Houstonist Was There: McCormick & Schmick's Grand Opening

Houstonist recently spent a Saturday evening downtown at the grand opening of McCormick & Schmick, the popular steak and seafood chain, at the newest attraction downtown: the Houston Pavillions. Just one of many restaurants opening in the $200 million mixed-use development that's aiming to create a shopping and dining district for both downtown residents and workers, McCormick & Schmick gave Houstonist an opportunity to experience first-hand what the Houston Pavillions will have to offer.

The restaurant is similar in size and layout to most other McCormick & Schmick's across the nation, with a few notable differences. In particular, Houstonist appreciated the sports-themed chandeliers in the bar area, each of which featured a different Houston sports team's logo inset in stained glass. Appetizers passed on trays included fresh oysters, sliders, crab balls, chicken satay skewers and other assorted seafood items.

After we'd had our fill of sliders and champagne (a great combination, trust us), we continued exploring the beautiful Pavillions. Attached to the grand House of Blues and covering three city blocks, the two stories of the Pavillions are beautifully lit, only slightly futuristic and a great inducement -- along with Discovery Green, the Theatre District and the stadiums -- to head downtown for the day and actually stick around.

Houstonist is particularly excited about the opening of Lucky Strike Lanes, the swank Swingers-inspired lounge/bowling alley combination based out of Los Angeles, and XXI Forever (the flagship, slightly more upscale version of Forever21). We're suckers for cheap, trendy clothes -- sue us. The inviting-looking Books-A-Million and the not-yet-opened Cork Wine Bar also ensured that we'll be back at the Pavillions again soon.