Chef Graham Laborde to Open Little Bird in the Heights

Little Bird is set to debut at 1815 North Durham Drive in Houston on October 29, 2026.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Dining Out

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern restaurant building with an outdoor patio, reflecting a community-focused dining space. — Chef Graham Laborde will open his new Creole-inspired restaurant, Little Bird, in Houston's Heights neighborhood on October 29, 2026. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Chef Graham Laborde is opening his new restaurant, Little Bird, in the Heights neighborhood on October 29, 2026. The establishment is located at 1815 North Durham Drive, a site previously occupied by Flying Fish and the Kid.

Why it matters

The opening marks a return to the neighborhood for Laborde, who previously operated the restaurant Bernadine's before it closed in 2017. Laborde chose to bring his culinary focus back to the area where he has lived for 16 years.

Little Bird features a total dining capacity of 168 seats, including 18 bar seats and 17 adjacent table seats. The menu is structured so that Gulf Coast seafood comprises at least half of all available offerings.

The players

Graham Laborde

A professional chef returning to the Heights neighborhood after previously operating the restaurant Bernadine's.

Matt Staph

The chef de cuisine who collaborated on the Creole and Cajun menu for the new restaurant.

Chelsea Thomas

The general manager of the restaurant who assisted in the design of the interior space.

The details

Chefs Graham Laborde and Matt Staph developed a menu centered on Creole and Cajun flavors. The interior, designed by Laborde, his wife Paige, and manager Chelsea Thomas, includes two patios and a custom mural by Whitney Garrett-Yarbrough and Dayle Booth.

2017: Bernadine's closed in the Heights.
October 29, 2026: Little Bird officially opens.

Culture Shift

The opening follows the pattern set by the 2017 closure of Bernadine's, marking a return for the chef to the neighborhood where he has resided for over a decade. This reflects a broader trend of local restaurateurs focusing on neighborhood-centric establishments to anchor culinary scenes.

Residents of the Heights can expect a new 168-seat venue offering a menu focused heavily on Gulf Coast seafood. The restaurant provides a fresh option for local dining, replacing the site formerly occupied by Flying Fish and the Kid.

The takeaway

Little Bird represents a long-term commitment to the Heights area by its founding team. Diners looking to experience the new Creole and Cajun menu should prepare for the high-capacity space to draw significant local interest upon its October opening.