Houston Chronicle

The Best Restaurants in the Houston Heights

Chef Shawn Gawle’s Osso Bucco at Camaraderie

Bao Ong / Houston Chronicle

Camaraderie

Just a little over a month since opening, chef-owner Shawn Gawle’s first restaurant is already feeling like a neighborhood gem. You can stroll in without reservations (especially on the early side) for a drink and small plates to share at the bar or lounge area.

Manchego cheese curls or a tarte flambeé speckled with bacon lardons are upscale bar snacks you can pair with cocktails (including $8 mini-sized drinks), wines and an admirable selection of non-alcoholic drinks.

Do add larger plates though, perhaps a striking carrot cavatelli or refreshing tuna crudo tossed with cubes of watermelon amped up with a healthy dash of chile crisp.

Saving room for desserts is a must, given Gawle’s experience as a pastry chef, including a stint at the one Michelin-starred March.

Or you could just come back with a reservation for the main dining room, where a set menu gives you some of these early hits as well as other seasonally driven dishes.