New Outdoor Restaurant Brings a Boho Beach Vibe to The Heights — Casa Nomad Keeps It Intimate

With cooler temps arriving this week, it’s perfect timing to open a Tulum-inspired outdoor bar and restaurant. Casa Nomad will open this Thursday, September 23 at M-K-T, the expansive, modern mixed-use development off North Shepherd at the edge of The Heights.

Launched by the hospitality-minded trio who brought Houston, Wicklow Heights — Roland Keller, Keith Doyle and Tyler Barerra — Casa Nomad is no more than 800 square feet of outdoor seating and can squeeze in just 28 seats. It will be located next door to another upscale patio bar at M-K-T from the same owners dubbed Highline Park,  which will also open this fall. Highline Park is set to share a kitchen and bathrooms with Nomad.

Admittedly, Tulum is one of the owners’ favorite travel destinations.

“With Casa Nomad, we wanted to bring a slice of Tulum to Houston so Houstonians can experience in their own backyard the bohemian vibe that makes Tulum such a special place for us,” Keller says.

Casting the award-winning design studio Coeval, out of Dallas, to replicate the boho vibe of the Mayan Riviera in this very urban environment, Casa Nomad aims to evoke the Yucatan’s breezy tropical setting. An intimate stage is set with a canopy of woven rustic ropes mounted overhead along with sea-blue tiles adorning its walls, while the perimeter is encased with a contained forest of lush tropical plants.

Chef Vincent Forchelli (a native New Yorker) brings a beachy feel to the menu. The fare includes Mayan-inspired dishes like a truffle, crema-dressed tuna crudo tostadas ($21), guajillo marmalade-topped bone marrow ($19) and Tajin spiked watermelon and tomato salad ($16). Hearty entrées include a skirt steak adorned with salsa matcha and mushroom agridulce, served with corn tortillas ($36). For dessert, quell your sweet tooth with a tres leches pound cake ($9) or chocolate churro ($9) with a side of chile-spiked chocolate mousse for dipping.

Care to imbibe? You’ll find fun, cheeky cocktails like the “jungle disco” ($13), a tincture made with reposado tequila, pineapple, serrano pepper-infused simple syrup, carrot juice and a squeeze of lemon, as well as the spicy te amo ($14) a mezcal drink with reposado tequila, cayenne cordial and pineapple liqueur topped with a fizz of Topo Chico.

Casa Nomad also features a tightly edited list of wines, available by the glass ($11 to $16) or the bottle ($44 to $62) and beers ($7). It’s open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4 pm to midnight.