HOUSTON — When J.J. Watt speaks, people listen -- especially in Houston where the beloved former Texan will always be a hero for his actions on and off the field.
Watt is in H-Town for a visit this week and happened to mention on X that he's been back to one of his favorite restaurants several times.
Editor's note: The above video originally aired in September 2023.
"Been back in Houston for 3 days and eaten Island Grill 6 times. Breakfast Tacos in the morning, Chicken Pitas for lunch. Everyday. (French Toast if I’m feeling frisky)," Watt posted Monday night. "Connor Barwin introduced me to it in 2011 and I’ve been a very loyal & happy customer ever since."
Houston's restaurant scene is one of the best in the country so you know when Watt goes to the same spot six times in three days, it must be good!
We dropped by one of the Island Grill locations on Wednesday, and they were getting a lot of love from the lunch crowd.
"It's not the first time he's tweeted at us or gave us a shout-out on Instagram, which shows you how a good a person he actually is," Grace Haddad told us. "But I was really excited and elated because I run our social media so when I got that notification, I immediately logged in and it shows our hard work really pays off when this happens."
By noon Wednesday, the post had been seen by more than 300,000 of Watt's 5.6 million followers and was trending on search.
One fan responded to Watt's X post with a photo taken of him in the NFL legend when he saw him at an Island Grill in 2014.
"Just a middle school kid walking into his local Island Grill in West U back in 2014. I was visually star struck when I saw you in there and the owner said to me 'He’s a really nice guy, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind you saying hello,'" Santiago Jimenez shared. "Forever a Houstonian in my book. HOF human being."
Others predicted long lines at Island Grill after Watt's post.
Yep. We also dropped by the Woodway location Wednesday night and there was a line of people waiting to order or pick up their online orders.
Watt responded to this comment with a pro tip: "Call in your order ahead, drive up & scoop it to avoid the line."
When Faysal and Maria Haddad bought the original Island Grill on Woodway more than 20 years ago, it was a "struggling hole in the wall" smoothie restaurant, daughter Grace Haddad told Paper City in 2022.
“My dad would go door-to-door with flyers trying to drive business. My mom even worked behind the counter up until she was 9 months pregnant with my younger sister Sophie," Grace said.
They eventually expanded the menu with family recipes and that combined with the old-school atmosphere turned out to be the secret sauce to a successful business.
“It takes you back to the old days, like Leave it to Beaver and the neighborhood soda shop,” Faysal Haddad told the magazine. “What’s so beautiful now is seeing the kids I’ve known since elementary school coming in now, pushing their own babies in strollers. It just feels good.”
Watt isn't the only celebrity fan of Island Grill. President George W. Bush and wife Barbara were also regulars.
"We'll miss her," owner Maria told us after Mrs. Bush died in 2018. "A first-class lady, you're bringing me to tears."