downtown poke

New poke restaurant freshens up highly anticipated downtown Houston food hall

SeaSide Poké serves up fresh seafood in Understory.

Photo courtesy of Seaside Poké

The food hall is here in Houston, and it appears there’s no stopping the concept. To wit: Finn Hall is a buzzing hub of activity during downtown lunch periods. Bravery Chef Hall comes online soon. And, over in downtown’s Capitol Tower development, Understory is set to be an energetic gathering spot that’s part community hub and part culinary market.

The development firm behind it, Skanska, just announced that SeaSide Poké will take up residence in the place, occupying a 948-square-foot spot in the space. That means diners can look forward to SeaSide’s island-inspired approach to the raw fish salad so emblematic of Hawaiian cuisine.

In taking up residence at Capitol Tower, SeaSide Poké will have two Houston locations; the restaurant already has a place at 2118 Lamar St. in EaDo. SeaSide makes it a point to use sustainably caught fish and source its ingredients from local purveyors, including Moonflower Farms, Plant it Forward Farms and Covey Rise Farms, which allows it to give a distinct Houston twist to its poke’s traditional Hawaiian and Asian roots.

Typically made with ahi tuna, soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, onions, and sesame seeds, poke is a staple on appetizer lists throughout Hawaii. Over the decades, it’s made its way to the Mainland, and SeaSide’s menu includes multiple variations on the theme, including a bowl with salmon, ponzu, orange, edamame and garlic, and a spicy tuna bowl with puffed rice.

East Hampton Sandwich Co., Boomtown Coffee, Mama Ninfa’s Tacos y Tortas, MONA Fresh Italian Food, and Flip ‘n Patties have all joined SeaSide Poké in inking deals as Understory’s first tenants. The concept should open this summer at 800 Capitol Street.

“We are excited to add SeaSide Poké to our eclectic lineup of upscale food offerings at Understory. This addition compliments the vibrant and engaging community space we are creating at Capitol Tower in downtown Houston,” said Matt Damborsky, executive vice president for Skanska USA Commercial Development in Houston, in a press release announcing the opening. “We believe their fresh take on traditional Hawaiian cuisine and commitment to sourcing only the finest local ingredients will appeal broadly to all frequenting the area, and look forward to bringing their fresh poke bowls to the Central Business District when Understory opens this summer.”

Understory intends to be a “dynamic experience-based destination” bringing the community together through culture, commerce and cuisine. In addition to an abundance of naturally lit community space and a full-service restaurant, Understory’s culinary market offers chef-driven concepts and a cocktail bar.

Designed to blend downtown’s street scene and tunnel levels, one of Understory’s hallmarks will be the “Great Steps,” a 30-foot-wide monumental staircase and gathering place creating the first street-level gateway to the tunnel network. It will also be the first space in the tunnel network to be active seven days a week.

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SeaSide Poké, Understory; Capitol Tower, 800 Capitol St.

openings

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 Wiseman 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, Wiseman 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,” Wiseman 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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