Nestled in the heart of Montrose is a restaurant that doesn’t entirely fit into a single genre. While the wood-fired oven and several menu items lean heavily on Italian culture, parts of Rosie Cannonball can be traced back to France, Portugal, Spain and Greece.

Chef and partner Felipe Riccio calls it “Southern European comfort food.”

“It’s not really a category of food that’s talked about, but it makes total sense,” Riccio said.

Adding to Rosie Cannonball’s unique charm, the restaurant offers a reverse happy hour special, where pizza and alcohol are half-off from 9-10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. (Courtesy Rosie Cannonball)
Adding to Rosie Cannonball’s unique charm, the restaurant offers a reverse happy hour special, where pizza and alcohol are half-off from 9-10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. (Courtesy Rosie Cannonball)

What’s on the menu

The restaurant serves a diverse array of food reflecting the many cultures it draws inspiration from, and the menu is categorized by starters and shared plates, roasted vegetables, grilled meats, pizza and pasta.

Riccio likes to offer seasonal menu items, but said customers would riot if a few options were ever permanently cut from the menu, including the focaccia di recco, blistered bean salad and cavatelli alla bolognese.

“We've developed a good system that we're able to keep these dishes that draw people in, but at the same time offer them something different,” he said.

Meet the chef

Born in Mexico, Riccio grew up in Veracruz before moving to Houston as a teenager. He attended culinary school at Houston Community College and was working in Europe when he decided to partner with Goodnight Hospitality to open Rosie Cannonball.

Felipe Riccio runs all the food programs for Goodnight Hospitality, including Rosie Cannonball, Montrose Cheese & Wine, The Marigold Club and MARCH. (Courtesy Rosie Cannonball)
Felipe Riccio runs all the food programs for Goodnight Hospitality, including Rosie Cannonball, Montrose Cheese & Wine, The Marigold Club and MARCH. (Courtesy Rosie Cannonball)

Riccio said he also has family from Italy and Spain, and his diverse cultural background and international experiences are evident throughout the restaurant’s menu.

“If you know me, as a chef and a person, you understand why each of the restaurants is the way it is,” he said.

One more thing

Last year, Rosie Cannonball received a Bib Gourmand, an accolade given to restaurants for offering high-quality food at a fair price, from the internationally acclaimed Michelin Guide.

“It aligns with who we are and what we're trying to do—provide an experience that's sort of above and beyond at a good price,” Riccio said. “At the end of the day, our goal is to deliver above and beyond what people feel they're paying for.”

Rosie Cannonball celebrated its sixth anniversary this August, and Riccio said he hopes to see it around for at least another six years.

“We’re always looking to add different exciting things and will continue to grow, and ideally, become cornerstones of the neighborhood,” he said.