While Houstonians are enjoying delicious dishes all across the city during Houston Restaurant Weeks, many operators are busy prepping new locations to tap into Houston's red-hot retail market.

In Montrose, The Pit Room is set to make its debut next week. The owners are converting the Talk of the Town porn shop into a central Texas-style pit BBQ joint. The opening is the culmination of a project started more than a year ago when owner Michael Sambrooks hired former Franklin Barbecue pitmaster John Avila. 

Bosscat Kitchen & Libations near River Oaks District has whiskey fans abuzz. The 6.8k SF bar and restaurant will be the second location for Bosscat, which opened its original location in Newport Beach, CA.

CityCentre is getting in on the action, too, with the addition of The General Public. In April, FreeRange Concepts broke ground on the 16k SF space. The menu is designed around shareable plates, salads and burgers; the restaurant features a large horseshoe-shaped bar with a signature cocktail.

Two casual restaurants are also opening in The Woodlands. Verts Mediterranean and Mama Fu's Asian House have both leased space at Research Crossing, a shopping center to be developed at Research Forest Drive and Grogans Mill Road in The Woodlands.