new from traveler's table

Eclectic and inventive Montrose restaurant carts up new 'global street food' fast-casual concept

Traveler's Table Matthew Mitchell Thy Mitchell Stanton Bundy

Owners Matthew and Thy Mitchell and culinary director Stanton Bundy

Photo by Kirsten Gilliam

The owners of Traveler’s Table are opening a sister restaurant devoted to global street food. Called Traveler’s Cart, it’s expected to open in late 2023 in the former Pronto Cucinino space at 1401 Montrose Blvd.

Like Traveler’s Table, Traveler’s Cart will serve an eclectic menu that features dishes from different culinary traditions but in a different format than its sibling.

As a fast casual restaurant, Traveler’s Cart will offer a lower price point and a more relaxed environment than Traveler’s Table while still offering well-executed dishes and a comprehensive beverage program. Its model takes some inspiration from restaurants such as Loro, the Asian smokehouse from the hospitality group behind Uchi, and Urbe, the Mexican street food concept from James Beard Award winner Hugo Ortega, owner Matthew Mitchell tells CultureMap.

“I think food is democratizing,” Mitchell says. “People want really high quality food, but they don’t want to make a reservation. There’s times you want to roll in wearing shorts and T-shirt and get really good food.”

Opened in 2019 by Thy and Matthew Mitchell, Traveler’s Table’s combination of an eclectic menu with refined service and a stylish environment has been highly successful. Its accolades include an appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and making the third highest donation of all participants in the 2022 edition of Houston Restaurant Weeks.

As with Traveler’s Table, Mitchell has turned to Houston’s Gin Design Group to create the interior for Traveler’s Cart. Plans call for design elements that reference markets and street carts from around the world.

“We want to create enough of an experience where people can come in for a date or meet up with friends,” Mitchell says.

Another benefit of a fast casual model is that the restaurant will be open during more times of day. Currently, Traveler’s Cart plans to serve lunch during the week, dinner nightly, and brunch on the weekends.

Traveler’s culinary director Stanton Bundy will create the menu for the new restaurant. Beverage offerings will include a full range of wine, beer, and cocktails.

Mitchell feels optimistic about Traveler’s Cart’s potential. If this location catches on, others could follow.

“It’s something we think we can scale,” he says. “This one is built to have legs — maybe Rice Village or the Galleria.”

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What's Eric Eating Episodes 518 and 519

Meet the men behind River Oaks' new destination for bowls and broth

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” Honest Mary’s founder Nelson Monteith and COO Andrew Wiseheart joined CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss the Austin-based restaurant that just opened its first Houston location in the River Oaks Shopping Center (2047-A West Gray St).

Monteith shares that he started the restaurant in 2017 in order to fulfill his vision of a restaurant which could serve food that’s fast, fresh, and affordable. A trained chef who operated pioneering Austin restaurant Contigo, Wiseheart joined the group to bring both culinary expertise and operational acumen to the grouping company.

Part of what sets Honest Mary’s apart is that diners can add cooked vegetables to the rice and proteins at the heart of every bowl. The “Market Sides” section includes an array of roasted vegetables — including sweet potatoes, cauliflower, broccoli, beets, and Brussels sprouts — as well as black beans, maple-glazed carrots, and green lentils. Bowls can be further enhanced with toppings such as Texas pecans, crispy chickpeas, goat cheese, avocado, and apples as well as sauces such as creamy poblano, cashew lime crema, sesame vinaigrette, spicy peanut, chimichurri and apple cider vinaigrette

Monteith explains that looking at the ingredients on display usually inspires him when he’s deciding what to eat at Honest Mary’s.

“I will almost always look at the line and see what looks fresh and good,” Monteith says. “Today, I got the salted kale with white rice. Then, I got garlic-pepper steak. I added on lentils — they’re my go-to in the winter. They blend everything together, and I love it Then Brussels sprouts looked green. I got some jalapenos. Avocados, cause that’s healthy. Then I got the chimichurri sauce.”

Honest Mary’s is also known for its hearty broths, a classic chicken and a vegetarian option made with seaweed and mushroom. Sandler raves about the chicken broth to Wiseheart, who shares how it’s made.

“We spent six or seven months testing recipes and drinking it ourselves to see if it’s a good idea,” Wiseheart says. “I talk about it as a great complement to the menu. It’s healthy. It’s really simple. Most of the kitchens I came up with were rooted in French cuisine. This is just chicken stock with salt in it.”

Listen to the full episode to hear more about Honest Mary’s plans for additional locations in Houston and Dallas. Then Monteith asks a Sandler a few questions about the Houston dining scene.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson discuss the news of the week. Their topics include Home Slice Pizza opening a new location in the Heights; the closures of Brett’s BBQ Shop in Katy and Killen’s Barbecue in The Woodlands; and Esquire including ChòpnBlok on its list of America’s best new restaurants.

In the restaurant of the week segment, the two friends discuss their recent meal at Hypsi, the Italian restaurant in the newly-opened Hotel Daphne. Listen to the episode to hear their favorite dishes and other thoughts on the meal.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

Photo by Becca Wright

Find Honest Mary's in the River Oaks Shopping Center.

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