Brasserie 19 owner Charles Clark is turning a rare double vacancy on Westheimer into a two-pronged Italian operation in Montrose, with a fast-casual Carlo and a white-tablecloth Casa Carlo slated to arrive this spring. Clark has taken over storefronts that previously housed neighborhood fixtures and is aiming for a May opening for both restaurants, a move that could shake up the strip’s dining mix.
Clark's Montrose plan
According to CultureMap Houston, Clark has leased the former Paulie’s and Camerata spaces at 1834 and 1830 Westheimer and intends to debut Carlo and Casa Carlo in May 2026. Carlo is planned as a neighborhood-minded, fast-casual Italian restaurant serving lunch and dinner every day, while Casa Carlo will open as a dinner-focused, white-tablecloth dining room before adding lunch service. Clark told the outlet he had been hunting for the right Montrose opportunity for years and jumped when these two adjoining rooms opened up.
Who’s running the kitchens
Clark has tapped Davide De Angelis as executive chef for both concepts and appointed Michael Hoffman as culinary director across Brasserie 19, Carlo and Casa Carlo. The Brasserie 19 team page lists Hoffman alongside Clark and notes his leadership role, while event and restaurant listings tie De Angelis to a tenure at Coppa Osteria and to his Neapolitan roots. Together, that pairing points to a menu that leans on classic Italian technique while still reading as Houston-friendly comfort food.
Where they'll be
Clark is taking over the side-by-side Westheimer addresses that previously housed Paulie’s and Camerata, giving him two contiguous rooms to transform. The longtime Paulie’s closed at the end of December after a 27-year run, the Houston Chronicle reported, setting up the double vacancy Clark now occupies. Converting those spaces into both a value-minded spot and a more formal dining room marks a notable reuse on a Montrose stretch that has seen its share of turnover.
Menu and design
As outlined by CultureMap Houston, Carlo’s menu will lean into approachable Italian staples like chicken Parmesan, freshly made pasta and pizza, at prices Clark says will echo Paulie’s affordability. Casa Carlo is envisioned as the upscale sibling, with a fine-dining approach and seafood rooted in Neapolitan traditions and family recipes. De Angelis highlighted dishes such as peperoni arrostiti stuffed with sausage and beef served with bagna cauda, while Clark told the outlet that Casa Carlo’s interior will borrow cues from New York’s Polo Bar, including an elegant bar and leather banquettes.
What this means for Montrose
Clark’s twin-restaurant play lands as Houston weathers a wave of restaurant closures and reshuffling, with the Chronicle’s recent roundup of January shutdowns calling out Paulie’s among several high-profile exits. For Montrose diners, the new arrivals promise both an everyday, casual Italian option and a more polished night-out destination from a restaurateur already known for running high-volume rooms. If Clark sticks to his timetable, regulars can expect soft openings and menu previews in the weeks leading up to full service.
