Peska Blames Hurricane Harvey and Ongoing Construction for Closure

Peska, the Galleria-area seafood spot that came to Houston via Acapulco, has officially closed its doors.

The restaurant has taken its website and social media presence offline, reports CultureMap, and OpenTable is no longer taking reservations. “Ultimately the recovery from Hurricane Harvey and the ongoing Post Oak Blvd. construction was a combination that we could not financially overcome,” Peska’s ownership said in a statement. “Unfortunately, like many other Houston restaurants, we simply could not overcome Mother Nature.”

In addition to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and construction woes, Peska had its own internal issues. 20-year-old prodigy chef Omar Jose Pereney helped the restaurant find its footing in Houston, then abruptly left the restaurant before filing a lawsuit against Peska and owner Maite Ysita. In the suit, Pereney alleged that the restaurant had attempted to retain rights to his “name and likeness,” and asked him to “go from gourmet seafood to mac and cheese and onion rings.”

The restaurant also rebranded from Peska Seafood Culture to Peska earlier this year, switching up the menu and serving heartier dishes. Chef Chris Loftis eventually took over the kitchen and trimmed down the menu, but it seems as if Peska’s demise can more easily be attributed to an identity crisis than the food.

• Wave of closings continues as Galleria-area seafood restaurant shutters [CultureMap]
• Peska Seafood Culture’s Chef Is Suing To Get His Likeness Back [EHOU]