Pastore Italian Kitchen (Pastore), the latest concept from Houston’s Underbelly Hospitality, makes its debut on Friday, June 30 at 1180 Dunlavy St. in Regent Square. Executive chef Jeff Potts and Underbelly Hospitality culinary director Scott Muns have composed a menu designed to transport Houston diners to the Italian coast.
“Pastore has been a long-time in the making and chefs Jeff and Scott have done a tremendous job in curating an incredible coastal Italian dining experience for our guests,” said Nina Quincy, Director of Operations for Underbelly Hospitality in a statement. “From the design to the menu, Pastore is far different from our existing concepts. We are incredibly proud of our opening team and are excited to finally open our doors and welcome Houston and beyond.”
Pastore’s seafood-forward menu will spotlight the flavors of the ocean. A rotating seafood tower, mussel scapece, scallop crudo and oysters with prosecco granita grace the menu. Bread service will include freshly baked focaccia, made from general manager Peter Pearce’s five-year-old sourdough starter. Chefs Potts and Muns put their spin on fried anchovies and sage and roasted calamari stuffed with farro verde atop a piquillo pepper sauce.
Handmade pastas – kale cavatelli, squid ink linguine, chicken sausage ravioli and swordfish amatriciana – and flatbreads inspired by the kitchen’s hearth highlight the menu with gluten-free options available as well. Larger offerings include branzino puttanesca and porchetta with gigante bean ragout. Rounding out the menu is a dessert program featuring apple fritters, olive oil cake and celery root panna cotta with glazed figs and limoncello sabayon.
“Having worked with seafood for the bulk of my career, I’m eager to open Pastore and to see Houstonians enjoy the menu that our team has worked so hard to create,” said Potts. “Houston has great Italian restaurants, but we’re filling a void for seafood-forward, coastal cuisine. In keeping with the ethos of Underbelly Hospitality and Italian gardens, the flavors sown through the menu will be light and fresh, rooted in seasonality.”
Designed by Houston-based architecture and interior design firm Montgomery Roth, Pastore is reminiscent of the Italian gardens that inspired its design. The antithesis of all Underbelly Hospitality concepts, Pastore seamlessly blends garden-like aesthetics and contemporary elegance across the 2,611-square-foot main dining room.
Upon walking through the doors, guests are greeted by exposed white ceilings and a statement mural depicting lush, cascading flowers. The restaurant’s coastal-inspired color palette – consisting of soft hues of green, blue and gray – complements the varying antique brass lighting that illuminates the space. Warm sunlight filters through a series of 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a gentle glow over the restaurant. A combination of floral carpet and porcelain tile flooring reinforces the calming feeling exuded by Italian gardens.
Carefully curated seating arrangements allow for comfort and privacy within the open floorplan. The ground level dining room is adorned with cast iron tables draped in crisp, white linens and a combination of blue velvet banquettes and handwoven and plush upholstered dining chairs. A rounded open kitchen window accentuated by a gold butterfly chandelier offers guests a glimpse into the galley, where Potts and his team work away on the dishes. Rattan canes wrap around the hostess stand, service station and columns, an homage to the beauty of garden furniture.
A decorative wooden canopy with dangling lights serves as a focal point for the bar, where diners can enjoy a selection of cocktails crafted by mixologist Sarah Troxell. With a focus on Italian spirits and ingredients, the cocktail program will showcase a bevy of spritzes, aperitifs, martinis and a frozen limoncello.
Along the staircase, a combination of hand painted floral tiles, stained wood treads and custom iron railing captures the essence of Italian craftsmanship. Tucked underneath the stairs is a wine display, showcasing Pastore’s extensive wine collection. Rooted in Italian wines, much of Pastore’s wine list will lean into lesser-known varietals, producers and regions. The staircase leads to Pastore’s 3,748-square- foot rooftop terrace, which will open at a later date.
Pastore is open for dinner service Monday through Thursday from 5-10 pm, Friday and Saturday from 5- 11 pm and Sunday from 5-9 pm. Eventually, Pastore will introduce lunch service as well. Complementary parking is available in the Regent Square parking garage with the option to valet.
