There are places people go to grab a bite, and then there are restaurants that make up the Big Vibe Group. Houstonians know to expect the warm embrace of top-notch hospitality from the moment they step in the door to the final goodbye at the end of a meal.
Founder Grant Cooper calls this the Cheers factor, the kind of place where people feel welcome to come as they are and become regulars as a result.
The industry veteran joined forces with his wife Jacy Cooper and business partner Josep Prats to create the Big Vibe Group in 2022 (the same year Cooper amicably split with Charles Clark with whom he previously co-owned restaurants). Cooper had a strong vision for what the Big Vibe Group restaurants would be like and how they might resonate with diners.
“When people walk in, sometimes it’s the music that gets them going, sometimes the smile on the face of the hostess or valet, and of course the food you’re craving,” Grant Cooper says. “We try to touch on all those sensory points.”
The result is a growing group of restaurants that radiate a modern yet timeless appeal and are beloved by Inner Loop residents and see-and-be-seen crowds. Read on for a guide to the Big Vibe Group’s Houston restaurants.
Looking for… a neighborhood taste of la bella vita?
Handmade pasta and pizza dough take top billing at Coppa Osteria and form the backbone to the restaurant’s rustic Italian cuisine.
Heady scents from the pizza oven infuse the stylish dining room, which features white banquettes, chairs with pops of yellow, and brass pendant lamps that speak to its stylish yet casual vibe.
Ten years in, the consistent and comfortable restaurant has become a “melting pot for the neighborhood,” Cooper says. It’s the kind of place that’s equally appealing to families for a weeknight dinner, a long business lunch, or a weekend birthday celebration.
“I picked the location on the corner in Rice Village because I wanted Coppa to be like the hub in the neighborhood,” Cooper says.
Looking for… a luxe bistro serving American classics?
Next door to Coppa, Gratify exudes relaxed elegance that’s as chic as it is welcoming.
Designed by the Coopers, the interiors nod to Baroque architecture and the glamor of Versailles, with jewel-toned accents providing pops of color throughout. A focus on local ingredients, shareable appetizers, and an extensive raw bar set the stage for a neighborhood haunt that’s decidedly grown up.
The menu has something for every occasion, whether it’s eggs Benedict for brunch, a plate of oysters Rockefeller for drinks with friends, or a plate of brick chicken with roasted marble potatoes for dinner.
Looking for… Mexican food in a chic glass treehouse?
On the walkway approaching Flora, Houston begins to disappear. Concrete and steel are forgotten as the sight of green trees and the gentle lull of Lost Lake’s lapping water fill the senses.
This transportive feeling continues inside the restaurant, where tables sit beneath twinkling chandeliers and are surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass windows to create what Cooper calls “Mexico City vibes.”
After this show-stopping entrance, it’s time for the main event: A chorus of contemporary dishes that marry Mexican and Texan sensibilities from head chef Estuardo Gomez. From mole enchiladas to epic salads and plates of sizzling fajitas, the dishes are a feast for the eyes and the stomach.
Looking for… a meal that feels like a beach vacation?
When a beachside vacation just isn’t on the cards, a visit to the Big Vibe Group’s newest restaurant, Graffiti Raw, does the trick. The all-day restaurant was created to mirror the experience of “your favorite beachside cities around the world,” Cooper says. His trips to Venice Beach in California and the coast of Mexico served as inspiration.
“You’re in the sun, you’re in the water, you’re active,” Cooper reminisces. “During the day, you’re snacking, you want a tequila cocktail, and you want some ceviche or crudo. Then you rest and you want to have something else, like fish or a good burger.”
With a varied menu that ranges from smaller plates such as stuffed crab avocado to larger mains including mole ribs, eating at Graffiti Raw has a similar choose-your-own-adventure feel to Cooper’s beachside trips. “You can navigate the menu based on your mood, and it’s meant to take you away from the grind of Houston,” he says.
Lauren McDowell is a Houston-area native and freelance food and lifestyle writer with an M.A. in Food Studies from New York University.
