Chef Travis McShane announced Monday that his Montrose restaurant, Ostia, will close Sept. 13, ending a five-year run in Houston just days after another acclaimed eatery in the neighborhood shut its doors.
Another well-known Houston restaurant is going out of business. On Monday, chef Travis McShane said that he will close Ostia, his restaurant in the Montrose neighborhood, after five years of business.
The news comes just a few days after chef Ryan Lachaine closed Riel, which shows how tough things are getting for Houston's food and drink business.
"I am so thankful for all the support over the last five years," McShane wrote on Instagram. "It is with great sadness that I must announce that the time of Ostia at 2032 Dunlavy, has ended." McShane shared that he has met the nicest guests and regulars since the restaurant opened. "Together, we have laughed, cried, and had a good time. It will be harder to walk away during these times,” wrote the chef.
The last dinner service at Ostia will be on September 13. After the show ends, McShane said he will spend more time with his family.
McShane went to the University of Texas and the Culinary Institute of America and learned from famous cook Jonathan Waxman, who made California-style food popular. When he opened Ostia in Houston in late 2020, he brought Waxman's famous roast chicken with him. The restaurant quickly became a favorite in Montrose because it mixed California cooking with New York energy and Southern flavors.
Regulars and newbies alike flocked to Ostia's greenhouse dining room, where they sipped cocktails and shared pasta, pizza, and hearty main courses. Early this year, McShane changed the main dining room to match the lively atmosphere of the garden and added more casual items to the menu.
Even though Ostia was very famous, it was having the same money problems as restaurants all over the country. Several businesses in Houston have had to close in the past few months because of problems with staffing, higher food costs, and fewer customers. They are B.B. Lemon, Eloise Nichols, MF Lobster & Seafood, Helen Greek Food and Wine, and Riel.
The chef wrote, "When I started cooking 16 years ago, I dreamed of opening my first restaurant, and because of you all, I was able to live that dream." "Thank you."
