Award-Winning South African Fusion Restaurant Opens Second Location at Houston Galleria

HOUSTON, May 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Peli Peli, the South African fusion restaurant recently selected as one of four Houston restaurants to make the list for Top 100 American Fare Restaurants in the United States, will open its second Houston location at the Houston Galleria, a Simon Mall and Texas' largest shopping center.  Peli Peli will occupy 5,825 square feet formerly leased by Gigi's Asian Bistro in addition to patio space facing Westheimer Rd.  Long considered a Houston "hidden gem" and one of the top-rated restaurants outside of Interstate 610, Peli Peli has been searching for its second location for the past two years and is looking forward to bringing its South African fusion cuisine to the Houston culinary scene.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140527/91445
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140527/91446

Peli Peli has been busy participating in local food competitions and charities such as the Best Bites competition at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo and the Taste of the Nation event at the Houstonian benefitting Share Our Strength's "No Kid Hungry" campaign.   In 2013, Chef Paul Friedman, the executive chef and owner of Peli Peli, won first place at the Chef of Chefs competition at the Wine & Food Week at the Woodlands and second place at the Zest in the West competition in West Houston.  Many customers, especially those traveling from Sugarland and River Oaks area, have wanted a location closer to the Houston city limits and within the inner loop for easier access.  "We have been searching for a very long time to find the right inner-loop location, and we could not be happier with a spot at the Galleria – Houston's premier shopping destination," says Chef Friedman.  "If I had to pick my dream spot it would be this one".

The Galleria attracts more than 26 million visitors each year as Texas' largest shopping center and fourth largest domain nationally.  Spanning 2.4 million square feet of space, housing 400 fine stores and restaurants, two high-rise hotels, and three office towers, the Galleria is Houston's most popular retail and tourist destination.  Nestled between two of the city's most exclusive neighborhoods, River Oaks and Memorial, The Galleria is modeled after the revered Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, built in 1867. 

Peli Peli will be joining a strong portfolio of restaurants that currently occupy the Galleria ranging from Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse and the Oceanaire Seafood Room to casual favorites such as The Cheesecake Factory, Rain Forest Cafe and Kona Grill. The Galleria is located at the corner of Westheimer Rd and Post Oak Blvd in the heart of Uptown Houston.

Being one of the few South African concepts in Texas has been beneficial in distinguishing Peli Peli from over 7,000 restaurants in the Greater Houston area, and being different is helping Peli Peli to create a strong following and win several awards such as Best Service & Best Atmosphere – Readers' Choice Award (Houston Press) and Best Romantic Restaurant – Click2Houston.com.  Currently the 4^th ranked restaurant out of 7,119 restaurants in Houston according to tripadvisor.com, Peli Peli has garnered a reputation for being the perfect place for special occasions.

Peli Peli @ The Galleria expects to open its doors in November 2014.

Press Contact: For information about Peli Peli, please contact Thomas Nguyen at 832-259-2448, 110 Vintage Park Blvd, Suite P, Houston, Texas 77070, http://pelipeli.com/. 

SOURCE Peli Peli