“We have fun here.”
About Us
When Jacques Varon moved back to Houston after cutting his teeth in Austin, Los Angeles, and Tokyo, he knew he wanted to bring the best parts of all those places to his hometown. During his time in L.A., Jacques met Max Lappe, whose commitment to creativity and research Jacques had always admired. Two years later, Jacques convinced Max to leave sunny Los Angeles for swampy Houston, and Baso was born.
Joining us in Spring of 2024, our Pastry Chef, Avril Martinez, brings an earnest sweetness to the end of every dinner, and our beverage team of Evan McCarley and Craig Mickle have used their years of knowledge to present a curated list of gastronomically-focused wines and cocktails to complement every meal.
Our General Manager, Sarah Dowling, wrangles our team and pushes us all to be the best versions of ourselves we can be every service.
Since opening our doors in December 2023, Baso has evolved into a space guided by global culinary traditions with an emphasis on Basque-inspired live fire cooking. We source many of our ingredients from Texas, and we work closely with local purveyors to source the best quality components to create our dinner menu.
Is there one thing that makes Baso special? It would be irresponsible to say yes. We are a confluence of every dish we have ever made, and every person, café, farmer’s market, or fine dining concept we have ever worked in or with. We’re your favorite restaurant’s favorite restaurant, and we have fun here.
Our Team
Jacques Varon- Executive Chef + Owner
Max Lappe- Executive Chef
Adrian Arriaga- Executive Sous Chef
Avril Martinez- Executive Pastry Chef
Fernando Acosta- Sous Chef
Sarah Dowling- General Manager
Evan McCarley- Wine Director
Craig Mickle- Bar Manager
Jose Rodrigo Bonilla- Primary Investor
Baso Menu
Our menus change often, giving our guests the opportunity to try something new every visit. The menus below are an example of what we do and are subject to change daily.
To view a sample menu from last week, follow this link.
Reserve Your Table
Due to our small size, we have some unique policies:
Please keep in mind that seating at Baso is limited. To ensure everyone enjoys their dining experience, kindly honor your reservation duration:
Parties of 2: Up to 2 hours
Parties of 3-4: Up to 2 hours 30 minutes
Parties of 5 or more: Up to 3 hours
For a captivating view of our open kitchen, reserve seating at our kitchen counter in the main dining area.
Walk-ins are always welcome in our bar area and will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
We charge a 20% service fee for any parties of 5 or above and require a "Trust the Chef" set menu for parties of 7 or larger.
We do not enforce a dress code; we encourage “spiffy casual” dress!
Nice jeans and sneakers are just fine, but a ballgown would be cool too.
To reserve a table, follow this link.
Contact Us
Whether you're planning a special evening, have questions about our menu, or simply want to say hello, our team is here to help.
Reservations & Private Dining
For reservations, special events, or private dining inquiries, please reach out directly or use the form. We’re happy to accommodate celebrations, business gatherings, or intimate occasions with curated menus and signature hospitality.
General Inquiries
For all other questions—press, partnerships, or feedback—drop us a note.