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Mop’s Grille opens near Sienna offering southern seafood
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| Sugar Land resident Clinette Garces stands behind the register at recently opened restaurant. |
By DIANE TEZENO
A new eatery specializing in down-home Southern seafood dishes has opened its doors in Missouri City.
Mop’s Grille, located at 8871 Hwy 6 South #200, just outside of Sienna Plantation, began operating in September, a week before Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Gulf Coast.
Sugar Land resident, Clinette Garces, owner of the grill, named the restaurant after a nickname given her mother and offers menu items originated in her own kitchen.
The eatery, described as “Home of the Mahi Mahi Burger” - made from Hawaiian dolphin fish - offers a wide range of Southern-style seafood dishes.
In addition to seafood selections, the grill serves everything from buffalo, turkey, chicken and veggie burgers to specialty pizzas, soups and salads and a range of homemade desserts.
Each menu item is named after a member of Garces’ family from Berma Jean’s Fried Catfish, a popular selection, to Big Chad’s Buffalo Burger to Uncle Boone’s Fish, Shrimp or Chicken Taco.
Thirty-eight-year-old Garces never planned on operating a food establishment and describes her decision to open the restaurant as “a step of faith.”
A member of Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Garces said the idea came to her after attending a women’s empowerment conference called “Metamorphosis” at her church this past spring.
Juanita Bynum, one of the speakers, delivered what became a life-tranforming message for Graces on “Transformation.”
Shortly after the conference, the Sugar Land resident had a dream in which she was turning on lights in a large restaurant.
“I said, you know what, I am going to have to step out on faith,” Graces said of her response to the dream.
A former real estate agent for a major homebuilder, Garces said she had been praying for a change.
“I was in real estate, selling tons of homes and making lots of money, but I wasn’t happy, and wanted a change,” the 38-year-old Sugar Land resident said.
Garces, the first member of her family to own a business, said that God speaks to her frequently through her dreams.
“She is just special, she regularly has dreams and they come true,” Lonzy Cooper, a friend and cook at the restaurant said of Garces.
Seven months after the dream, Garces opened the doors of her establishment.
Less than six months old, the restaurant has already attracted a number of regulars.
Robert Como, a resident of Teal Run, one of the regular patrons, stopped by the Grille on the recommendation of his barber, and called the catfish “better than the high-end restaurants.”
Como has become a fan of the restaurant’s catfish, turkey burger and sweet tea.
“Her food speaks for itself, once you taste it,” Como said. “Pop’s Turkey Burger - I could eat the bun all by itself.”
The Teal Run resident said he plans to try everything on the menu.
Cher Riles, a first-time customer, described the catfish burger as “phenomenal.”
“I pass by quite frequently and decided to come in,” Riles said of her visit. “The dining experience has been very friendly and family-oriented.”
Open Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m., Fridays, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 9p.m., the 1,215 sq. ft. restaurant seats 30 to 40 people and offers a casual dining atmosphere with menu items priced from $8 to $16.
“Everything is homemade and made from fresh ingredients. We also use basa, a high quality catfish for a number of our seafood dishes,” Garces said.
A native of Bay City, Texas, Garces is already working on opening a second location near Hillcroft and the Beltway near her church.
Despite the economic downturn, the Sugar Land resident said she trusts in God and encourages others to not be afraid to follow their dreams.
“Whatever you are praying for, don’t give up and you have to trust God for what he is saying to you,” Garces said.
For more information, call 281-778-6900 or visit www.MopsGrille.com.
Mop’s Grille, located at 8871 Hwy 6 South #200, just outside of Sienna Plantation, began operating in September, a week before Hurricane Ike hit the Texas Gulf Coast.
Sugar Land resident, Clinette Garces, owner of the grill, named the restaurant after a nickname given her mother and offers menu items originated in her own kitchen.
The eatery, described as “Home of the Mahi Mahi Burger” - made from Hawaiian dolphin fish - offers a wide range of Southern-style seafood dishes.
In addition to seafood selections, the grill serves everything from buffalo, turkey, chicken and veggie burgers to specialty pizzas, soups and salads and a range of homemade desserts.
Each menu item is named after a member of Garces’ family from Berma Jean’s Fried Catfish, a popular selection, to Big Chad’s Buffalo Burger to Uncle Boone’s Fish, Shrimp or Chicken Taco.
Thirty-eight-year-old Garces never planned on operating a food establishment and describes her decision to open the restaurant as “a step of faith.”
A member of Fountain of Praise Church in Houston, Garces said the idea came to her after attending a women’s empowerment conference called “Metamorphosis” at her church this past spring.
Juanita Bynum, one of the speakers, delivered what became a life-tranforming message for Graces on “Transformation.”
Shortly after the conference, the Sugar Land resident had a dream in which she was turning on lights in a large restaurant.
“I said, you know what, I am going to have to step out on faith,” Graces said of her response to the dream.
A former real estate agent for a major homebuilder, Garces said she had been praying for a change.
“I was in real estate, selling tons of homes and making lots of money, but I wasn’t happy, and wanted a change,” the 38-year-old Sugar Land resident said.
Garces, the first member of her family to own a business, said that God speaks to her frequently through her dreams.
“She is just special, she regularly has dreams and they come true,” Lonzy Cooper, a friend and cook at the restaurant said of Garces.
Seven months after the dream, Garces opened the doors of her establishment.
Less than six months old, the restaurant has already attracted a number of regulars.
Robert Como, a resident of Teal Run, one of the regular patrons, stopped by the Grille on the recommendation of his barber, and called the catfish “better than the high-end restaurants.”
Como has become a fan of the restaurant’s catfish, turkey burger and sweet tea.
“Her food speaks for itself, once you taste it,” Como said. “Pop’s Turkey Burger - I could eat the bun all by itself.”
The Teal Run resident said he plans to try everything on the menu.
Cher Riles, a first-time customer, described the catfish burger as “phenomenal.”
“I pass by quite frequently and decided to come in,” Riles said of her visit. “The dining experience has been very friendly and family-oriented.”
Open Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m., Fridays, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Saturday, 8:30 a.m. - 9p.m., the 1,215 sq. ft. restaurant seats 30 to 40 people and offers a casual dining atmosphere with menu items priced from $8 to $16.
“Everything is homemade and made from fresh ingredients. We also use basa, a high quality catfish for a number of our seafood dishes,” Garces said.
A native of Bay City, Texas, Garces is already working on opening a second location near Hillcroft and the Beltway near her church.
Despite the economic downturn, the Sugar Land resident said she trusts in God and encourages others to not be afraid to follow their dreams.
“Whatever you are praying for, don’t give up and you have to trust God for what he is saying to you,” Garces said.
For more information, call 281-778-6900 or visit www.MopsGrille.com.
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