down the street

Beard Award-winning East End Thai restaurant makes big move to rising Second Ward development

Houston’s newest James Beard Award winner will soon have a bigger, better space to share her “unapologetically Thai” cuisine with the world. Street to Kitchen will relocate from its current home in an East End gas station to The Plant, a development in the Second Ward.

The acclaimed Thai restaurant is moving two miles west on Harrisburg Boulevard to the former home of Louie’s Italian American. Expected to open in November, the move will allow Street to Kitchen to seat approximately 100 guests — roughly triple its current capacity.

Street to Kitchen will operate at its current location until the new one is ready to open.

When Louie’s Italian American closed in April, chef Angelo Emiliani announced he planed to open Angie’s Pizza in the space. Instead, he’s claiming the space currently occupied by casual bar How to Survive on Land and Sea for a new concept called Neighbors Pizza Bar.

Opened in 2020 by chef Benchawan Painter (known as “Chef G” to friends and fans) and her husband Graham, Street to Kitchen serves a menu of traditional Thai dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant has earned wide acclaim, including Best Chef: Texas in the 2023 James Beard Awards and Restaurant of the Year in the 2022 CultureMap Tastemaker Awards.

“As a big fan of my adopted home, the great city of Houston, and with humble gratitude for the recognition from the James Beard Foundation as ‘Best Chef: Texas, I am thrilled to be able to expand Street to Kitchen, so that we can not only serve more Houstonians, but bring our unapologetically Thai food and our philosophy of fun to the HTX food scene,” chef G said in a statement.

In addition to serving more customers, moving to a larger location will allow Street to Kitchen to expand its beverage program. Plans call for the installation of an outdoor patio and for the space’s walk-up window to serve the Thai omelet that’s currently only available at the Urban Harvest farmers market.

As for Neighbors Pizza Bar, it will serve 18-inch, New York-style pizzas as slices and whole pies. Currently, it’s open Thursday through Monday for lunch and dinner with plans to expand to daily service. Taking over How to Survive brings Emiliani full circle. He first introduced himself to Houstonians by making wood-fired pizzas at the then-wine bar.

“Street to Kitchen and Neighbors Pizza Bar celebrate authenticity in how they approach their respective crafts and truly embody the types of creatives we’re looking to attract to The Plant in Second Ward,” said Jeff Kaplan, managing principal of Concept Neighborhood, the project’s developer. “Graham, Benchawan, and Angelo are young but already storied hospitality leaders who are highly respected in Houston. Their decision to operate in The Plant in Second Ward will accelerate the vibrancy and achieve our goal of creating Houston’s first inclusive, walkable corridor.”

James Beard Award Benchawan Jabthong Painter Street to Kitchen

Chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter won Best Chef: Texas.

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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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