Chef Paul Qui opened his first Austin restaurants in more than a decade last fall — his Fam Hospitality group collaborating with the nightlife veterans at Trinity Concepts for sushi restaurant and izakaya Top Roe and modern Filipino restaurant Oko.
But the partnership between the former “Top Chef” winner and the group that owns and operates several bars in Austin recently came to an end.
“I stopped working with Trinity because there was no visibility and transparency in the relationship,” Qui told the American-Statesman via text. “Creating the concepts made me happy, but our working relationship wasn’t ideal, so I decided to move on.”
Qui said that one of the issues was the “extremely challenging” state of the building at 120 W. Fifth St. that housed Top Roe.
Top Roe has since closed, while Oko continues operating in East Austin, though its original executive chef, Harold Villarosa, has exited the company, leaving a temporary vacuum at the head chef position.
Trinity co-founder Donny Padda told the American-Statesman that, “Oko remains open and thriving, with the existing team continuing to lead daily operations. A new executive chef will be announced soon, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.”
Padda also said that his group, which also operates Key Bar, Parlor Room and Bungalow, has been developing a new concept for the space that was home to Top Roe.
Qui has moved on to new projects. He plans to open Roselle Pizzeria in the former East Side King space on South Lamar Boulevard by the end of the year, a project he announced in May. He will also open a new handroll concept, the name of which has yet to be announced, in the coming weeks in the space long inhabited by Irie Bean and, most recently, the home of coffee shop Dear, Austin.