Co-owners Zeke Ramirez and Judy Bergin came together last summer to open the restaurant they both always wanted, Bergin said. Mustard Seed Kitchen opened in June in downtown Tomball.

“This has been something we wanted to do for a long time,” Bergin said. “We always told each other that God would provide when the time was right. When this place opened up, we could not pass it up. This was our calling.”

Mustard Seed Kitchen serves bistro-style items, such as soups, panini, sandwiches and salads, for lunch Monday through Saturday. Bergin and Ramirez also operate a cafe inside the drug rehab facility Lakeview Health in The Woodlands. Previously, the two provided catering services for private and public schools, weddings and other events, Bergin said.

“Through the catering business, we learned which items people in the community favored over others,” she said.

In launching the cafe, Ramirez said he sought to be flexible with the menu. Given the restaurant’s lunchtime hours, he predicted most of his customers would prefer soups, salad and quiches.

However, Ramirez said he quickly learned his clients wanted more substantial meals. As a result, he changed the menu to include more panini. A children’s menu is also available.

This summer, Ramirez said he plans to add more Italian dishes, pulling from 14 years of experience working at Italian chain Brio Tuscan Grill.

“Every day, [business] is building up more and more,” he said.

Since the cafe opened, Ramirez said he has been surprised by how many other local business owners have supported Mustard Seed Kitchen. The sense of community is contagious, he said.

“This is what I like about Tomball. It is so family-oriented,” Ramirez said. “We all help each other in that way. I like it. It’s not a competition out here. It’s a people thing. Everyone supports everyone.”

Mustard Seed Kitchen
212 W. Main St., Tomball
832-639-8110
www.facebook.com/mustardseedkitchentomball
Hours: Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.- 2 p.m., closed Sundays