Chef Virgil Harper Debuts Fine Dining Restaurant In Houston, TX Alongside Executive Chef Aliyah Watley

The duo's new upscale concept, Atlantic Ocean, offers a diverse menu and aims to bring people together through food.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:12pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a wine glass repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the upscale dining experience at Atlantic Ocean.The vibrant, modern pop art-inspired visuals of Atlantic Ocean's dining experience reflect the restaurant's commitment to celebrating diverse culinary styles and bringing people together through food.Houston Today

After making a name for himself in the Atlanta food scene, Chef Virgil Harper has expanded his culinary footprint to Houston, TX, with the launch of the upscale fine-dining restaurant Atlantic Ocean. Harper has partnered with Executive Chef Aliyah Watley, who brings her own rich culinary perspective shaped by her diverse upbringing in Charleston, SC. The 5,100-square-foot restaurant offers a menu featuring items like Moroccan lamb chops, grilled branzino, and lobster pasta, as well as cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, and desserts.

Why it matters

The opening of Atlantic Ocean in Houston highlights the growing diversity and acceptance of different culinary styles in the city, which was recently ranked among the top cities for restaurant spending. The partnership between Harper and Watley also showcases a shift in the industry towards empowering young chefs by offering them equity and a stake in the business, allowing them to flourish and potentially open their own restaurants in the future.

The details

Atlantic Ocean officially opened to the public on April 1, 2026. The 5,100-square-foot space features 202 indoor seats and a 21-seat private dining room. The menu includes items such as Moroccan lamb chops with sweet potato purée, lemon pepper tiger prawns, grilled branzino with chimichurri and citrus mojo, and lobster pasta with butter-poached claw meat and white wine. The restaurant also offers a selection of cocktails, mocktails, wine, beer, and desserts, including a deconstructed cheesecake.

  • Atlantic Ocean officially opened to the public on April 1, 2026.
  • The restaurant is open between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
  • Patio and brunch service, as well as live music, will be added as future enhancements to the restaurant.

The players

Virgil Harper

A chef who has made a name for himself in the Atlanta food scene and is now debuting a new fine-dining concept, Atlantic Ocean, in Houston, TX.

Aliyah Watley

The executive chef at Atlantic Ocean, who brings a rich culinary perspective shaped by her diverse upbringing in Charleston, SC.

Piero Premoli

Harper's mentor, who worked as the executive chef at the Italian restaurant Pricci in Atlanta where Harper worked.

Dominique Wilkins

An NBA Hall of Famer whom Harper has cooked for.

Joe Biden

The former President of the United States whom Harper has cooked for.

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What they’re saying

“The days of just hiring a chef and giving them just a salary are over with. I wanna see the young chefs that are coming up to have sweat equity and stake in the business, so that way they could flourish. Whether they take their percentage and go and open up their own restaurant, or whether I'm involved and we open up the restaurant together. It don't matter as long as the person that I'm working with gets to that next level.”

— Virgil Harper, Chef

“Houston is a little bit more accepting of diversity and having your own style … You don't necessarily have to play it safe 'cause there's so many different cultures and so many people that meld together, and food is important for me 'cause it does that, it brings those people together, all different walks of life.”

— Aliyah Watley, Executive Chef

What’s next

The restaurant plans to add patio and brunch service, as well as live music, as future enhancements to the dining experience at Atlantic Ocean.

The takeaway

The opening of Atlantic Ocean in Houston showcases the city's growing diversity and acceptance of different culinary styles, while also highlighting a shift in the industry towards empowering young chefs by offering them equity and a stake in the business. The partnership between Virgil Harper and Aliyah Watley exemplifies this trend, as they work together to bring their unique culinary perspectives to the Houston dining scene.