A good fellow

German coffee shop in Katy debuts with drive-thru and breakfast sandwiches

A European coffee shop took the next step in establishing a Houston presence this week. Coffee Fellows has opened its second Houston-area location in Katy, at 3329 Grand Parkway N., Suite 700.

Part of a group that includes almost 300 locations in Europe, Asia, and Africa, the new Coffee Fellows is the company’s first with a drive-thru. It joins a Bellaire location that opened in June.

“We are thrilled to open the first ever drive-thru location in Katy, Texas,” Coffee Fellows North America CEO Daniel Ogbonna said in a statement. “We understand that in less walkable areas convenience is key, and that is what Coffee Fellows North America is working to offer with the addition of drive-thru locations, the Coffee Fellows app, and rewards for customers through the Coffee Fellows Rewards program.”

Photo by Andrew Hemingway

Breakfast sandwiches are unique to the company's Houston locations.

Founded in Munch in 1999, Coffee Fellows serves sustainably-sourced coffee and tea. The extensive food menu includes bagel sandwiches, salads, and pastries. Recently, the cafe added breakfast sandwiches that are unique to its Houston-area stores.

“The addition of breakfast sandwiches to the Coffee Fellows menu is also something we felt customers in North America would enjoy starting their day,” Ogbonna added. “We are ecstatic to be a convenient stop for the mom or teacher on the go, person on their lunch break, and guests looking for a place to work over a cup of coffee.”

While the drive-thru does offer convenience, those with more time will find an interior that caters to lingering. Remote workers will find comfortable places to sit, fast wifi, and plenty of electrical outlets.

Joining Ogbonna on the cafe’s leadership team is COO Chris Fannin, who previously worked as president of Common Bond prior to its partnership with Garza Management Group, the local firm behind El Bolillo Bakery and other restaurants. His resume also includes management positions at the Strip House and Capital Grille.

“Houston is a coffee-loving town, and we are excited that Coffee Fellows’ US expansion is starting here,” Fannin said when the Bellaire location opened this summer. “We are pleased that we’ll be roasting our coffee and sourcing our produce locally, to create a fresh, original menu that supports the community.”

Coffee Fellows has big plans for the Texas market. If all goes according to plan, it will 15-30 additional locations in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio in 2024 and 2025.

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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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