New Houston Restaurant, The Classic All Day, Brings Panache to American Staples
Photo courtesy of Victoria Christensen
A new American restaurant is taking the place of Benjy’s on Washington Avenue. Restaurateur, and
Houston native, Benji Levit, the owner of the former eatery, opened The Classic All-Day in the same spot on Friday, August 3, 2018. With a new name, menu, and interior, the reimagined space features a crafted menu with a pinch of retro charm that elevates everyday classics. The addition of a second-floor organic garden gives The Classic All Day the distinction of being the only restaurant in town offering root-to-table service. Chefs, Mike Potowski and Maria Gonzalez, utilize subtle flavors and old-world techniques to create simple clean food. The reliable menu, with its American bill of fare, offers something for everyone.
Levit enlisted the unparalleled talents of Houston designer Aaron Rambo and the Austin-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, the design duo behind Local Foods Tanglewood and Downtown, also owned by Levit, to embue the spot with their unique sensibility. The comingling of chic mid-century interiors, industrial light fixtures, a 40-foot mural of Buffalo Bayou meandering through historic Houston, and a contemporary edge generates a welcoming, yet slightly provocative, ambiance. Adding to the pleasant surroundings are the warm hospitality and intelligent service of the knowledgeable staff, an open kitchen, and an outdoor patio featuring built-in banquet seating.
With this new addition to Houston’s vibrant culinary scene, Levit has accomplished exactly what he
set out to do. The Classic is a “no-rush, no-fuss neighborhood spot that effortlessly pivots from
daily coffee mainstay to date-night spot” exactly as he envisioned it. Delightful curated dishes like
small plates of matzo ball soup, pulled chicken, and shaved Brussels sprouts with watermelon, goat cheese, and walnuts; medium plates of Pelmeni and salmon pastrami with cucumber, capers, tomato, and ramen egg toast; and feel-good large plates of family-style neighborhood specials from the Rotisol rotisserie ensure guests will return for delicious food that feels familiar yet haute at the same time.
Open daily for breakfast from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., The Classic’s All Day menu is served from 11a.m.
to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend
brunch will supplement the all-day menu on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, please
call 713-868-1131 or visit www.theclassicallday.com