Island Grill, the family-run Mediterranean American chain, is lining up a River Oaks debut. The owners have secured the storefront at 2810 Westheimer, the stretch currently home to Relish Restaurant & Bar, and are aiming for a spring 2027 opening that would mark the brand’s sixth Houston outpost. The move drops a neighborhood-minded chain into one of the city’s busiest dining corridors, where daytime foot traffic and office lunch crowds carry real weight.
Deal details and timeline
According to CultureMap Houston, Island Grill has claimed the 2810 Westheimer space and is targeting spring 2027. Co-owner Faysal Haddad told CultureMap that bringing Island Grill to River Oaks feels like the right next step for his family. The outlet reports that the River Oaks spot would join Island Grill locations spread across Rice Village, Tanglewood, Spring, Memorial and downtown.
What Island Grill brings to the strip
Island Grill describes itself as a family-run operation that leans Mediterranean while still covering classic American comfort dishes and breakfast standards. On the menu, that translates to falafel, pita sandwiches, kabobs and breakfast tacos, among other staples. The chain’s Island Grill website lists Rice Village, Tanglewood and Spring among its five current locations and notes that the restaurants open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For nearby residents and office workers, the River Oaks edition would add a dependable breakfast and midday option in a corridor that already mixes fine dining destinations with quick-service counters.
What’s happening with Relish
For now, the 2810 Westheimer address still appears on Relish Restaurant & Bar’s own site as one of its locations. Addie and Dustin Teague launched the River Oaks Relish in 2016, then followed it with a second outpost in Town & Country Village in late 2024, as reported by the Houston Business Journal. CultureMap reports it has contacted Relish about the status of the River Oaks restaurant and plans to update its coverage if the owners respond.
Why River Oaks matters
River Oaks and the adjacent Westheimer corridor remain prime targets for operators chasing steady, affluent traffic at both lunch and dinner. Recent reporting in the Houston Chronicle highlights how developers and restaurateurs continue to test the neighborhood with a mix of ambitious concepts and low-key, local spots. For Island Grill, a River Oaks address could bolster its catering and commuter business while giving the chain a more visible footprint inside the neighborhood itself.
CultureMap has reported that it reached out to both Relish and Island Grill for additional comment. This story will be updated once either restaurant shares confirmation or a more detailed timeline for buildout and permitting. In the meantime, River Oaks diners can expect a clearer picture to emerge as lease transfers and construction permits move forward ahead of 2027.
