Once again, Houston is facing the aftermath of another powerful tropical storm. Tropical storm Beryl barreled through the Houston area on Monday, leaving more than 2 million without power and several neighborhoods flooded and strewn in debris. However, several Houston restaurants have sprung into action to open and serve those in need.
Restaurants like Street to Kitchen and Burger Bodega will open their doors on Tuesday to help feed Houston diners, many of whom are left without electricity and air conditioning as temperatures increase. Others, like Pizzitola’s Bar B Que, the Blind Goat, and Shanghai Restaurant in Asiatown, warned diners on their social media accounts that they would be closed, along with other neighboring businesses, due to power outages.
Early Monday afternoon, local officials had urged residents to stay home, and many local restaurants remained closed as they braced themselves for Beryl’s effects. Some, though, like co*cktail lounge Poison Girl, were biding their time in very Houston style. “As soon as it is dry enough outside we’ll start pouring inside,” lounge owners announced on their Instagram.
By 11 a.m. Monday, Fox’s meteorologists declared that conditions were improving and that Beryl, which was then downgraded from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, could be behind the city by later in the afternoon. Still, Houston Mayor John Whitmire held a press conference at around 11:10 a.m. urging and “pleading” with Houstonians to shelter in place and stay off the roads so as not to put first responders in danger. There had been more than 30 rescues in the city and more than 400 911 calls in an hour, according to officials. “All we need to worry about right now is protecting lives,” Whitmire said, adding that many of Houston’s traffic lights were damaged and not working properly. Officials said that the city would likely be in recovery mode hours — if not, days — after Beryl passes.
Houston officials and police began warning people of impending storm Beryl on Sunday night, encouraging residents to stay off the road. Many restaurants immediately began preparing for the storm, with establishments like Daily Gather and Dish Society closing early at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday and announcing that they would “wait and see” about conditions on Monday.
Beryl, which caused at least 11 deaths on its path through the Caribbean to Texas, comes just a few months after severe thunderstorms swept through southeastern Texas and Louisiana in May with winds as high as 78 mph. The storm, which battered the Houston area, left at least four people dead and more than 800,000 residents without power and electricity for days.
As locals wait to regain power and for the shelter-in-place to be lifted, Eater Houston will track which restaurants are closed and open this week, and which restaurants have suffered extensive damage from the storm. We’ll also update this story with information on any food service and donation efforts to support those in need of hot food and services. Check back to this space for more information as it becomes available.
Who’s helping
- Street to Kitchen: Though the Thai restaurant was still without air conditioning, Street to Kitchen offered a limited menu of prepared to-go meals for cash donations. on Tuesday, July 9, for those who are hungry and in need. The restaurant, which was also celebrating its chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter’s birthday, offered a limited menu of co*cktails and beers at its bar for normal charges (not including service charges). Just show up and pick up what you like,” the owners wrote. “As we have no AC, it will be a little toasty. But, we’ll have ice in those drinks!”
- Little Rey (near River Oaks) offered free breakfast tacos for all first responders on Wednesday morning, July 10 at its Uno Mas takeout window.
- Comfort Foodies, a North Houston restaurant that serves a fusion of Southern soul food and Latin Caribbean American cuisine gave out free empanadas and hot meals to those in need starting at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10. Food is available while supplies last.
- il Bracco and Balboa Surf Club in Post Oak Plaza began offering first responders in uniform half-off their bills on Thursday, July 11.
Houston restaurants open as of Thursday, July 11
- 93 ‘Til (Montrose)
- A’Bouzy (River Oaks)
- Aburi Sushi (Southwest Freeway)
- Aero co*cktail Co. (River Oaks)
- Alicia’s Mexican Grille (Cypress and Houston locations only)
- Angelo’s Pizza and Pasta (Webster)
- Angel Share HTX (Downtown) opens at 4 p.m.
- Annabelle Brasserie (Autry Park)
- The Annie Cafe and Bar (Tanglewood area)
- Auden (Autry Park)
- Artisans
- Axelrad (1517 Alabama Street, Midtown)
- Aye Candy (Spring Branch)
- Azumi (River Oaks District)
- Backstreet Cafe (Montrose)
- Badolina Bakery (Rice Village)
- Bagel Shop Bakery (Bellaire)
- Balboa Surf Club and Il Bracco (Post Oak Plaza)
- Banh Canh Tom Cua (Asiatown)
- Bari (River Oaks District) is open with a limited menu.
- Barnaby’s (Downtown)
- Bar Bludorn (Memorial City)
- Baso in the Heights is open for normal hours.
- B&B Butchers & Restaurant (1814 Washington Avenue)
- Be More Pacific (Heights)
- The Bep Teahouse (Cypress)
- Betelgeuse Betelgeuse (Montrose and Washington Avenue)
- Big Horn BBQ (Santa Fe location only)
- Blacksmith (Montrose)
- Boomtown Coffee (Downtown)
- Brasserie 19 (River Oaks)
- Bread Zeppelin (3235 Southwest Freeway) is open until 9 p.m. for in-store ordering only.
- Brennan’s of Houston (Courtlandt Place)
- Brenner’s Steakhouse (Memorial area)
- Brick House Tavern + Tap (Galveston)
- Bungalow Downtown Dining (Downtown)
- Burger Bodega (Washington Avenue)
- The Burger Joint (all locations)
- Burger Vibe (Washington Avenue)
- Cafe Layal (Midtown)
- Campesino Coffee House (Montrose)
- Cafe Piquet Cuban Cuisine (Bellaire) is open with a limited menu
- Canary Coffee House (Downtown)
- Candente (Montrose)
- Caracol (Uptown)
- Chi’lantro BBQ (Heights)
- Christian’s Tailgate (All locations open)
- Christie’s Seafood & Steaks (Uptown)
- ChopnBlok (Downtown’s Post Houston)
- Cocody Restaurant & Bar (River Oaks)
- Cooking Girl (Downtown)
- Cowboys and Indians (Rice Military) is open for to-go only.
- Cozy Kitchen (18311 Clay Road) is open and will offer free boba tea during its happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Craft Pita’s locations on Fountainview Drive and Buffalo Speedway
- Cranky Carrot Juice Co. (Downtown’s Finn Hall) is open with free juice and water for people without power.
- Crown Seafood (Asiatown)
- Cyclone Anaya’s Citycentre, River Oaks, Woodway, Midtown, and Woodlands locations are open.
- Daily Gather (City Centre)
- Dario’s Steakhouse & Seafood (Cypress)
- Del Frisco’s Steakhouse (The Galleria)
- Dish Society’s (Heights, West University, Katy)
- Doris Metropolitan (Montrose)
- duch*ess (Uptown Park)
- Duck N Bao’s Cypress and Rice Village locations
- d’Vine Wine Bar (Cypress)
- Elro (Montrose area)
- El Tiempo (Gessner, Richmond, Navigation, Washington, Galleria)
- Figo Sugo (Downtown)
- Flip n’ Patties (Downtown)
- FRNDS Restaurant & Lounge (University Boulevard)
- Galiana’s Tex Mex & Agave Bar (Cypress)
- Gatlin’s Fins & Feathers (Independence Heights)
- Gold Tooth Tony’s locations in Montrose and the Heights are open for normal hours.
- Goode Co. BBQ (Kirby Drive)
- Granger’s (Museum District)
- Grinder’s (Rice Village area)
- Grotto (Downtown)
- Guard and Grace (Downtown)
- Hamsa (Rice Village)
- Hobbit Cafe (Montrose)
- Echoes (Richmond Avenue)
- Empire Cafe (Montrose) is open and serving a limited menu.
- El Patio (Uptown)
- Etoile Cuisine et Bar (Tangelwood area)
- Eunice (Upper Kirby)
- EZ’s Liquor Lounge (Heights)
- Fifth Vessel Coffee Co (First Ward)
- Fluffy’s Falafel food truck (7919 Westheimer Road)
- Gaspachos Mexican Bites (Levy Park)
- Henderson & Kane General Store (Washington Avenue)
- HiWay Cantina (East Downtown) is open with a limited menu.
- Hearsay (Downtown)
- Holler Brewing (Washington Avenue)
- Home Run Dugout (Katy)
- Hongdae 33 (Asiatown)
- Hughie’s (Timbergrove)
- Hugo’s (Montrose)
- Hungry Farmer BBQ’s Ella location is open
- Hungry’s (Rice Village)
- Julep (Washington Avenue)
- Jethro’s co*cktail Lounge (Midtown)
- KAMP Houston (6025 Westheimer Road)
- Kata Robata (Upper Kirby)
- Kau Ba (Montrose)
- Kenny & Ziggy’s (Post Oak Plaza) reopened on Wednesday, July 10.
- Kin Dee (Heights)
- Kirby Ice House (Memorial location)
- Kojak’s (Lazybrook/Timbergrove)
- Kolache Shoppe — All locations are open.
- Kowbell Burger (Downtown)
- KP’s Kitchen (all locations)
- La Cantina (Downtown)
- La Fisheria (Downtown)
- La Griglia (Harlow District)
- La Taquiza (Downtown)
- Landry’s Seafood House (Katy and Kemah)
- Late August in Midtown’s Ion will be open for a limited lunch and dinner menu.
- Le Jardinier (Museum District)
- Liberty Kitchen & Oysterette’s Memorial and River Oaks locations are both open.
- Little Rey (near River Oaks)
- The Local Bar (Cypress)
- Local Table (Cypress, Fulshear, Garden Oaks, and The Woodlands)
- Loch Bar (River Oaks)
- Los Tios (Buffalo Speedway)
- The Locker Room Sports Bar & Grill (Third Ward)
- Los Ranchitos Restaurant (Sharpstown)
- Lost & Found (160 West Gray Street)
- Lotus Seafood’s locations in Pearland, Kirkwood, and Veterans Memorial Drive are open today.
- Lucille’s will be open for online delivery app orders only.
- Maine-ly Sandwiches’s Katy Freeway and Washington Avenue locations
- MaKiin (River Oaks/Montrose) is open today.
- Mala Sichuan Bistro (Katy, Montrose, Asiatown, Heights)
- Mandito’s Tex-Mex’s Katy location
- Marvino’s Italian Steakhouse (Cypress)
- Mastro’s Steakhouse (The Post Oak Hotel)
- Marmo (Montrose)
- Maven Coffee + co*cktails (Allen Parkway)
- McGonigel’s Mucky Duck (Upper Kirby)
- Miller’s Cafe (Garden Oaks)
- Mo’ Better Brews (Museum Park) resumes normal hours with a limited menu on Thursday, July 11.
- All Molina’s Cantina’s locations are open.
- Money Cat
- Monkey’s Tail (near Northside)
- Moon Rabbit (Heights)
- Musaafer (Galleria area)
- Navy Blue (Rice Village)
- Nikos Nikos (Montrose)
- Norigami (Southhampton)
- Notsuoh (First Ward)
- Oh My Gogi BBQ (Galleria Area / Fountain View)
- The Original Ninfa’s in Uptown is open through 10 p.m., but phones are down. The restaurant is accessible through social media.
- Oso Coffee in East End is open for normal hours all week.
- Osso & Kristalla (Downtown)
- Pappasitos (Hilton Americas - Downtown)
- Patis & Toyo (Katy)
- Puebla’s Mexican Kitchen (Heights)
- Paulie’s (Montrose)
- Phanh Ky (Tomball Parkway)
- Pho Dien (Bellaire Boulevard)
- Pho Sapa (Bellaire Boulevard)
- Phat Eatery’s Katy location is open. The Woodlands location will open at 11 a.m. Thursday.
- Pier 6 (San Leon)
- Pitch 25 (Downtown)
- The Pit Room’s Montrose and Memorial locations
- Pizzitola’s Bar B Que
- Poison Girl (Montrose)
- Porch Swing Pub (Washington Avenue)
- Pizaro’s Pizza’s Memorial and Montrose locations are open.
- Post Houston is open for dinner.
- Potente (Downtown)
- Proper Rose Garden (Katy)
- Prospect Park (Fountain View Drive)
- Puttshack (Downtown Houston)
- Rocambolesc (Uptown Park)
- R Bar Houston (near Downtown)
- Rosalie Italian Soul (Downtown)
- Rudyard’s (Montrose)
- Safari Restaurant (Alief) is open.
- Saltgrass Steak House (Cypress)
- Sapporo Sushi (Downtown)
- The Savoy (Third Ward)
- Seaside Poke (Downtown)
- Slowpokes (Memorial, Levy Park, and Garden Oaks)
- Soho Garden (Downtown)
- Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Cafe (Katy)
- South X Saigon (Westpark area)
- Space City Birria (Downtown)
- Star Cinema Grill’s Cypress, College Station, CityCentre, Richmond, and Springwoods locations
- State Fare Kitchen & Bar’s Sugar Land and Memorial locations are open. The Woodlands location is open with a limited menu.
- Steak 48 (River Oaks District)
- Stick Talk Cajun Hibachi Restaurant (Midtown)
- Stomping Grounds establishments that open at 11 a.m. Thursday (Garden Oaks): LuLoos Day and Night, La Me, Himari, Oh My Gogi, Pho Fix, Bollo, Becca Cakes, Fat Cat Creamery, Sonoma Wine Bar
- Sushi by the Heights (Heights)
- Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen on Eldridge
- Tacos Doña Lena (Timbergrove)
- Tacos A Go Go’s Heights, Midtown, Greenway, and One Shell Plaza locations are open.
- Tacodeli’s Washington Avenue location
- The Taco Stand (all locations)
- Taste Kitchen + Bar (Downtown Houston)
- TJ Birria & Mas (Heights)
- The Teahouse (Heights)
- Thai Cafe (Downtown)
- Thai Tail (Montrose)
- Tipsy Treats (3839 Southwest Freeway)
- Toasted Coconut (Montrose)
- Toca Madera (Allen Parkway)
- Tony’s (Upper Kirby)
- Top Sushi (Rosenberg)
- Trash Panda Drinking Club’s food truck
- Traveler’s Table (Montrose) reopens for normal hours on Thursday.
- Treebeards (Downtown)
- Tumeric Indian Cuisine (Heights)
- Turner’s Cut (Autry Park)
- Uchi (Montrose) will be open during normal hours.
- Underbelly Burger’s Heights and Spring Branch locations
- Understory (Downtown)
- Urbe (Tanglewood)
- Vic & Anthony’s (Downtown)
- Vuji Cafe is open with a limited menu.
- The Warwick (Uptown)
- Wild Concepts (Heights and Montrose)
- Wild Oats (Spring Branch) will open on Thursday, July 11.
- Willie G’s Seafood (The Post Oak Hotel)
- XiaolongKan Hot Pot is open and offering 50 percent off all bills on Tuesday.
- Xochi (Downtown)
- Zanti River Oaks will open during normal hours with its full menu.
Houston restaurants closed on Thursday, July 11
The following restaurants have announced closures due to the local storms and associated power outages
- Amrina (The Woodlands)
- Andiron (Allen Parkway)
- The Blind Goat is closed due to power outages.
- Bludorn is closed due to power outages.
- Cafe Leonelli in the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is closed.
- Conservatory (Galleria area)
- Dandelion Cafe’s locations on Bellaire and on Rice University’s campus are closed. The Rice location is scheduled to open on July 10 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Dish Society’s Memorial location is closed and still without power.
- Duck N Bao’s Memorial location is closed and still without power.
- Georgia James (Regent Square)
- Grand Galvez in Galveston is closed for cleanup and will reopen on July 11.
- Jun (Heights) was still without power as of Wednesday, July 10.
- Loro (Heights) is closed and without power.
- Maryz Mediterranean’s locations are closed and without power.
- The Original Ninfa’s Navigation location is closed.
- Ostia (Montrose) is closed.
- Picos (Upper Kirby) is temporarily closed.
- Rainbow Lodge (Shady Acres) is closed.
- All Roostar Vietnamese Grill locations are temporarily closed.
- Sala Thai Eatery is closed due to a break-in.
- Sao Lao Thai Cafe is closed due to storm damages.
- Shanghai Restaurant (Asiatown)
- Squable (Heights)
- Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen on Woodway is closed.
- Tacodeli’s Post Oak Plaza location is closed.
- Uchiko (Post Oak Boulevard) is closed and without power.
- Wild Oats (Spring Branch)
Update: July 11, 9:58 a.m.: This story has been updated to include additional information about restaurants, and local efforts to support those in need of food services.
