Atlas Restaurant Group sets opening date for new Italian restaurant in Houston's Montrose Collective

Marmo, a modern Italian chophouse from Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group, opens in the Montrose Collective mixed-use development at 888 Westheimer Road April 6.

This 5,500-square-foot restaurant is the first location for the concept, a sister to Baltimore’s Tagliata.

Baltimore-based interior designer Patrick Sutton created Marmo’s design, which features “a warm sensibility that relies heavily on texture and contemporary materials intermixed with playful accents,” according to a statement from the company.

A lounge area at the front of Marmo has seating for up to 19 people at the U-shaped marble bar as well as another 10 seats within lounge. A grand piano is a focal point and is played nightly as well as during lunch on weekends. The main dining room can seat 120 guests and is separated by panels of drapery. There is also a large covered patio within the central area of the Montrose Collective.

“Houston has always had an affinity for quality Italian cuisine, and I am ecstatic to be part of the team bringing this high-quality addition to the Montrose area, a longtime dining destination for both locals and visitors,” said Scott Sulma, director of operations for Atlas Restaurant Group’s Southeast region and a former director of operations at Tony’s. “Marmo is special because it has the unique ability to be both a casual neighborhood restaurant and an elevated dining destination.”

Atlas chef partner Julian Marucci worked with executive chef Eli Jackson to create the menu, making steaks the center of attention. There will also be fresh, hand-rolled pastas; seafood; and classics like chicken and eggplant parmigiana and chicken marsala.

There is also a 22-page wine list focused on Italian varietals by the glass as well as a cellar’s collection. The beverage program also offers local and imported beers, Italian aperitifs and cocktails. There will be a daily happy hour featuring spritz and wine specials.

Dinner will be served Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with bar service open until midnight. Friday and Saturday dinner service will be from 4 p.m. to midnight with bar service until 1 a.m. Lunch will be served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Happy hour is Sunday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. but is offered only at the bar, lounge and patio.

Atlas Restaurant Group first entered the Houston market in 2019 with Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar in the River Oaks District. Last summer, Atlas announced it would open a brand-new concept in the Montrose Collective. The concept was later named Marmo.

“The success of Ouzo and Loch Bar, combined with the city’s business-friendly environment, made the decision to grow here an easy one,” said Atlas co-owner Alex Smith said in June. “Frankly, we love Houston and plan to continue creating new brands here under the Atlas umbrella wherever it makes sense. And Montrose Collective made absolute perfect sense.”

Houston-based Radom Capital is developing the Montrose Collective on Westheimer Road near Montrose Boulevard. The project broke ground in February 2020 on four land parcels totaling 2.44 acres. In November, Austin-based restaurant and bar Idle Hands opened in the former Rosemont Social Club space next to the existing Uchi restaurant, another Austin import. New York-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream opened its third Houston location in the Montrose Collective earlier this year, and a handful of other dining options are expected to open by the summer.

Marmo, a modern Italian chophouse from Baltimore-based Atlas Restaurant Group, opens in the Montrose Collective mixed-use development at 888 Westheimer Road April 6.

This 5,500-square-foot restaurant is the first location for the concept, a sister to Baltimore’s Tagliata.

Baltimore-based interior designer Patrick Sutton created Marmo’s design, which features “a warm sensibility that relies heavily on texture and contemporary materials intermixed with playful accents,” according to a statement from the company.

A lounge area at the front of Marmo has seating for up to 19 people at the U-shaped marble bar as well as another 10 seats within lounge. A grand piano is a focal point and is played nightly as well as during lunch on weekends. The main dining room can seat 120 guests and is separated by panels of drapery. There is also a large covered patio within the central area of the Montrose Collective.

“Houston has always had an affinity for quality Italian cuisine, and I am ecstatic to be part of the team bringing this high-quality addition to the Montrose area, a longtime dining destination for both locals and visitors,” said Scott Sulma, director of operations for Atlas Restaurant Group’s Southeast region and a former director of operations at Tony’s. “Marmo is special because it has the unique ability to be both a casual neighborhood restaurant and an elevated dining destination.”

Atlas chef partner Julian Marucci worked with executive chef Eli Jackson to create the menu, making steaks the center of attention. There will also be fresh, hand-rolled pastas; seafood; and classics like chicken and eggplant parmigiana and chicken marsala.

There is also a 22-page wine list focused on Italian varietals by the glass as well as a cellar’s collection. The beverage program also offers local and imported beers, Italian aperitifs and cocktails. There will be a daily happy hour featuring spritz and wine specials.

Dinner will be served Sunday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. with bar service open until midnight. Friday and Saturday dinner service will be from 4 p.m. to midnight with bar service until 1 a.m. Lunch will be served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Happy hour is Sunday through Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. but is offered only at the bar, lounge and patio.

Atlas Restaurant Group first entered the Houston market in 2019 with Ouzo Bay and Loch Bar in the River Oaks District. Last summer, Atlas announced it would open a brand-new concept in the Montrose Collective. The concept was later named Marmo.

“The success of Ouzo and Loch Bar, combined with the city’s business-friendly environment, made the decision to grow here an easy one,” said Atlas co-owner Alex Smith said in June. “Frankly, we love Houston and plan to continue creating new brands here under the Atlas umbrella wherever it makes sense. And Montrose Collective made absolute perfect sense.”

Houston-based Radom Capital is developing the Montrose Collective on Westheimer Road near Montrose Boulevard. The project broke ground in February 2020 on four land parcels totaling 2.44 acres. In November, Austin-based restaurant and bar Idle Hands opened in the former Rosemont Social Club space next to the existing Uchi restaurant, another Austin import. New York-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream opened its third Houston location in the Montrose Collective earlier this year, and a handful of other dining options are expected to open by the summer.