They just wanted an eatery that served healthy and quick food. But Nelson, who has a degree in business and felt the urge to be an entrepreneur, saw that opening such a concept was something they could achieve.
“Healthy fast food was something we felt the need for constantly in our busy lives,” Nelson said. “We decided to try it out. I spent about six months basically trying to convince myself not to start a restaurant. It sounded like a bad idea.”
The Monteiths visited other restaurants throughout the U.S. where the healthy fast-food concept was working and met with entrepreneurs to gain insight.
“Ultimately it felt like a challenge and something that was working, so we did it,” Nelson said.
Honest Mary’s opened in October 2017, and after a slow ramp-up until word-of-mouth about the restaurant caught on, the Great Hills eatery is typically packed at meal times.
“We’ve just been blown away by how much people have gravitated towards us, enjoyed us, kept coming back,” Nelson said.
Mary came up with the original bowls featured on the Honest Mary’s menu, and two chefs helped them build out the ingredients and flavors, Nelson said.
The bowls start with a grain base, such as rice or soba noodles, and are topped with hormone-free, wild-caught proteins, including chicken and ahi tuna. Honest Mary’s also has options for vegetarians, vegans and those with gluten-free restrictions.
A second location is also in the works for the Monteiths, who are looking in the downtown, Central Austin and Westlake areas.
“Now we’re at a place where we’ve gotten it right, now we’re starting to relift up our eyes and look for other locations and start thinking big again,” Nelson said. “The goal has always been to impact countless lives through life-giving fast food.”
Honest Mary’s
9828 Great Hills Trail,
Ste. 300, Austin
512-953-8427
www.honestmarys.com
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily
