Little Bird, a new neighborhood restaurant from chef Graham Laborde, officially opens Thursday at 1815 North Durham Drive in Houston's Heights. The building is a former 1970s service station that most recently housed the Flying Fish and then the Kid. Laborde previously ran Bernadine's, which closed in 2017, and later Winnie's.
Laborde said the restaurant reflects the Gulf Coast flavors he grew up with and what he has learned in Houston. He said he wants guests to feel like they are dining in his home. Laborde worked at New Orleans restaurants including Commander's Palace, Stella and Boucherie before moving to Houston. With chef de cuisine Matt Staph, he developed a menu of Creole, Cajun and Southern dishes, with at least half of the menu made up of Gulf Coast seafood.
Dishes include New Orleans barbecue shrimp toast, shrimp and grits, crawfish bucatini and roasted snapper. The restaurant also has an oyster bar. Pastry chef Julia Doran is preparing desserts, and Justin Ware, operations director for Johnny's Gold Brick, Winnie's and Starduster Lounge, created the cocktail list.