For decades, droves of diners have headed out for meals at the Raven Grill in Houston’s Boulevard Oaks neighborhood, near Rice Village. On Sunday morning, a line of loyalists stretched along the sidewalk before the restaurant opened, all eager to sit and savor one last meal before the doors closed for good.
This weekend marked the Raven Grill’s last after 28 years of business. The neighborhood eatery at 1916 Bissonnet St. opened in 1998 and was standing as one of Houston’s more established legacy restaurants. It was the first of many concepts under owners, operators and former classmates-turned-couple Rob and Sara Cromie, who went on to open several restaurants and bars around the area and in Austin.
Earlier this month, the Cromies announced that the Raven Grill’s lease was not renewed, so they would be permanently shuttering the restaurant. Its sister sandwich shop next door, The Picnic, isn’t going anywhere and will remain open. Still, many heartbroken foodies were quick to fill the comment section of the Raven Grill’s announcement sharing how devastated they were about its closure.
“My wife and I ate there last night dressed appropriately in black. This was our ‘semi-secret’ getaway place for nearly three decades. Date nights, place to take friends, family and visitors. An adult place with great food, reasonable prices and the decibel level always low with great background music. Much thanks to the owners and staff. You will be greatly missed,” one person commented in the restaurant’s final days of business…