistro shortly before it closed (ironically with NOW OPEN sign)
1275 Eldridge Parkway, Houston, TX 77077
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Various local foodie news outlets report that the new Alma & Cebiche restaurant is the creation of the former chef at Samba Grille, who moved West to greener pastures (and better business prospects) when the Latin American venue at Bayou Place in the Downtown Theater District closed earlier this year.
Eldridge Parkway is indeed aflutter with excitement and adorned with "coming soon" and "now open" signs (Cafe Express, Sharky's American Grill, and The King's Head are recent arrivals on the dining and waterhole front; not to mention the massive Top Golf project North of I-10 at Highway 6, which is rapidly taking recognizable shape), while the Central Business District is struggling and jugging along -- plastered with "For Lease" signs, if not lock-out notices from the landlord for non-payment of rent.
Notable recent exception: Pepper Jack just opened a restaurant y cantina in what used to be Cabo, a margarita venue with the second-floor equivalent of a patio on the edge of the Theater District and not far from Old Downtown Houston Market Square. To their credit, they even kept the original swordfish sign, changing only the name.
For pure nostalgia value, a last look at Samba Grille:
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| The last samba at Bayou Place in Downtown Houston's Theatre District Summer 2012 |
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| Signage at Cabo, now Pepper Jack's Mexican Grill and Cantina 419 Travis Street Houston, TX 77002 |
And its reincarnation as Pepper Jack's: "Yes, We Are Open Now".
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| The light will switch to Green any minute now |
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