Houston’s Most Exciting Restaurant Comebacks of 2018

2017 was a complicated year for Houston, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the city’s restaurant scene was shaken. 2018 was a year of rebuilding in a number of ways, and that meant the return of many Houston eateries that were forced to close their doors because of the storm or entirely unrelated reasons.

Whatever the cause, we’re just glad to have these five Houston establishments back in action.

Fluff Bake Bar

This time last year, Fluff Bake Bar was closed as owner Rebecca Masson made repairs to her space, damaged by a burst pipe from a tenant above her Midtown bakery. Fortunately, Fluff’s endlessly popular pastries (especially that fluffernutter!) and Saturday pop-up bake sales returned just a few weeks later at the end of January.

Pappa Charlies BBQ

Cypress Trail Hideout/Facebook

After departing its original EaDo home, Pappa Charlies found a much bigger space in Cypress, where it’s settled in nicely. Even though its new location isn’t as convenient for some folks, the Cypress Trail Hideout is definitely worth the drive for perfectly-smoked brisket.

Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive

It took more than two years to rebuild this beloved frozen drink haunt after a fire ripped through the building in 2016, but the return of Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Dive was well-worth the wait. In addition to those powerful frozen daiquiris, diners can now eat kitschy, over-the-top fare like the Dead Elvis, a giant peanut butter, bacon, and banana sandwich griddled and smothered in rum raisin maple syrup.

La Fisheria

La Fisheria/Facebook

About a year and a half after opening in Downtown Houston, La Fisheria found itself facing significant damage from Hurricane Harvey. Work on the space continued well into 2018, and La Fisheria made its triumphant comeback in April.

Cafe Benedicte

Cafe Benedicte/Facebook

This family-owned Mediterranean restaurant in the Energy Corridor spent nearly a year rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey, and its owners went through the process without the assistance of flood insurance. After a lot of hard work, the restaurant reopened its doors in August.