Aaron Bludorn is taking his cooking to the suburbs. The Houston chef, whose downtown restaurant has been one of the city's toughest reservations for years, plans to open Bar Bludorn at 25 Waterway this summer. It will be his first location outside of central Houston.

He's not the only one betting on The Woodlands' dining scene. Chef Austin Simmons, who closed Tris in January, is opening a new concept called Charolais. Lankford's, the Houston breakfast and burger spot, confirmed a Woodlands location in the old Baja Cantina and Fiesta space. Bari Ristorante is also planning to open here in 2026.

There's clearly an appetite for it. The Woodlands has the money and the population to support these kinds of restaurants, and more residents are saying they'd rather not drive 45 minutes into Houston for a good dinner. The Waterway area in particular has become the go-to strip for sit-down restaurants, with foot traffic from hotels and the convention center.

For Bludorn, whose downtown spot has earned strong reviews and a loyal following, The Woodlands gives him access to a suburban crowd that's been asking for Houston-level food closer to home. The 25 Waterway location puts him right in the middle of Town Center.