Uptown Park’s Resort Granduca has formally unveiled its renovated look.
Houstonians in want of a staycation have many interesting choices today. The extremely anticipated Resort Saint Augustine opened in Montrose final December. And Uptown Park’s Resort Granduca unveiled its multimillion-dollar renovation in March, after the property’s acquisition by Transwestern Hospitality Group in January 2024.
The 122-suite lodge now boasts a revitalized 24,000-square-foot floor flooring, together with updates made to its foyer, 5 non-public occasion areas, and out of doors gardens. On the forefront of the lodge’s renovation is the launch of its new restaurant Remi, which is below the route of Episcope Hospitality and David Morton of Morton’s the Steakhouse.
“We predict [the hotel] can be an absolute crown jewel for Houston,” says Ryan Gaudin, accomplice at Episcope Hospitality.
The Library is an area for company to both sit down and work or get pleasure from a second of leisure.
To dwelling in on the reimagining of Resort Granduca, the group introduced in native inside designer Kara Childress. Gaudin says each single portion of the bottom flooring went all the way down to filth and stud partitions. Now, when company stroll in, they’ll discover design touches reminiscent of reclaimed wooden flooring and beams from Belgium, together with limestone from Italy. The entrance desk then bleeds into the primary foyer, which holds what the hospitality group calls “the Library,” an inviting area painted in deep indigo with books, nooks, and mild lighting. Gaudin says this space can act because the visitor’s lounge throughout their keep, both to have a quiet second to themselves or flip open a laptop computer within the morning and get some work completed.
“We have been wanting towards Europe and sort of [wanted to] relay ‘chateau vitality’ round it, so issues which are refined and chic however snug on the identical time,” Gaudin says. “We really feel just like the synergies between meals and beverage and hospitality, and the sensation that we’re creating there may be going to essentially catapult Resort Granduca.”
The restaurant’s menu focuses on American classics whereas bringing a touch of European aptitude due to its chef, Maurizio Ferrarese, who hails from Northern Italy. Ferrarese goes again to his roots with entrées like rigatoni Bolognese and pesto caserecci with toasted pine nuts and pecorino. Different dishes embrace a dry-aged rib eye; steak frites; Ōra King salmon; the Remi burger made with cheddar, dijonnaise, and pickles on a brioche bun; and the chef’s meatball, crafted with veal, beef, sausage, spicy pomodoro, garlic flatbread, and parmigiano.
The group needed the menu to cater to each Houstonians and lodge company. Gaudin says somebody staying at Resort Granduca may come into Remi later within the night, exhausted from a day of journey, and like a lighter dish. They will order from the bar bites and snack sections of the menu, which function dishes just like the white bean hummus, buffalo hen dip, corn canine poppers, and Gaudin’s favourite, hen tenders served with ketchup and scorching honey.
Remi’s menu options American classics with a touch of European aptitude.
The brand new restaurant can be accompanied by Bar Remi. The 20-seat expertise has a martini program with classics just like the Vesper and Duke’s, in addition to a mezcal martini dubbed Southern Stars, made with Dolin Blanc and orange bitters. Gaudin’s go-to is the Primrose, named after one of many restaurant’s occasion areas and crafted with gin, St. Germain, Campari, and lime. The menu additionally has an in depth wine checklist with 130 alternatives, beers, and a nonalcoholic part utilizing spirit alternate options like Seedlip Grove 42.
Though the restaurant is the anchor of the renovation, Gaudin says he’d be remiss if he didn’t spotlight the renovated courtyard, which is an extension of Remi’s eating room. It options gorgeously manicured hedges, a 1900s fountain from the South of France, and a pool.
“It actually feels as when you’re transported to an Italian piazza or one thing that’s of the previous world,” Gaudin says.
The work for Resort Granduca continues to be removed from over, although. The lodge’s normal supervisor, Bernardo Santiago, says the suites are up subsequent to be fully renovated. The plans are in early design phases, and Childress can even be engaged on that mission. As soon as development begins, Santiago says they hope to go flooring by flooring and full it with some form of phased method. He notes that 2026 can be a busy 12 months for Houston journey, given the town is about to host the World Cup and the World Baseball Basic, so that they don’t need an excessive amount of disruption.
Within the meantime, all of the suites have been spruced up with some additional touches, new carpet and paint, and facilities like Santa Maria Novella rest room merchandise.
“I believe our aspect of authenticity and real care is what’s going to set this property aside,” Santiago says.
