da Gama canteen
Modern Indian restaurant · Memorial
600 N Shepherd Dr Suite 520, Houston, TX 77007
%20Photo%20by%20Daniel%20Benavides.jpg "da Gama canteen by Daniel Benavides")
Highlights
Portuguese-Indian fusion eatery with flavorful curries & cocktails
Portuguese-Indian fusion eatery with flavorful curries & cocktails
"Husband-and-wife team Shiva Patel and Rick DiVirgilio draw inspiration from their Indian and Portuguese-Italian roots for the menu at Da Gama. Find fusion dishes like lamb keema pizza alongside Portuguese-style saffron paella, bullet naan, and crab pani puri. The dining room is as arresting as the food, with delicate arches above cushy booths, eye-catching artwork, and warm wood accents." - Brianna Griff
"This restaurant will host a festive night market featuring homemade chai, special Diwali confections, and curated dishes prepared by chef-owner Shiva Patel, alongside a lineup of local vendors and a henna artist, creating a casual, market-style celebration centered on food and community." - Brittany Britto Garley
"Operated by hospitality veterans Shiva Patel and Rick DiVirgilio of Oporto and the now shuttered Queen Vic, Da Gama harmoniously melds the flavors of Portuguese and Indian cuisines in a chic and modern setting. In addition to traditions like chili paneer, samosas, and pani puri, the menu intrigues with plates like arroz do campo, a Portuguese-style paella, and Mediterranean black mussels in curry. As a bonus, Da Gama has many plant-based plates." - Brittany Britto Garley, Eater Staff
"The sister restaurant to Oporto and the Queen Vic, this inventive Anglo-Indian hotspot combines Portuguese cuisine and its influence in the former Indian territories of Goa and Gujarat through a modern lens. In addition to its curries and entrees like its asado de bife — a coffee spice-crusted hanger steak served with sweet potato and rich coconut curry, Da Gama offers two paellas. The arroz do campo features Indo-Portugeuse goa sausage or choris and paprika chicken, and the arroz com mariscos comes complete with mussels, Gulf shrimp, halibut, bacalhau, and octopus. Both dishes are plated with a bowl of aromatic, crispy saffron rice that’s made to order and can pair well with one of Da Gama’s natural wines."
"On weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Da Gama’s happy hour features an ever-changing menu. Cocktails like the tamarind caipirinha and saffron G&T are half off, plus shareables like naan pizzettes and samosa chaat are $10 or less." - Megha McSwain, Brittany Britto Garley
