in robb we trust

Robb Report names buzzy Montrose sushi spot to best new restaurants list

Robb Report loves Hori-san.

Photo by Casey Giltner

Houston’s best new sushi restaurant has earned some national recognition. Robb Report named Montrose restaurant Katami as the only Texas representative on its list of the 10 best new restaurants in America.

For those unfamiliar, Robb Report is a magazine devoted to the world of luxury. Its 36th annual Best of the Best Awards cover everything from watches to watercraft to restaurants.

Written by culinary editor Jeremy Repanich, the Best New Restaurants list finds that the state of America’s restaurants is very strong.

“This list could have been much longer than our customary ranking of the top 10, as we experienced numerous chefs and restaurateurs combining ambitious cuisine with outstanding service. And while the pandemic and it’s after effects have made it even more difficult to succeed as the industry’s razor-sharp margins grow ever thinner, great restaurants continue to emerge,” Repanich writes.

Ranked No. 4 on the list, Katami earns praise for all the ways it improves on sister concept Kata Robata, including a more luxurious dining room and using luxurious ingredients such as Ohmi A5 wagyu beef. The writer recommends ordering an omakase for the best experience from chef-partner Manabu Horiuchi (known as Hori-san) and his team.

“Horiuchi and his buzzing band of chefs put out exquisite delicacies, such as a square of simple house-made goma tofu in soy sauce; Japanese sardine nigiri with kombu, ginger, and green onion; and a green-tea kakigori made with ice imported from Kanazawa, Japan. His knack for elevating some of the best raw materials with world-class technique is on full display,” Repanich writes.

Katami has already received plenty of attention, including being ranked as the state’s best new restaurant by Texas Monthly. It also earned two nominations in the 2024 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for Wine Program of the Year and Best New Restaurant. Still, the restaurant is flattered to be included on the Robb Report list.

“Actually this means more than one might think. Hori, Yun [Cheng, Katami’s owner], myself and the entire team are very happy and humbled to receive this recognition,” managing partner Ryan Snyder tells CultureMap. “We did great work at Kata for so many years but flew under the radar nationally, so to get some national recognition for Katami so fast right after we opened has been very rewarding.

“Being honored on a national level is only further confirmation that all the hard work and dedication we have put into our craft at Katami is appreciated and noticed. We love Houston, we love taking care of the local gentry, but it's nice to know people outside of this great city appreciate our work too. We are very fortunate and thankful."

Robb Report knows Houston well. Last year, it ranked seafood restaurant Navy Blue as No. 3 and eclectic Heights restaurant Jūn No. 10 on its best new restaurants list. Mediterranean tasting menu restaurant March ranked No. 2 on the 2022 list. It also named James Beard Award winner (and CultureMap wine columnist) Chris Shepherd the best chef in the world in 2019.

In addition to Katami, Robb Report’s list include restaurants in Seattle, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Restaurant Yuu, a theatrical tasting menu restaurant in Brooklyn, takes the top spot.

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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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