Parkwood American Grille Brings Modern American Dining to Friendswood

Friendswood has a new neighborhood restaurant from two names already familiar to diners who have visited Pier 6 in San Leon. Parkwood American Grille opened September 1 at 2131 W. Parkwood, pairing restaurateur Raz Halili with executive chef Joe Cervantez.

Halili, who owns Pier 6 and grew up in nearby Dickinson, is positioning Parkwood as a modern American restaurant with a sense of neighborhood familiarity. Cervantez, the executive chef at Pier 6 since its 2020 opening, worked with the Parkwood culinary team on a menu that mixes recognizable comfort food with seafood and a few more playful ideas.

Modern American with Gulf Coast influence

The menu includes a Parkwood burger, roasted half chicken, chicken parmesan and lamb sausage rigatoni. There are also less traditional combinations such as chicken nuggets served with caviar.

Seafood is a major part of the restaurant. Halili also owns Prestige Oysters, giving the restaurant a direct connection to Gulf Coast shellfish. The raw bar includes oysters, while a smaller sushi program features select fish sourced from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market.

A serious cocktail program

Parkwood brought in Houston cocktail consultants Ladies of Libation to help build the drinks menu. The cocktails range from American-inspired combinations to drinks with more global flavor profiles. Early examples include an adult take on Cherry Coke and a peach, tea and mint bourbon drink.

The restaurant occupies the former Rancho Mexican Restaurant space. Coeval Studio, which also designed Pier 6, transformed it with a 28-seat bar and lounge, wood finishes, leather banquettes and an outdoor patio with additional seating.

A new option for Friendswood diners

Parkwood is notable because it brings a chef and ownership team with an established Gulf Coast following into a suburban neighborhood setting rather than simply duplicating Pier 6. The menu keeps the seafood connection while widening the focus to pasta, burgers, chicken and cocktails.

For diners in Friendswood, Pearland and the southeast side of the Houston area, it adds another locally driven dinner option without requiring a trip into central Houston.

Source: Opening details were reported by Houston Press on September 11, 2026.

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