Houston, our favorite time of the year is back! What better way to support local restaurants than by participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW)! This is a weeks-long event with participating restaurants offering prix fixe and to-go menus in which a portion of the proceeds benefit The Houston Food Bank.
From August 1 through September 5 (Labor Day), participating restaurants will donate $2 from the $25 lunch and brunch menus, $4 from the $39 dinner menus and $6 from the $55 dinner menus. With more than 200 restaurants participating, we know it can be hard to choose. Here are our top 10 menus to get you started. For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, visit houstonrestaurantweeks.com. Reservations are recommended.
CHIVOS
Located in Houston Heights, Chivos has become the go-to spot for a fun dinner date! This year, they are offering a 3-course dinner menu for $39 per person. This menu will feature Stone Fruit, Ceviche Tostada or Blistered Shishito Peppers as your first course. For your second course, choose between Pork Belly Tacos, Half Chicken or Akaushi Flank Steak. Last, but not least, complete your meal with Peach Tres Leches, Summer Berries or Xocolatl Tamal as your dessert! Did we mention they have an outdoor patio? Pair your meal with a frozen Nuuk Mezcal & Hibiscus cocktail and dine al fresco! HRW menu is also available as a to-go order.
DAILY GATHER
Looking for a great spot for lunch or dinner? Dine at the new Daily Gather in City Centre! You’ll love their traditional American and Houston-inspired menus. Their 2-course lunch menu for $25 per person offers items like Cacio e Pepe Frites, Tomato Basil Bisque Bowl or Garden salad for the first course. Choose between Seared Salmon, Butcher Burger, Crunchy Noodle Salad and more for your entree! What’s better than a 3-course meal? A 4-course meal! Daily Gather’s 4-course dinner at $55 per person offers your choice of Deviled Eggs, Salmon Ceviche Tostadas or Southern Rockefeller oysters for the first course. For the second course, select from various salads, soups and fresh items like Citrus Avocado with grapefruit, orange and fennel. For the third course, choose from Steak Frites, Rotisserie Chicken and more. Finish your meal with a Citrus Creme Brulee or Bananas Foster Banana Pudding!
EL TOPO
What started as a food truck is now Chef Tony Luhrman’s El Topo, nestled in a quiet corner in West U. This spot has West Texas inspired decor, a charming patio and serves up tasty tacos with locally sourced ingredients. We recommend this spot for brunch or dinner! On their HRW brunch menu you will find La Muffina and Cauliflower al Pastor for a first course and popular items like Migas and Chicken Tinga Tostada for the second course. This menu is $25 per person. For dinner, choose dishes like Esquites for your first course, Taco Platter for your second course and Tres Leches de Chocolate for your third course at $55 per person!
INDIANOLA
You can find delicious Texas Gulf Coast inspired cuisine at Indianola in East Downtown. This year, they are offering a 2-course brunch menu at $25 per person and a 3-course dinner menu at $39 per person! For brunch, their Peach-Ricotta Toast and Crispy Chicken and Brown Butter Honey Biscuit is a must-try! For dinner, start by ordering Third Coast Campechana, for an entree order Pan Seared Gulf Fish and top off a great dinner with Cafe’ Tres Leches Cake!
MAD HOUSTON
In the heart of River Oaks District, you’ll find MAD Houston an eclectic and fun Spanish restaurant with a traditional and modern take on Spanish tapas. Try their $25 HRW 2-course lunch menu and choose tapas like Chilled Gazpacho, Watermelon Burrata, Bravas Tomas, Pulled Pork Croissant and the popular Huevo al Nido. If you’re hungry for more, try their 4-course dinner menu at $55 per person. Taste Tuna Tartare and Ginger Roll for the first course, Pork Empanadas and Calamari Bocadillos for the second course, Gambas al Ajillo and Mushroom Arroz for third course and finish with Spanish Churros! Their plate presentation alone will have you coming back for more.
OUZO BAY
For incredible seafood and tasty dishes, we recommend Ouzo Bay Mediterranean Kouzina in River Oaks District! They are offering a 2-course lunch and brunch menu for $25 per person and a 3-course dinner menu for $55 per person. For brunch, try their Greek Breakfast Gyro and Crab Cake Benedict, and Wagyu Beef Kofta Kabob and Branzino Filet for lunch. For dinner, you can’t miss out on Salt & Pepper Calamari for the first course, Pan Seared Ora King Salmon for second course and finish with Napoleon pistachio ice cream!
RIM TANON
We recommend Rim Tanon near Upper Kirby for modern Thai street food. Their 3-course dinner menu at $39 per person has first course options like Clear Noodle Salad and Lao Style Papaya Salad. For your second course, taste mouthwatering Crabmeat Fried Rice, Crying Tiger steak or Spicy Seafood Fried Rice. Choose from Thai Style Shaved Ice, Mango Shaved Ice or Sweet Rice & Mango for dessert!
SAVOIR
Savoir in Houston Heights is a great restaurant with seasonally-inspired dishes. Their HRW lunch menu at $25 per person offers Watermelon Salad, Hummus and Caesar Salad for the first course and Salmon, Cacio e Pepe and Brie Burger for the entree. This beautiful restaurant is perfect for your next lunch outing!
TORO TORO
Chef Richard Sandoval’s award-winning Pan-Latin Steakhouse, Toro Toro at the luxury Four Seasons Hotel is offering a 2-course lunch menu at $25 per person and a 3-course menu at $55 per person. For lunch, order the delicious Angry Scorpion Roll and pair with Toro Toro Burger. For dinner, choose the Amarillo Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and complete with Crepes Layer Cake! This is a great spot to taste amazing Latin cuisine.
TRATTORIA SOFIA
At Trattoria Sofia, you’ll find rustic Italian inspired cuisine in an intimate dining setting. Dine and choose their 2-course lunch and brunch menu for $25 per person or their dinner menu for $39 per person. You can’t go wrong with Suppli al Telefono croquettes and Margherita D.O.C. for brunch or Barbabietolina Arrosto and Cacio e Pepe for lunch! For dinner, we recommend ordering Fritto Misto, Prosciutto and Pollo Alla Parmigiana and you’re in for a great dining experience!