Half of EaDo’s charm is discovering local spots and hidden gems. Who better to navigate the neighborhood’s best kept secrets than the people who spend the most time here? In this version of My EaDo, we asked chef and Agricole Hospitality co-owner Ryan Pera to divulge his go-to spots and tell us why he loves the neighborhood. In late 2018, Agricole Hospitality opened three concepts in East Downtown: Vinny’s, for pizza by the slice or pie; Indianola, a restaurant serving modern American cuisine; and Miss Carousel, a cocktail bar.
If you could describe EaDo in three words, what would they be?
Hip, happening, ever-changing
What are you most excited about for EaDo in the coming year?
The end of street construction
What sets EaDo apart from other places in Houston? What do you love about it?
The confluence of so much diversity, from the neighborhood residents, to tourists to Houstonians coming in to check out what’s new. I love that anyone and everyone feels welcome.
Best place to bring a group in EaDo to celebrate?
Miss Carousel
Where’s your favorite iconic landmark or piece of EaDo art?
When you want to feel a little fancy, or treat someone to a nice dinner, where do you go in EaDo?
Indianola!
What should we look forward to next year from Agricole Hospitality?
The growth of our 3 concepts: Indianola, Vinny’s and Miss Carousel. Dialing in the food and service, getting better at what we do and servicing the neighborhood for what they are looking for.
More about Ryan Pera:
Ryan is a founding member of the Organized Collaboration for Restaurant Affairs (OKRA), a group of like-minded restaurant and bar owners who pursue community and charitable initiatives in Houston. He is on the culinary boards for both Recipe for Success, a foundation combating childhood obesity, and No Kid Hungry, an organization aiming to end child hunger.
Ryan was named Food & Wine magazine’s People’s Best New Chef for the Southwest region in 2015, as well as Chef of the Year at the Houston Culinary Awards that same year. Ryan was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest in 2018.