Saint Patrick’s Day is, as always, March 17. This year, it falls on a Wednesday and green-tinged festivities abound throughout the Greater Houston area. Choose from patio parties, socially distanced dine-in events or opt for takeout to enjoy at home. Spring for green beer, food specials and other delights while listening to live music, including bagpipes at some locations.

As of publication time, all locations listed are following COVID-19 precautions for staff and guests. Some require masks when guests are not seated and others strongly encourage that masks be worn. Call the locations you wish to visit for specific information on protocols.

Backstreet Cafe, 1103 South Shepherd: Celebrate with drink specials and an Irish Whiskey Menu on March 17. Irish Coffees are $8, Irish whiskeys are half-priced and there are whiskey flights, too. The three-course dinner is $49 plus tax and gratuity. It includes a choice of starter from scallop crudo or Shamrock Wedge served with Red Beard’s Delight cocktail, and entrées served with a Bushmills whiskey flight, which include Guinness Beef Cheeks, Pan-Roasted Irish Chicken, Whiskey-Glazed Salmon and Crispy Pulled Pork. Dessert is a Farmhouse Apple Crumble served with Irish coffee.

Brennan’s of Houston, 3300 Smith: Spend Saint Patrick’s Day on the courtyard of one of Houston’s most iconic restaurants and nosh on a special holiday menu. Bites include Grilled Oysters Rockefeller, Steak & Potatoes (corned beef crusted flat iron, braised cabbage and twice baked potato), Stuffed Cabbage (boudin-stuffed cabbage with a Creole mustard glaze) and Chocolate Chip and Mint Cheesecake. There are fresh new cocktails for March, too. Choose from Smith St. Shamrock Julep (Maker’s Mark, mint crushed ice and powdered sugar), Irish Trinity (Bailey’s Irish Cream, Irish Mist Honey, Jameson Cold Brew Irish Whiskey) and Boozy Bayou Tea (Tullamore Dew Cider Cask Irish Whiskey and turbinado-sweetened black tea in an absinthe-rinsed glass). All items are priced a la carte. Visit the event website for the full details and to make reservations.

Kenny & Ziggy’s, 2327 Post Oak : Get your traditional corned beef and cabbage fix at this authentic, New York-style deli in Houston. A loaded platter with three-quarters of a pound of corned beef, two sides, house salad and a bottle of cold beer is $23.95. In case you’re wondering why this Jewish deli celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day, it’s actually a long tradition that dates back more than a century. The Loyal League was founded in New York City during the late 19th Century by Michael Mann, an Irish-Jewish immigrant from Dublin.

Max’s Wine Dive, 214 Fairview: Tuck into crispy beer-battered halibut fish and chips during dinner hours March 10 through 17. The dish is available for dine-in, to go and delivery. Dine-in guests can add drafts of green Stella Artois. The special is $17 for food alone or $21 with food and one beer. Note: this is only available at the Montrose location.

Ouisie’s Table, 3939 San Felipe: Enjoy a special lunch deal that honors Saint Patrick’s Day and National Corned Beef & Cabbage Day (which both fall on March 17). It includes a plate of corned beef & cabbage with a glass of beer for $20 and is available at lunch on Wednesday, March 17 through Friday, March 19. For information and reservations, visit the website or call (713) 528-2264.

Penny Whistle Irish Pub, 1625 Richmond: This neighborhood hangout is hosting a slew of specials and activities, including an Irish Stew Cook-Off, bagpiper performances, green beer, Jello shots and Irish-themed drinks. The cookoff is Sunday, March 14 from 1 to 8 p.m. and requires a $50 registration fee per team. Guests pay $5 for unlimited samples of stew, and proceeds will be donated to victims of Winter Storm Uri. There will be winners for judge’s and people’s choice, and the winners will receive cash prizes. To register a team, visit the pub or call (713) 528-7827. In addition to the holiday specials, crawfish will be available for $7.99 per pound from the next-door bar, Revelry on Richmond.

Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, 113 6th Street, San Leon: On March, 17, join the Saint Paddy’s Day Patio Party on the waterfront patio of this picturesque spot. Order green beer and crawfish — $24.99 for two pounds — or drink specials such as Guinness pints for $4 and Irish Car Bombs for $6. Live music starts at 5 p.m. and the press release claims “leprechaun sightings likely.” Reservations are strongly encouraged and can be made online.

Pinstripes, 3300 Kirby: Soak up holiday deals Saturday, March 13 through Sunday, March 21 that include $8 Guinness Floats, $4 green beers and $7 pistachio gelato. Make reservations online and call (346) 297-1770 for more information.

Revelry on Richmond, 1613 Richmond: Crawfish and pork chops are on the festive Saint Patrick’s Day menu. Mudbugs are $7.50 per pound, or choose the weekly pork chop special that includes garlic green beans and roasted red potatoes, and comes with “a big green beer” for $15. Additional deals include $3.50 big green beers, $4.50 green cocktails, $5.50 Irish Whiskeys and $6.50 Irish Car Bombs.

The Nash, 1111 Rusk: Snack on all-night happy hour goodies such as tater tots, Wild Mushroom Toast, tequeños and Fried Paneer cheese for $5 each. There are drink specials too: draft beers are $3, craft cocktails are $7 and wines by the glass are $5. Make reservations online and call (713) 222-6274 for more information.

Traveler’s Table, 520 Westheimer: Ireland meets the Gulf Coast with 9 Irish Oysters Kilpatrick, available only on March 17. The special is made with bacon, Irish cheddar, Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt and parsley. There are festive cocktails, too: the Irish Old Fashioned (Red Breast 12 Year Irish Whiskey, Guinness honey syrup, whiskey barrel bitters, lemon peel) for $16; Finnegan’s Wake (Jameson Irish Whiskey, Green Chartreuse, Luxardo liqueur, lime juice, mint leaves) for $14 and Traveler’s Irish Coffee (Jameson Irish Whiskey, Bailey’s Irish Cream, coffee, clover honey) for $12.

Wednesdays are International Oyster Night at Travelers, too. Choose from five variations: Louisiana Raw with Campechana cocktail sauce, classic mignonette and mango cucumber chili sauce or Roasted Viet-Cajun with lemongrass, shallots, garlic butter lime juice, fish sauce Parmesan, breadcrumbs and crispy shallots ($20 for 12 or 9, respectively); East Coast Raw, East Coast Russian-Style and Roasted Chesapeake ($30 for 12 or 9, respectively). White wines by the bottle are also 25-percent off while supplies last; dine-in only.

The Tasting Room, 818 Town and Country Blvd.: Nosh on holiday fare that includes Crispy Deviled Eggs with corned beef tartar and pickled mustard seeds for $10 and green-tinted Shamrock Sparkler cocktails that are $5 each. Both are available for dine-in only from open until close.

Woodshed Smokehouse, 3728 Wakeforest:  Stop by celebrity chef Tim Love’s local spot for green beer and $9 Shamrock Margaritas on March 17. Pair with regular menu snacks, such as empanadas, nachos, tacos and more. There is also a menu just for dogs!

Multiple Locations

Crave Cupcakes, Multiple locations: Choose from three sweet ways to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with one of Houston’s most popular bakeries. The Irish Cream Cupcakes are an adults-only variation made with vanilla cake filled with marshmallow cream and topped with Irish Whisky buttercream frosting. They cost $4.25 each. There is also the Lucky Green Cupcake, which is birthday cake colored green and topped with cream cheese frosting that are $3.95 for one, and $44 for a dozen. You can also grab the nicely-proportioned small bite Lucky Green Mini Dozen topped with cream cheese glaze for $24. All festive versions are available through March 17. Order online or call the location of your choice for more information.

Dog Haus, multiple locations: Visit participating locations on March 17 for all-day drink specials that include green beer and discounted shots of Jameson and Pickle Backs. Soak up the booze with elevated bar fare that includes gourmet hot dogs such as Chili Idol with chili, cheddar cheese sauce and onions; sausages such as the T-Mex with beef chorizo & pepper jack sausage, avocado, chipotle aioli, Haus slaw and pickled jalapeños and peppers, or a variety of burgers, sandwiches and sides.

Freebirds World Burrito, multiple locations: Build your own burrito, nachos, quesadillas and more on Saint Patrick’s Day and receive a free order of Queso Blanco. Get it on your meal or on the side; substitute guacamole upon request. Available at all Texas locations.

Logan’s Roadhouse, multiple locations: Visit participating locations March 17 through 21 for green beer! You can also order Roadhouse Party Packs to-go starting at $29.99. Each serves 10 to 12 people with selections such as Loaded Potato Skins. Pair with the chain’s famously addictive scratch-made butter rolls available baked or ready-to-bake, which are $3.99 per dozen. For more information, call the location of your choice.

Taco Cabana, multiple locations: Salute Irish lore with the frozen eight-ounce Leprechaun Margarita made with mango and blue curaçao. Order it for dine-in and to go through March 17 to pair with tacos, quesadillas, nachos and more. Pick up party bundles filled with assorted fixings for at-home feasting.

The Union Kitchen, multiple locations: Visit Wednesday, March 17 through Sunday, March 21 for drink specials such as $2 green Union Brew, $3 Bushmills, $4 Proper 12 Irish Whiskey, $5 Black Bush and $6 Sexton. Specials are available while supplies last.

Ellie Sharp