When opening their restaurants, Traveler’s Table and Traveler’s Cart, Thy Mitchell, and her husband Matt, leaned into their personal experiences of touring the world to bring the concepts to life. Traveler’s Table opened in 2019 with a menu showcasing a bounty of dishes from around the globe and a beverage program to match; while Traveler’s Cart debuted last fall as a more relaxed, counter-service alternative that puts the spotlight on modern street eats and drinks. When deciding where in Houston to open, Thy, a longtime Montrose resident, knew the neighborhood would offer a warm welcome.
“I love how diverse and open-minded people are in Montrose,” Thy says. “They embrace change and creativity, and are willing to try new things.”
A first-generation Vietnamese-American, Thy was born in Chicago and moved to the Houston area as a toddler in 1989. Her father was an engineer at NASA, and their family settled in Clear Lake. Thy’s grandmother was already living in Houston, operating a Vietnamese restaurant Downtown called Quán Bā Tho since 1982. Her mother began working there after the move down south, and soon Thy began helping out as well, gaining restaurant experience at an early age.
Thy went on to attend the University of Houston, and like so many local students, she opted out of the suburbs and moved inside the loop. After meeting Matt in 2010, also a Houston native who attended Emory University and returned home to attend Rice University’s Jones School of Management, the couple dated for five years, married, and have since started raising their own family in Upper Kirby. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away, Montrose remains where they eat, drink, and play.
“I hit the usuals, like Uchi and Katami, and I love Cuchara, Little’s Oyster Bar, and Nobie’s,” Thy says. “We love La Guadalupana for breakfast tacos. I used to live in Hyde Park and would walk there often.”
Thy has grown fond of Montrose Collective newbie, Fiora Bottle Shop, a boutique wine bar and shop known for its retail program, tinned fish, and toasted sandwiches. “Fiora is low-key, and the staff is so nice,” Thy shares. “I visit frequently, and they’ll have me try new wines they just got in.”
She has a set of staples for when she and Matt dine with their children too. “We go to Bollo Pizza and Mia’s Table frequently,” she shares. “We feel like we get a great experience, and it’s easy to feed the kids.”
Growing up on Vietnamese comfort food at her grandmother’s restaurant, which eventually shuttered in 2015, Thy has her finger on the pulse of where to dine in Asiatown and is loyal to haunts like Hai Cang Harbor and Saigon Pagolac. “Saigon Pagolac gives you the option to make your own spring rolls, which is definitely an experience,” she says. “We also love its sister restaurant, Jasmine.” Back in Montrose, she favors Viet Lua, which she says takes a more modern approach to Vietnamese cuisine.
Thy and Matt remain heavily involved in operations within their own restaurants, with their responsibilities having evolved over the years. “Back in 2019, we couldn’t get staff, so I was hosting and Matt was in the kitchen,” she says. “Now we have a general manager and certain systems in place, which makes things easier.”
Both contribute to building out the menus, but Thy admits Matt is more imaginative of the two. “Matt works with the chefs and updates the menus two to three times a year,” she says. “He was built to create.” For her part, Thy works closely with their marketing and public relations team, and assists with recruiting and hiring.
While they have reached a place today that feels smooth and structured, they are cognizant of the unstableness and unpredictability of the hospitality industry. “As a restaurateur, you have to be prepared everyday for a surprise,” she explains. “Whether it’s the air conditioning or power going out — we always have the mentality that anything can happen at any time.”
Houston is known for its tight-knit hospitality community, and Thy has been fortunate to be able to lean on her peers for inspiration and advice. “From a restaurateur perspective, I know how hard it is to create a new concept,” she says. “I am inspired by people that go all in.”
Thy acknowledges Tracy Vaught, owner of H-Town Restaurant Group and the brains behind such lauded restaurants as Backstreet Cafe and Hugo’s, led by her husband, James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega. “In this business, you have to make good business decisions, and we have watched them do so and be consistent,” Thy says. “Tracy has always been very kind. When we have had questions for her, she has been very open with us.”
Like Vaught, Thy is on the path to success with a goal of growing the Traveler’s brand. Beyond operating the two restaurants, the ambitious entrepreneur launched a travel-inspired clothing line called Foreign Fare in 2023, featuring stylish and functional pieces for women. Pieces like the “Wrap Me Up” dress are wrinkle-resistant, comfortable, and fit for short or long travel.
“There is so much you can do with travel,” she says. “We want to start a portfolio of travel-related brands… and maybe one day, a boutique hotel.”
To journey along with Thy and experience a day in her life as a restaurateur, wife, mother, and fashion designer, tune in to DiningOut’s Instagram on Tuesday, April 29 as she takes over Stories!
