meet the new boss

Hip Houston pizzeria rises with fresh return of familiar face

Pink's Pizza is ready to grow.

Ken Bridge is getting back into the pizza business. The veteran restaurateur (Ritual, Blackbird Izakaya, Lola) announced that he has reacquired a majority interest in Pink’s Pizza, the restaurant he founded and previously sold in 2016.

Terms of the detail were not disclosed, but Bridge tells CultureMap he paid a “premium” to purchase the company from Ian Vaughn, who opted to sell the restaurants to focus on his music and entertainment company Rock N Concepts, LLC.

“I enjoy everything I do, but Pink’s Pizza is my baby,” Bridge says. “It’s something I built. All these concepts are like kids. I think Pink’s Pizza is the Rice scholarship, never smoked pot, never stole my car, straight As, off to an Ivy League school. I think it’s a huge opportunity for me.”

Vaughn had been laying the groundwork to grow Pink’s to other Texas cities with an eventual goal of going national. Now, Bridge will lead those efforts, starting with between four and six new locations in the next year. Along with that process, the proprietor plans to upgrade the restaurant’s existing stores with new interior details and branding.

“There’s a lot I want to do, just put some TLC [into the existing locations],” Bridge says. “There’s an obvious opportunity to put some elbow grease and put it into position on a local level where customers deserve to have it.”

At the same time, Bridge has been developing Roovy, a smartphone-based point-of-sale system that’s designed to ease restaurant operations and speed customer ordering. Combined with growing Pink’s, that would seem like enough to keep anyone busy. Bridge acknowledges that his ongoing role with Delicious Concepts, the hospitality company he owns that operates bars and restaurants including Ritual, Shepherd Park Draught House, and Ready Room, is a bit uncertain.

“I don’t know yet. I’m deciding on that right now,” Bridge says. “It’s obvious that it’s a lot; even this single project is going to take a lot of bandwidth. I’m weighing options right now.”

Regardless of whether Bridge decides to stick with Delicious Concepts or move on, Pink's fans can be assured that its founder has come back. For his part, Bridge is excited about the restaurant's potential.

"I can’t pass this up," he says. "I just want to scale it the way it should be."

pizza news-you-can-eat

Bowling over Houston

Gluten-free Austin restaurant picks River Oaks for first Houston store

Rendering of Honest Mary's in River Oaks

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

It will be a Houston homecoming for restauranteur Nelson Monteith with the fall 2025 debut of Honest Mary’s in River Oaks.

“It’s a joy and honor to bring a brand we’ve worked hard to create in Austin and finally be able to share that concept with friends and family in Houston,” Monteith said in a statement. “There’s a bit of built-in comfort in knowing there are folks here who are already fans of Honest Mary’s. They’ve been asking us for years to open a location in Houston, and now it’s happening.”

Located at 2047-A West Gray St., Honest Mary's will occupy the current La Madeleine space. It is not known at this time when La Madeleine will close, but construction on Honest Mary's is expected to begin in May 2025.

Monteith and his wife, Mary, launched Honest Mary’s in 2017 after embracing mindful eating to improve their health. Since then, the Austin-based eatery that describes itself as serving "life-giving fast food" has expanded to four locations, with the upcoming River Oaks spot marking its arrival in Houston.

“There’s healthy food, fresh food, and fast food,” he said. “We wanted to create something that fits into that sweet spot without sacrificing quality or convenience. The trend towards healthy eating and the reality of busy lifestyles aren’t slowing down. We offer a place that caters to both.”

At the center of Honest Mary’s menu are five signature bowls ranging from poke to vegetarian, including the smoky poblano ($10.25) that features a basmati rice base with fresh vegetables of wild arugula, sweet corn, and pickled onions in a creamy poblano sauce. Co-partner and chef Andrew Wiseheart, known for Austin’s Contigo and Ladybird Taco, leads the kitchen.

Honest Mary's menu features healthy, gluten-free bowls. Guests can choose from five signature bowls at Honest Mary's, or create their own.Courtesy of Honest Mary's

Diners can build their own bowls by selecting a base like quinoa, proteins including grilled chicken and tuna, and vegetables such as sweet potatoes. Pickled onions, cucumber salad, and avocado are among the topping selections, with sauces like lemon garlic and cashew-lime crema.

Scratch-made sipping broths round out the menu, with the chicken bone broth packed with celery, carrots, onions and parsley, or an umami-rich seaweed and mushroom broth.

A selection of house-made aguas frescas and teas, local craft beer, wine, kombucha, and organic cold-pressed juices will be available, as will Honest Mary’s popular almond butter cookies sweetened with maple syrup and topped with a sprinkle of Maldon salt.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Honest Mary's, an Austin-based eatery, is expanding with a new location in Houston's River Oaks in fall 2025.

With its fully gluten-free menu, Honest Mary’s caters to a range of dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and dairy-free. To align with Monteith’s dedication to nutrition, Honest Mary’s uses seed oils sparingly and prioritizes local and organic ingredients when possible.

“River Oaks Shopping Center has a unique blend of history and vibrant new concepts, making it the ideal home for us,” Monteith said. “We aim to be a neighborhood spot where people can enjoy delicious, healthy food.”

Lunden McGill and John Frazier of Baker Katz brokered the deal for the 2,200-square-foot space and additional patio with seating for 38 inside and 44 outside. Mark Odom Studio is responsible for architecture and design.

Honest Mary’s signature elements of terra cotta and blue tilework will be incorporated to provide consistency between all five locations, while Art Deco-inspired decor of lush greenery, warm wood tones and natural light will align the space with the River Oaks Shopping Center’s structure.

Takeaway, delivery, and dine-in will be provided daily from 11 am to 9 pm.

news-you-can-eat openings honest mary's