Lisa and Nick first met at UC Berkeley in an Asian American student theatre group called Theatre Rice. Our passion for building community and bringing people together under a shared cause was a foundational part of their friendship from the beginning, and is now foundational to Agnes and Sherman.

As a new restaurant, we're testing the limits of what we're able to give -- time, money, resources -- all while building a sustainable future for Agnes and Sherman. The uncomfortable reality is that more than 50% of restaurants don't make it past their first year. As a small business, the more focused we are, the more we're able to give.   

By sharing Agnes and Sherman's Giving Philosophy and Focus openly, we hope to partner with organizations with shared alignment. We don't have all the answers; what we do know is that we will be intentional in how we give and challenge ourselves to make a lasting impact.

Lisa and Nick circa 2005

Our Giving Philosophy - How We Give

1.
Give Locally

We embrace our role as a part of a diverse ecosystem. and when our community thrives, we do too.

2.
Less is More

We work with a few key organizations vs. many organizations so we can give more to drive systemic change.

3.
Empower our Team

Our team is plugged into many communities around town and we empower them to help direct where/how we give to have the most impact.

A.
Amplify Asian American Voices

As Asian American kids who grew up rarely seeing people like ourselves represented in arts, media, and politics, we work alongside other progressive Asian American voices to tackle important issues that impact our community and inspire to get engaged.

Our Focus - Where We Give

B.
Uplift Marginalized Communities

We are building in the most diverse city in America. We direct our resources to protect and uplift marginalized and underserved communities because our formative experiences have taught us that diversity is a key ingredient of success.

C.
Strengthen the
Restaurant Industry

We strengthen our industry by being in community with other operators, sharing business practices and knowledge, and getting involved with organizations that work to improve the quality of life for hospitality workers.

Upcoming Community Events

Benefit Dinner for Culinary Careers Program

Wednesday, September 16th
Chef Nick will be joining Chef Aaron Bludorn of Bludorn Hospitality Group and Chef Leonard Botello IV of Truth BBQ for a very special dinner benefitting C-CAP, Culinary Careers Program.
Every seat will support their work in Houston, creating opportunities for young people and investing in the future of the city’s restaurant and hospitality industry.

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Agnes and Sherman x Pepitas

Thursday, September 24th
Make a reservation for 9/24 on OpenTable to try Peruvian Chinese food from our friend Chef Raffi Nasr of Craft Pita (Houston Chronicle Top 100 Restaurant) as they roll out their Peruvian pop-up.
Chifa fuses Cantonese cooking techniques with native Peruvian ingredients. Emerging in Lima, Peru, in the late 19th century following waves of Chinese immigration, the term is believed to derive from the Cantonese phrase chi fan (吃飯), meaning "to eat rice".

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Southern Smoke Festival

Saturday, October 3rd
Southern Smoke Festival 2026 presented by Sysco, is the ultimate celebration of food, drink, and community, featuring over 80 phenomenal chefs and beverage professionals bringing their best to Discovery Green in Houston, TX on October 3. But this isn’t just about flavor–each ticket supports Southern Smoke Foundation, a safety net for the food and beverage industry, offering emergency relief and free mental health services through their Behind You program.

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