A Mysterious New Restaurant Will Take Over the Montrose Space Formerly Occupied By Aqui

Just a few months after beleaguered restaurant Aqui closed its doors in Montrose, a brand new tenant has officially snapped up the beautifully appointed space.

Permit applications filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission indicate that a new restaurant called Traveler’s Table will take over the space at 520 Westheimer Road. Job postings for the mysterious new restaurant indicate that it is currently in the process of staffing up, including a search for an executive chef who can serve “great-tasting versions of hand selected dishes from around the world.” It’s a brand new restaurant that describes itself as a “modern, globally inspired eatery” with a full bar.

The space, designed by Austin’s Parallel Architecture, has been vacant since chef Paul Qui closed Aqui in December 2018. It was really only a matter of time before the building would be home to a new restaurant. Despite its beauty, the chic space was the center of a great deal of controversy surrounding its former tenant, Aqui owner and chef Paul Qui. In 2016, Qui was arrested on charges of assaulting his girlfriend, which inspired a lengthy debate over how the restaurant should be handled in the context of the #MeToo movement. Those charges were ultimately dropped, but Qui continues to face backlash related to the incident.

Stay tuned for more details on what will be on the menu at Traveler’s Table. The restaurant’s sales tax permit is set to become active in June, which indicates that it’s on track to arrive sometime this summer.

• Chef Paul Qui’s Houston Restaurant Will Close [EHOU]