steaks and whiskey in memorial city

Memorial City goes haywire with new elevated ranch-to-table restaurant from Velvet Taco masterminds

A Dallas-based restaurant devoted to Texas comfort food is coming to Houston. Haywire will open in the summer of 2024 in the former Vallone’s space at Gateway Memorial City.

Part of FB Society, the Dallas-based hospitality group behind restaurants such as Whiskey Cake, Velvet Taco, and Sixty Vines, Haywire describes itself as serving ranch-to-table cuisine. Houston will be the restaurant’s third location, joining Plano and Dallas’s Uptown district.

“Memorial City has everything we’re looking for in a development partner – high foot traffic, accessibility, shopping, hotels, etc,” Haywire vice president of operations Judd Fruia said in a statement. “We’re excited to become part of the community and introduce our larger-than-life concept and elevated farm-to-fork menu to Memorial City.”

Open for lunch, brunch, and dinner, Haywire serves dishes such as a tomahawk steak, chicken fried steak, and Texas whiskey barbecue ribs. At brunch, the menu includes kolaches, biscuits, migas, and chicken and waffles. They’re paired with cocktails, an extensive selection of whiskeys, and a wine list that’s worthy of Wine Spectator magazine’s Best of Award of Excellence.

Each Haywire location features photo-worthy design elements. In Plano, they include a 1962 Airstream trailer that’s been transformed into a roof top lounge and a whiskey lounge with fireplace. The combination of Haywire’s food, drinks, and decor helped it earn a nomination for Restaurant of the Year in the 2021 CultureMap Dallas Tastemaker Awards.

If the idea of a comfort food restaurant in Gateway Memorial City that serves chicken fried steak and chicken and waffles sounds familiar, it might because that roughly describes State Fare, the Texas-inspired comfort food restaurant that opened in 2016. Not so fast, says Memorial City developer MetroNational.

“Haywire provides an elevated farm to table dining experience with an emphasis on modern Texas staples and a variety of whiskey offerings. Haywire offers a broader menu and has more of a steak focus,” Danna Diamond, MetroNational’s vice president of retail leasing, said in response to CultureMap’s request for comment about the apparent similarities between the two restaurants.

“In addition, they will be providing opportunity for event space that does not exist today. State Fare provides a unique and contemporary twist on southern favorites.”

Haywire is one of several new restaurants coming to the Memorial City area. Common Bond will open two of its On-The-Go concepts in the area. Austin-based pizzeria Via 313 and Miami-based burger and kebab concept Pincho are slated to open this spring. A second location of Montrose barbecue favorite The Pit Room will open in the fall.

Courtesy of The Nix Company

Haywire serves comfort food such as chicken and waffles.

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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.

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