Damian's - 3011 Smith St.

[hindesky]

After a four-decade run as one of Houston’s leading Italian restaurants, Damian’s Cucina Italiana announced Thursday on social media that the Midtown institution’s last day of service will be Aug.17.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/damians-italian-restaurant-midtown-closing-19523576.php

 

 

After 41 years of service, we at Damian’s Cucina Italiana sadly announce our closing effective August 17, 2024. We would also like to thank our loyal customers for your outpouring of support and comradery. We would like to thank our amazing staff, which is also our family, for all their hard work and dedication

https://houston.culturemap.com/news/restaurants-bars/damians-cucina-italiana-restaurant-closing/

[j_cuevas713]

Rents are getting very high in Midtown. I expect to see more of this before we see new developments pop up. 

Edited June 21 by j_cuevas713

[Specwriter]

😢 We had on Hell of a company holiday party there thirty years ago. We were treated like, and ate like, kings and queens.

So long Damian's. You will be remembered fondly.

[McD.land]

On 6/21/2024 at 11:12 AM, j_cuevas713 said:

Rents are getting very high in Midtown. I expect to see more of this before we see new developments pop up. 

They are in the middle of a lease that doesn't expire for a couple of more years, at a very reasonable rate.  Curious to see if they intend to stay out the lease and lean in to catering or another concept instead.

[EspersonBuildings]

Sad.  I remember when it first opened, I worked downtown.  We dined there a couple of times but many, many more times at Primo's that was across the street.  

[hindesky]

The bar area at Damian’s Cucina Italiana turned into a waiting room on Saturday as customers bee-lined through the entrance, giving final handshakes and lingering hugs to co-owners Johnny B. Mandola and Bubba Butera. Some wiped away tears.

Servers balanced trays holding glasses of chianti and martinis as they maneuvered past the four bar seats and handful of tables. Nobody paid much attention to the Astros game on a TV screen. Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli’s megahit “Time to Say Goodbye” hummed in the background at least twice throughout the evening.

“Here we go,” Mandola said. “Last one.”

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/food-culture/restaurants-bars/article/damians-italian-houston-restaurant-closing-night-19651906.php

[hindesky]