One of the most anticipated, if not the most anticipated, annual area restaurant-related event began the other day on August 1, Houston Restaurant Weeks. Running through September 2, when diners visit one of the 282 participating restaurant locations and order from the Restaurant Weeks menu that will feature a set multi-course menu with several options, the restaurant will donate $7 during dinnertime and $3 for lunch to the Houston Food Bank. Lunches are $20 and dinners are $35 or $45, with some optional upcharges at some places. If you don’t know, the Houston Food Bank is a rather worthwhile local charity, a non-profit organization that collects and distributes food to hunger relief charities, which happens to be the largest food bank in the country.
Helping the community is rather easy, just dine out at one of the restaurants and order from the Restaurant Weeks menu. It’s not only easy, but enjoyable. It has resonated with locals: since Cleverley Stone started the event in 2003, it has raised well over $10 million for the Houston Food Bank. Houston Restaurants Weeks seems to encourage people to visit restaurants, and especially restaurants that are new to them. In addition to aiding the charity, it has definitely increased traffic for local eateries, both new and familiar. August was once about the slowest of months for area restaurants. No longer. This has helped not only the bottom line for the restaurateurs but also their staffs, who are among the lowest-paid workers.
With so many restaurants, there is certainly plenty from which to choose. The restaurants from Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught – Backstreet Café, Caracol, Hugo’s and Xochi – which are known for doing a very good job for Houston Restaurant Weeks, are taking part again. Some other notables include Amalfi, Etoile, Latin Bites, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Potente, Riel, Reef, and Houston’s grand dame, Tony’s. Do some good and have some fun, visit one of them or one of the many other participating restaurants during this next month.
A delectable dish from one of the participants, Bistro Menil
Helping the community is rather easy, just dine out at one of the restaurants and order from the Restaurant Weeks menu. It’s not only easy, but enjoyable. It has resonated with locals: since Cleverley Stone started the event in 2003, it has raised well over $10 million for the Houston Food Bank. Houston Restaurants Weeks seems to encourage people to visit restaurants, and especially restaurants that are new to them. In addition to aiding the charity, it has definitely increased traffic for local eateries, both new and familiar. August was once about the slowest of months for area restaurants. No longer. This has helped not only the bottom line for the restaurateurs but also their staffs, who are among the lowest-paid workers.
With so many restaurants, there is certainly plenty from which to choose. The restaurants from Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught – Backstreet Café, Caracol, Hugo’s and Xochi – which are known for doing a very good job for Houston Restaurant Weeks, are taking part again. Some other notables include Amalfi, Etoile, Latin Bites, Pappas Bros. Steakhouse, Potente, Riel, Reef, and Houston’s grand dame, Tony’s. Do some good and have some fun, visit one of them or one of the many other participating restaurants during this next month.
A delectable dish from one of the participants, Bistro Menil
