Lucille's grows

Talented Museum District chef-owner serves up 2 exciting new Houston restaurants

Dawn Burrell Chris Williams Lucille's Hospitality Group

Chefs Dawn Burrell and Chris Williams.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Houston chef Chris Williams is going to be busy in 2021. The chef-owner of Museum District favorite Lucille's announced that he's formed Lucille's Hospitality Group to open two new concepts in Houston, a restaurant in Nova Scotia, and an art gallery.

“It’s been a long road to get this point, and I am so grateful to be surrounded by a work family that not only shares LHG’s vision for the future, but fully understands the work required to make it happen,” Williams said in a statement. “The LHG perspective to the work is unique as nearly every single member comes from restaurant kitchens. We know how to grind!”

For Houstonians, the most intriguing new concept is Late August, which will be led by chef Dawn Burrell, who earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for her work at downtown restaurant Kulture. Slated to open in late 2021, Late August will "explore the soul of Afro-Asian flavors." The menu combines Burrell's various experiences; the olympian-turned-chef has worked locally for Monica Pope and as a sous chef for Austin's acclaimed Japanese restaurant Uchiko.

Working together on Late August builds on a professional relationship the two chefs established in 2019 when they teamed up for the Food Apartheid Dinner Series with chefs Dominick Lee (formerly of Poitín), and Jonny Rhodes (Indigo). After leaving Kulture in early 2020, Burrell founded the Pivot meal kit delivery service; it will evolve into a pop-up series that will preview potential dishes for Late August, her first time project where she'll have an ownership stake.

“Being a part of this team is really a dream come true for me," Burrell said in a statement. "I get to do what I love to do with food creatively while also meeting the needs of so many people through Lucille’s 1913 [Williams' non-profit]. I’m excited to be apart of it.”

In addition to partnering with Burrell to open Late August, Williams will also Rado Cafe. Expected to open in the Third Ward in 2022, Rado will serve coffee, cocktails, and "cuisine with purpose," according to a release. Hogan Brown Gallery, a venue that will promote African American art and artists, will open as a companion to Rado.

Locations for both Late August and Rado Cafe will be announced soon, a representative tells CultureMap.

Before any of the new Houston projects open, Williams will launch Emile's Black Point Bistro in Nova Scotia. The pub will blend Lebanese influences, a nod to the founders' heritage, with local ingredients and modern techniques. It will open this spring.

In order to manage all of his new projects, Williams has tasked Lucille's chef de cuisine Khang Hoang with leading the restaurant's day-to-day operations. Josh Lopez has been promoted to general manager.

In addition to the new concepts, Williams has also expanded Lucille's 1913, the non-profit he founded with his brother Ben to feed Houstonians who have struggled during the pandemic. Galveston native Lawrence Walker serves as the organization's culinary director, and Robertine Jefferson brings 25 years of experience in fundraising to her role as the organization's director of development.

openings chefs

What's Eric Eating Episodes 518 and 519

Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center (2047-A West Gray St).

Monteith shares that he started the restaurant in 2017 in order to fulfill his vision of a restaurant which could serve food that’s fast, fresh, and affordable. A trained chef who operated pioneering Austin restaurant Contigo, Wiseheart joined the group to bring both culinary expertise and operational acumen to the grouping company.

Part of what sets Honest Mary’s apart is that diners can add cooked vegetables to the rice and proteins at the heart of every bowl. The “Market Sides” section includes an array of roasted vegetables — including sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, and Brussels sprouts — as well as black beans, maple-glazed carrots, and green lentils. Bowls can be further enhanced with toppings such as Texas pecans, crispy chickpeas, goat cheese, avocado, and apples as well as sauces such as creamy poblano, cashew lime crema, sesame vinaigrette, spicy peanut, chimichurri and apple cider vinaigrette

Monteith explains that looking at the ingredients on display usually inspires him when he’s deciding what to eat at Honest Mary’s.

“I will almost always look at the line and see what looks fresh and good,” Monteith says. “Today, I got the salted kale with white rice. Then, I got garlic-pepper steak. I added on lentils — they’re my go-to in the winter. They blend everything together, and I love it Then Brussels sprouts looked green. I got some jalapenos. Avocados, cause that’s healthy. Then I got the chimichurri sauce.”

Honest Mary’s is also known for its hearty broths, a classic chicken and a vegetarian option made with seaweed and mushroom. Sandler raves about the chicken broth to Wiseheart, who shares how it’s made.

“We spent six or seven months testing recipes and drinking it ourselves to see if it’s a good idea,” Wiseheart says. “I talk about it as a great complement to the menu. It’s healthy. It’s really simple. Most of the kitchens I came up with were rooted in French cuisine. This is just chicken stock with salt in it.”

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Honest Mary’s plans for additional locations in Houston and Dallas. Then Monteith asks a Sandler a few questions about the Houston dining scene.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include Home Slice Pizza opening a new location in the Heights; the closures of Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy and Killen’s Barbecue in The Woodlands; and Esquire including ChòpnBlok on its list of America’s best new restaurants.

In the restaurant of the week segment, the two friends discuss their recent meal at Hypsi, the Italian restaurant in the newly-opened Hotel Daphne. Listen to the episode to hear their favorite dishes and other thoughts on the meal.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

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