My Favorite Female-Led Houston Restaurants

I’m avid foodie as well as a seasoned financial advisor and managing partner at Green Financial Group . One of the services our firm offers here in Houston is helping women chart a path that sets them up for financial independence.

Recently, the culinary scene in Houston has seen an influx of women stirring things up. Female-led restaurants are contributing a distinctive and lively element to Houston’s dining scene by reinventing traditional European comfort food, creating innovative dessert interpretations and leading some of the city’s most acclaimed restaurant groups.

Today, I’m honored to share some of my favorite women-led Houston restaurants.?

Rosie Cannonball

Let’s start with one of my favorite neighborhood gems: Rosie Cannonball .

Located in the lively Montrose area of Houston, Rosie Cannonball serves up European comfort food that’s very Texan. For example, the Southern-smoked pizza with a spicy red sauce is a house favorite.

Owned by Master Sommelier June Rodil, this 2,500-square-foot restaurant boasts fresh ingredients from Goodnight Hospitality’s farm located just outside of Houston.

June Rodil has an impressive hospitality resume. Adding to her numerous sommelier awards, June is also the CEO and partner of Goodnight Hospitality , a Houston-based company founded in 2019. The company’s ventures include the ultra-fine dining establishment MARCH, which won awards like Best New Restaurants in Esquire, the No. 2 Restaurant in America in Robb Report’s Best of the Best 2022, and a 2022 James Beard Award semifinalist nod for Best Chef Texas.?

In addition to June’s inspiration, another thing I love about this restaurant is the wood-burning stove where you can watch chefs work their magic to create their seasonal dishes that highlight European culinary traditions with an infusion of Texas-inspired cuisine.

Nancy’s Hustle

Another outstanding female-led restaurant experience in Houston is Nancy’s Hustle .

The menu at Nancy’s Hustle includes some unique dishes like octopus and lamb tartare, but you can also find comfort-food favorites like a cheeseburger on a brioche bun.

In my mind, however, it’s the desserts that shine. The creations of pastry chef Julia Doran are always innovative and delicious. The buttermilk sherbet with strawberries and sesame crunch is one of my faves. Julia previously worked at Magnolia Bakery, Craft, Fat Cat Creamery, Pass & Provisions and Bernadine’s. She also recently opened a new Houston restaurant called Tiny Champions!

Aside from Julia’s exceptional desserts, it’s the intimate bistro atmosphere at Nancy’s Hustle that gets me every time.

Adair Concepts and Katie Barnhart

Let’s take it up a notch and talk about women’s business accomplishments in the? male-dominated restaurant industry. Specifically, I want to shine a spotlight on Katie (Adair) Barnhart as one Houston’s hospitality pros blazing a trail for women.

Katie co-founded Adair Kitchen with her brother Nick and is currently responsible for all Adair Concepts’ creative ideas. After the success of Adair Kitchen, Katie continued refining her hospitality acumen. She’s earned quite a reputable name for herself among the pros and credits learning how to speak her mind and being surrounded by men who built women up.

These days, the family-run restaurant chain includes popular Houston eateries like Betsy’s at Evelyn Park and Bebidas , as well as multiple locations of Los Tios and Adair Kitchen.

Partner With Professionals

Green Financial Group exists to help our clients to enjoy the life they’ve worked hard for—whether that be dining out at their favorite restaurants, traveling to explore new destinations or experiencing a worry-free retirement. We do this by simplifying their financial world and providing tailored financial plans so they can realize dreams they didn’t know were possible.

To schedule a complimentary 15-minute financial or retirement consultation with me, please call (713) 244-3030 or email [email protected] .

About Lauren

Lauren Smith is Financial Advisor and Managing Partner at Green Financial Group, a wealth management firm and virtual family office located in the Galleria area of Houston, Texas, offering big-firm skills with a personal approach. Lauren focuses on advanced financial and retirement planning, employing strategies so clients can live out the future of their dreams. She finds fulfillment in helping others make important, often complicated, decisions about their lives as though they were members of her own family. Lauren has a particular passion for empowering women with regard to their finances. When traditionally men are the ones in relationships to be the keepers of the finances, she wants to help level the playing field a bit by giving women the tools, knowledge and confidence they need to take control of their finances.

Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree from University of Georgia - Terry College of Business, a master’s degree from University of Houston, and the AAMS (Accredited Asset Management Specialist) designation from the College of Financial Planning. She is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER? professional with the Series 7 and 66 licenses. When she’s not busy supporting her clients, Lauren enjoys spending time with friends, family, her rescue cat, Pippa, and rescue dog, Mamba (also known as GFG’s “Chief Barketing Officer”). Her hobbies include traveling, trying new restaurants, holistic wellness and UGA football (Go Dawgs!). To learn more about Lauren, connect with her on LinkedIn .

Please Note: Any opinions are those of Lauren Smith and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP? and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER? in the United States, which it authorizes use of by individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.