By J. Brian Carberry
Simone Biles’s Taste of Gold Restaurant at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) is the newest offering from Athlete Playmaker Group. The company offers iconic sports star-themed airport restaurants in the cities the athlete is most associated with professionally. Other outlets include Restaurant Nowitzki, showcasing Dallas Mavericks NBA Champion and German Olympian Dirk Nowitzki at DFW and Turco35 Brews and Bites at Dallas’s Love Field, featuring former NHL Dallas Stars fan favorite and Canadian Olympic Goalie Marty Turco.
One of the pieces of art on display at Taste of Gold Restaurant. Photo: J. Brian Carberry.
After reading of this location‘s opening on March 24, 2026, via a post in Keep The Flame Alive’s Facebook Group, I decided to check it out over the course of two one-hour visits to IAH via two connecting flights to and from Nevada. My layovers involved different terminals and a little over an hour each, so I devised a plan to case the location near Gate A8, look the place over and take some photos on the way to Nevada, and knowing the route and having studied the menu, be ready to go and experience eating and taking in the ambience on the way back from Nevada.
First impressions: Not just a restaurant
The restaurant is bright and open, fronted by a glass wall enclosure that features etched silhouettes of Biles in various gymnastic poses. A portion of the establishment functions as a gift shop offering the usual fare of a book covering Biles’s life and career, logo T-shirts, branded shot glasses, etc. This area reminded me of the store that sells all things related to the late musician Prince at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport.
Get a Simone memento along with your to go order! Photo: J. Brian Carberry.
A quick perusal of the décor and exhibits revealed there is nothing in the vein of “game used” leotards, Olympic uniforms, or medals on display. The key decor feature is a series of professional color photos of Biles in action or on the podium at various Olympic Games. These are uniformly framed and tastefully hung on the walls.
Additionally, there are two commissioned original wood and multimedia art portraits of Simone Biles by Jody W. Dodson. One big screen television that plays a continuous loop of Biles in various Olympic performances over the years.
But how was the food?
The menu features a few items you won’t see at your typical airport restaurant. Gluten free items are clearly marked. Photo: J. Brian Carberry.
My dining experience on the way back through Houston offered the opportunity to try my pre-decided order of Simone’s Chicken Skewers with Mixed Vegetables on Cilantro Rice and a Sprite ($37.67 with tax and tip). While waiting, then eating, I watched the aforementioned highlight video and took in the ambience. It was good to see part of the floor performance I saw in person at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics included in the video. The skewers were particularly good as they are paired with a tasty specialty tangy sauce for dipping.
While the menu presents as a series of healthful choices, most patrons—as is the norm at most airport restaurants—were drinking at the bar, looking at their phones and watching live sports on the overhead televisions. The vibe was that of a bright and open welcoming fast casual dining choice for persons on the go.
I did note a few issues that were indicative of a newly-opened dining establishment. There were only spoons and knives and no forks in the provided plastic silverware package, and a few patrons were dealing with issues getting checked out in a timely manner. But hiccups are to be expected in the first few weeks of any eatery opening as employees learn the natural rhythms of working together in a restaurant. All of the staff were very nice and welcoming, though I am unsure any were particularly versed in the details of Simone Biles’s career upon attempting to engage a few in conversation about the Olympian.
I did sense that I was the only Olympic enthusiast who had specifically chosen this place during a manageable yet hurried connection time window in a real effort to experience it. However, it was refreshing to visit an airport establishment that offered something other than the typical pub food or the “curated” tapas-style bites found at most credit card/airline associated lounges.
Final thoughts
As a lifelong Olympic enthusiast, I am always interested in checking out anything Olympic-related. I note on their website that other Olympians including soccer star Alex Morgan and swimming GOAT Michael Phelps are signed by Athlete Playmaker Group for future signature airport location restaurants. I look forward to checking those out if and when I have the opportunity.
J. Brian Carberry is a lifelong Olympics enthusiast who has attended several Olympics and also conducts research into Olympic 3-peats and 4-peats.
Featured photo by J. Brian Carberry.