Latuli, an ambitious new restaurant, is set to make its debut at 8900 Gaylord Dr. in Memorial’s Hedwig Village. Co-founded by Chef Bryan Caswell and Allison Knight, Latuli promises to be a neighborhood staple, offering a fresh take on Gulf Coast fare with a touch of global sophistication.
Caswell, a Houston native renowned for his expertise in Gulf Coast cuisine, has known Knight and her husband for a very long time. “First and foremost, this is a neighborhood restaurant,” Caswell emphasized to What Now Houston in an interview. Latuli, spanning over 7,000 square feet, aims to blend local charm with worldly sophistication, reflecting both founders’ extensive professional backgrounds and intimate knowledge of Texas traditions.
According to the press release, Latuli will weave together global, southern, and Texan threads, creating an elegant yet approachable dining experience. The restaurant’s design, inspired by Spanish ranch architecture and California coastal resort chic, is the work of Alfredo Paredes, a renowned designer and a close friend of Knight. Paredes has made several trips to Houston to ensure the design captures the city’s unique lifestyle and geography. “To create a memorable dining experience at Latuli, I pulled inspiration from Houston’s global influences and cultures,” says Paredes.
Knight, who moved to Memorial with her family five years ago, recently sought to expand her career in business, commercial real estate, and finance by enrolling in Houston’s Culinary Institute LeNotre. Her passion for cooking and entertaining at home led her to envision Latuli, named after her three children, Lawson, Tucker, and Lillie. She turned to Caswell for his culinary expertise and invaluable experience as a global chef and Houston restaurateur. Caswell, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, has worked with hospitality legends worldwide and made a significant impact on Houston’s culinary scene with his previous ventures, including Reef and PostScript.
Together, Caswell and Knight aim to create a restaurant that feels like home to locals and offers a unique dining experience to visitors from across the city and beyond. “Our guests, whether they live steps away, inside the Loop or in Katy, should recognize this place as their own,” says Caswell. With a menu that combines elevated Gulf Coast fare with familiar flavors, Latuli is set to become a celebrated home for Southern discernment and Houston bravado.
As Latuli prepares to open its doors in the first quarter of 2025, the collaboration between Caswell and Knight promises to bring a new culinary gem to Houston’s vibrant dining scene, offering a perfect blend of local charm and global sophistication.
