For three weeks, fans of The Hay Merchant in Montrose have had to do without. Co-owner Kevin Floyd closed his beer tavern at 1100 Westheimer on April 2 to undertake a major restructuring of the beer cooler.

Today, the bar/restaurant is reopening with some new menu additions, a spirited cocktail list, and that new cooler meticulously designed to deliver draft beer under the most ideal conditions.

The adjacent Underbelly (Chris Shepherd's award-winning restaurant) has closed and is being remodeled as steakhouse Georgia James.

But Underbelly mourners can find a few of the restaurant's signature dishes at The Hay Merchant, including the famous Korean braised goat and dumplings; crispy vegetables with caramelized fish sauce; cha ca-style catfish; roasted chicken and butter biscuit; vinegar pie; and fried pies. A few Underbelly sandwiches, too, have migrated to The Hay Merchant menu: turkey grinder and the Double Club. And a resurrected item from the original opening of the restaurant: chili cheese fries.

And with draft beers being delivered at their best, The Hay Merchant is ready for a new chapter of suds and grub. Now open for lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Wednesday, and from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Meanwhile, Shepherd is in the midst of menu testing for his Underbelly follow-up, UB Preserv, 1609 Westheimer, expected to open the second week of May.