The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation permit shows that the Bari will occupy 24 Waterway Ave. Suite 125. You may remember that address: It’s where chef Austin Simmons’ beloved steakhouse Tris used to reside. The remodel of the former restaurant is estimated to be around $700,000 and is expected to finish on March 2, 2026. As always, don’t take that as an opening date.
Restaurateur Thomas “Tommy” Nally and chef Renato de Pirro, who had prior stints with Dallas’ Lombardi Group and the Hotel Granduca, opened the first Bari in River Oaks in May 2023. The restaurant has drawn critical acclaim for its luxe vibes and serious food (it’s a real trick to get the two together), even making the Chronicle’s Top 100 list in 2024.
Last year, the Bari Hospitality Group purchased Georgia James from Underbelly Hospitality, the former Chris Shepherd-helmed steakhouse. The restaurant group swept through the menu, adding European influences while keeping some of the dishes that had defined it from the start. Last check, longtime Houston chef Philippe Schmit was overseeing the kitchen.
As for anybody who still misses Tris, Simmons has been keeping himself busy with multiple projects, not including his ranch. He was running a burger pop-up in September with H-E-B, and his next restaurant, Charolais (named after the French breed of cattle), is set to debut at Hughes Landing sometime next year.
Dining and Cooking