A new fast-casual restaurant specializing in soul food, spicy sides, and stuffed turkey legs opened in Downtown West just in time for the holidays. Turkey Luxe (2605 Washington) is the area’s second restaurant from Larry Green and his daughter, Nyshaun Harvey, who own nearby Latté Lounge + HG Eatery. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
The smoker out front signals how seriously the kitchen team takes its meats, starting with Green himself. “He’s been deep-frying turkeys for our family for years,” Harvey says. His passion is shared by kitchen manager Danny “D” Jackson and chef John Poindexter, longtime family friends who have earned a reputation with the tender, flavorful meats they smoke for social events and sports watch parties.
Green brought the concept of stuffed turkey legs back from a visit to Houston, and Jackson and Poindexter ran with it, perfecting secret recipes for seasonings and sauces—which Green jokes they haven’t shared even with him. They will divulge that the turkey legs are smoked for three hours, then baked for another hour in the oven, until the meat is falling-off-the-bone tender.
Stuffing options include any side the customer chooses, from macaroni oozing with cheese to peppery corn to sweet mashed yams. For customers who choose to forgo the stuffing and just have the turkey leg, popular sides include Southern classics such as braised greens and green beans.
The menu includes plenty of variations that highlight turkey’s versatility—ribs, burgers, tacos, and jerk pasta—with more entrée options to be added over time, including a deep-fried turkey sandwich and a cheesy turkey meatball skillet. The other meat on the menu is shrimp, available in tacos or breaded and deep fried with a side of fries.
Green says he decided to focus on turkey based on the number of HG Eatery patrons who told him they were avoiding beef and pork for health reasons. For those avoiding animal products entirely, there’s also a mushroom-based fried “chick’n” entrée, with more vegan options in development.
Desserts are made in-house by another family member: Green’s wife, Nikki. Her pound cake is already on the menu, with a cheesecake coming soon.
Turkey Luxe’s liquor license is in progress, but Green says they have a head start on the cocktail menu, thanks to the drinks they’ve developed for the family’s HG Events spaces in Downtown West and Ferguson. Bartender April Enlow has been working on a list with intriguing names and ingredients. Her margaritas offer a sneak peek: the Honey Pearl Margarita, Swamp Water Margarita, Midnight Margarita, and Mimosa Margarita.
The Atmosphere
Exposed brick and pipes in the entrance alcove give Turkey Luxe an industrial feel. After placing their order at the counter, customers can turn right into a dining area where bright light fixtures and automotive-themed wallpaper contribute to an amped-up ambiance. (The small bar at the back will eventually be central to the cocktail program.)
The other seating option is to the left of the counter, through a doorway that can be concealed by a moveable bookcase. The speakeasy-style passage leads to a lounge where benches, chairs, and tables line both sides of the room. The simple black-and-white décor can feel casual during the day, when sports are showing on the wall-mounted TVs, or it can feel more elegant, in keeping with the event spaces that the family operates.
Dine-in customers receive their orders on black tableware, which highlights the food and heightens the aura of elegance, even during the daytime.
Green strategically chose Turkey Luxe’s afternoon and evening hours to capitalize on overflow from Latté Lounge, which often fills to capacity on weekends. He plans to add longer evening hours in the spring.
The Backstory
Harvey says her father always wanted to open a second restaurant, in addition to HG Eatery. And indeed, Green was so enthusiastic that he wasted no time in developing the menu and updating the interior once the lease was secured. “We got everything done in two months,” he says.
Green’s serial entrepreneurship started with a construction company, followed by HG Events with his wife, then HG Eatery with his daughter. He credits the hospitality businesses’ success to a strong team that includes many additional family members, as well as longtime staff, who are always willing to pitch in. Their support helps avoid pitfalls such as disruptions in hours or services.
Harvey absorbed her parents’ entrepreneurial mindset, opening her first business—a child care center—at age 19. She recently sold it to focus on her coffee shops after adding a fifth Latté Lounge location.
She also recently authored a book of affirmations for children based on lessons from her own childhood. It’s for sale in Turkey Luxe, along with inspirational titles by her mother, uncle, and brother-in-law. “It’s important to have a family of color making an example in faith to show what’s possible,” she says.
Green hasn’t added his own book to the shelves, but he is equally dedicated to the power of entrepreneurship to build community—and the power of food to bring people together through memorable dining experiences.
📍 2605 Washington, Downtown West
⏰ 1–7 p.m. Thu & Fri, noon–7 p.m. Sat & Sun
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