Sometimes, the best restaurant stories begin with a detailed business plan.
Squable began with a quick look at an available space, a burst of conversation, and a friendly disagreement over a name.
Today, the Houston Heights restaurant brings together the talents of Justin Yu, Bobby Heugel, Drew Gimma, Mark Clayton, and Terry Williams.
Its real appeal is the way it turns that playful spirit into food that feels thoughtful, relaxed, and distinctly local.
How Squable Won Local Hearts
Squable opened in April 2019 at 632 W. 19th Street in Houston’s Heights neighborhood, after an unexpected opportunity brought several experienced restaurant professionals together.
The idea grew from conversations between James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu, bar operator Bobby Heugel, chef Drew Gimma, and operations director Terry Williams.
They were not originally planning to open another restaurant, but everything changed when the former Southern Goods space at 19th and Shepherd became available.
The group moved quickly, going from viewing the property to signing the lease in only 72 hours, according to Houstonia.
That fast beginning helped give Squable an easygoing character, even though the people behind it had serious experience.
The restaurant’s name came from a friendly disagreement after Yu suggested “squab,” a young domesticated pigeon known for its dark meat, and Heugel argued against it.
Their playful squabble eventually became the name, capturing the restaurant’s relaxed humor and the personalities behind it.
In the kitchen, Gimma and Mark Clayton brought experience from respected restaurants and bakeries, including Per Se, Sullivan Street Bakery, Common Bond, and Yu’s Oxheart.
Gimma had worked in New York before becoming the opening head baker at Houston’s Common Bond, while Clayton had served as the only sous chef at Oxheart.
Together, they shaped food that focused on simple ingredients, careful technique, and a welcoming experience instead of formal presentation.
Squable describes its menu as casual European food with American influences, seen in dishes such as the Dutch baby, French cheeseburger, pork neck schnitzel, and salt-baked sweet potato.
The menu also reflects the people behind the restaurant, especially in the Dutch baby topped with calamansi grown by Clayton’s mother, while the restaurant’s connection to Anvil, Theodore Rex, and Better Luck Tomorrow, plus its dinner and weekend brunch service, gives locals more reasons to return to a place where creativity, comfort, and neighborhood warmth come together.
Food Highlights
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Dutch Baby: A large, airy pancake inspired by a pan-sized popover, with soft cheese and preserved citrus adding contrast. Its calamansi connection makes it especially personal to the restaurant. 🍽️
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French Cheeseburger: A rich beef burger topped with French raclette, cornichon pickles, and maître d’hôtel butter. It feels like a steakhouse idea translated into a casual sandwich. 🧀
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Pork Neck Schnitzel: A crisp, coated pork dish compared to a beautifully prepared chicken-fried steak. It brings familiar comfort to Squable’s European-leaning menu. 🐖
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Salt-Baked Sweet Potato: A substantial sweet potato preparation paired with pork shoulder and crème fraîche touched with Mediterranean salsa verde. The dish shows how the kitchen builds depth from humble ingredients. 🍠
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Mussel Toast: An open-faced sourdough creation topped with mussels, calico beans, and bonito aioli. The beans echo the size and texture of the mussels, making the combination unusually cohesive. 🦪
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Pain de Mie: A brûlée-crisped French toast-style dessert served with buttermilk-and-sherry crème anglaise. It gives the meal a rich, playful finish. 🍞
Atmosphere
Squable’s dining room combines exposed brick, aqua-blue or teal booths, wood accents, and a modern, low-key design.
The setting feels stylish but comfortable, with a neighborhood character that works for dinner, drinks, or weekend brunch.
Bottom Line
Squable is worth knowing because its food, name, and history all come from the same playful spirit.
It feels like a Houston neighborhood restaurant shaped by talented people who care about technique without taking themselves too seriously.
Address: 632 W 19th St Houston, TX 77008
📞 (832) 834-7362
🕔Open, Tue-Sun, 4 PM–10 PM | Sat-Sun, 11 AM–10PM | Mon (Closed)