8 is great
Doris Metropolitan masterminds serve up new Montrose Mediterranean eatery
Októ aims to have the same lively bar crowd as Doris Metropolitan.
A Houston restaurant group that earned a James Beard Award semifinalist nomination for Outstanding Restaurateur is coming to Montrose. Sof Hospitality is opening Októ this summer in the Montrose Collective mixed-use development.
Located in the space that previously housed The Chelsea, Októ represents a new culinary approach for Sof Hospitality. Whereas its three existing concepts — steakhouse Doris Metropolitan, modern Israeli restaurant Hamsa, and Badolina Bakery — draw primarily from the Israeli heritage of owners Itai Ben Eli and Itamar Levy, Októ will take inspiration from the entire Mediterranean. In addition to Israel and the Levant, diners can expect dishes inspired by Greece, Italy, and Spain.
“This is something, of course, we are really excited about,” Ben Eli said in a statement. “As a restaurant group, we have extensive experience traveling around the world. Right now we’re working on conceptualizing the menu and narrowing it down to our must-haves based on the rich, Mediterranean culture.”
Hamsa chef Yotam Dolev and Doris Metropolitan chef Hai Avnaim will team up on the menu. Specific dishes are still under development, but plans call for a focused offering of only about a dozen items that will rotate seasonally. Like its sister concepts, the menu will be designed for sharing.
They’ll be paired with a cocktail program that aims to replicate the lively bar scenes at both Hamsa and Doris Metropolitan. The drink program is still under development, but the restaurant promises “eclectic spirits” in press materials.
Lindsay Madrigal of LM Designs will take the lead in transforming The Chelsea into Októ. Details include large windows to look into the kitchen, sliding glass doors to access the patio, and dim lighting.
Októ will be open for dinner and later into the evening with the goal of attracting people who patronize Montrose’s thriving nightlife scene. That approach has worked well for Marmo, the Italian-inspired steakhouse in the Montrose Collective, will operates until midnight on Friday and Saturday.
“There's a growing demand for more personal, intimate, and exceptionally executed dining experiences,” Ben Eli said. “Októ is more than a restaurant; it's a culinary destination where quality meets intimacy, and every detail is carefully considered to provide a memorable dining experience in the heart of Houston.”
Created by Dallas-based restaurateurs Shawn Rao and Jonathan Serrano in partnership veteran Houston operator Roveen Abante (Conservatory Galleria, Be More Pacific, Duchess, etc), The Chelsea opened last year with an eclectic menu and a stylish interior. It quietly closed in April. Picnik, an Austin-based healthy eating concept, also closed its Montrose Collective location after less than a year. A new occupant has yet to be announced for that space.
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