climb on the cart

Globally-inspired street food restaurant rolls into Montrose this week

By any measure, the past couple of months have been a busy time for new restaurant openings in Montrose. Drake’s Hollywood, Okto, ChòpnBlọk, and Mi Luna all demonstrate that it’s still Houston’s premier dining neighborhood.

This week, two owners with a track record of success will unveil their latest concept in Montrose. Traveler’s Cart, a new concept from Traveler’s Table owners Thy and Matthew Mitchell, opens this Wednesday, October 23.

Located in the former Pronto Cucinino space at 1401 Montrose Blvd., Traveler’s Cart adapts Traveler’s Table’s eclectically, globally-inspired menu for a less expensive, fast casual format. As its name implies, the restaurant takes inspiration from street food and casual restaurants, specifically the dishes that the Mitchells have enjoyed on their trips around the world.

“Both of our lives have been greatly enriched by our travels, and those experiences have shown us how important food can be for learning about other cultures and for connecting with people all over the world,” Matthew Mitchell said in a statement. “We have great respect for the people who we've met making this food often in the humblest of circumstances. We truly want to celebrate them and their food traditions. People like Thy's grandmother, who used to sell bánh cuốn on the streets of Vietnam before immigrating to the US, are sources of great inspiration and admiration for both of us.”

In keeping with the theme, Traveler’s Cart has a wide-ranging menu capable of satisfying almost any craving. Meals at the restaurant could begin with snacks such as falafel, roti canai with curry, or butter chicken samosas — a variation of Traveler’s Table’s signature crab samosas. From there, diners could split appetizers such as cumin lamb dumplings, Thai fried chicken wings, or shrimp satay.

Entree options begin with handhelds such as pork carnitas tacos, a churrasco steak sandwich, or a Korean burger topped with cheese corn and pickled cucumbers. Those looking for something a little more familiar will find the American Roadside Burger — a twin-patty smash burger — or a fried chicken sandwich topped with the ingredients from a muffaletta.

Heartier entrees have a similarly global breadth. They include khao soi, shrimp pad thai, lamb manoush flatbread, Jamaican jerk pork ribs, Peruvian lomo saltado, and chicken schnitzel. Pair them with sides such as fried plantains, dijon potatoes, coconut curry rice, and Indonesian-inspired stir-fried okra balado. Wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic drinks are also available.

“We are lucky to have talented chefs from all over the world working for Traveler's Cart and Traveler's Table, who helped us bring our vision to life,” Thy Mitchell added. “Executive chef Miguel Torres, who was born and raised in Puerto Rico, Indonesian chef Ardian Brantoro who worked in kitchens throughout Europe, and culinary director Stanton Bundy, who hails from the Texas Hill Country but came up in the New Orleans and South Florida food scenes, all have dishes that they were passionate about putting on the menu,” said Thy.

As they did for Traveler’s Table, the Mitchells worked with Houston’s Gin Design Group on Traveler’s Cart’s interior. The design features signage similar to street food markets, a video installation that displays footage of markets from around the world, and a currency “tunnel” of bills from different countries.

Opening Traveler’s Cart builds on the success of Traveler’s Table, which debuted in 2019. Its eclectic menu and polished service have earned wide acclaim, including an appearance on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, chef Bundy beating Bobby Flay, and ranking among the top 10 biggest donations during Houston Restaurant Weeks.

Traveler’s Cart opens daily at 10 am.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Traveler's Cart serves an eclectic mix of globally-inspired dishes.

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Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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