The Houston Barbecue Renaissance Continues: 1201 Richmond Home To Unnamed Project From Pitmaster John Avila

Barbecue is coming to a permanent Montrose location at 1201 Richmond in the near future. CultureMap reports that pitmaster John Avila — who’s studied the art of smoke at acclaimed Franklin Barbecue in Austin and Morgan’s Barbecue in Brooklyn — has signed a lease at the property which happens to be the location of a former adult book store.

Avila and his wife Veronica are aiming for a September launch and have already “begun the process of pulling permits” for the still unnamed restaurant.

While barbecue is the main draw, there will be a broader Texas influence with Avila’s vision of “blending Gulf Coast seafood, Tex-Mex and European influences that include German smokehouses and Czech kolaches.”

“Texas is such a big state it’s like a country,” Avila told CultureMap. “When you go to Italy, you go to difference regions and get different food. It’s the same thing here, whether other people realize it or not.”