Fire damages landmark restaurant

KEMAH — A Kemah landmark was in ruins Tuesday as investigators searched for the cause of a fire that destroyed part of the What’s Cookin’ restaurant, 930 FM 518, Monday morning.

Investigators believe the fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen, but they are unsure exactly where or what caused the blaze, said Kemah Volunteer Fire Department Chief Larry Suniga.

Firefighters were called to the restaurant at 6:13 a.m. Monday, reports said.

When crews arrived, smoke was billowing out of the roof, Suniga said.

Kemah crews were assisted by firefighters from Webster, Seabrook, Pasadena, League City and Bacliff. They put out the fire in about two hours, Suniga said.

The kitchen and second floor of the restaurant were destroyed, he said. The rest of the building was damaged by smoke and water.

The damage is so severe, Suniga said, that the restaurant’s insurance company could decide it is cheaper to rebuild rather than repair the building.

Suniga said the What’s Cookin’ restaurant had been open for about 20 years.