Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) makes its 2020 run from now until September 7. The annual dining fundraiser has been a part of Houston’s restaurant scene since 2003, raising $16.6 million for the Houston Food Bank. For diners, it is a prime opportunity to explore new restaurants or revisit old favorites, while also supporting an organization that is currently helping 1.1 million people in the Houston area eat — proceeds from each meal are donated to the nonprofit. It is also a chance for restaurants to showcase dishes with pre-set menus and create new regulars. 

Though the event has evolved into one of the premier restaurant fundraisers in the country, 2020 has brought new challenges. However, HRW has adapted. With the passing of founder and organizer Cleverly Stone in May, her daughter, Katie Stone, has taken over leadership of the fundraiser. (To learn more about her new role, listen to our recent interview with Katie.) In addition, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to put a financial strain on local restaurants, HRW organizers have restructured the fundraising so that all meals purchased generate a $1 donation for the Houston Food Bank, instead of the $3 or $5 per-meal donation that was made in previous years. While that seems like a small amount, each dollar donated provides three meals.

Also new this year, in a continued effort to battle the spread of COVID-19, many restaurants are now offering the prix fixe meals to-go. To make finding this option easier, the HRW website has added “to-go” as an advanced menu search option.

With these changes comes the addition of 61 new restaurants. The selection is diverse, and includes popular chains such as Saltgrass Steakhouse, as well as Houston classics such as Carrabba’s Original. One standout is Allen Center newcomer, Guard and Grace, at 500 Dallas, which opened in November. Its Houston Restaurant Weeks menu is a three-course dinner for $45, and showcases several items not featured on the usual dinner menu. The first course has four options, including Country Ham “Tartine” or Peach Gazpacho. The second course offers a 48 Hour Beef Short Rib and a vegan option: Smoked Eggplant Cappelletti. For dessert, diners can choose from Peach Melba, Blackberry Custard and Pot De Crème.

Another newcomer is Peli Peli’s location in The Woodlands, which opened in September 2019. All locations are offering something special for parents and their children this year, too. For the first time ever, Peli Peli is offering a $13, three-course HRW kids’ meal. This lets the entire family enjoy the multi-course meal experience together — and the kids’ meals also generate a $1 donation to the Houston Food Bank. Another first: usually, Peli Peli’s dinner offering is $45, but for this year, it’s $35. (Note that this year, the HRW menus are only offered at The Woodlands and The Galleria locations.) 

Rotisserie chicken is a Craft Pita speciality. Photo courtesy of Craft Pita.

NEW RESTAURANTS PARTICIPATING IN HOUSTON RESTAURANT WEEKS 2020

Downtown

Craft Burger, 712 Main, lunch and dinner

Guard and Grace, 500 Dallas, dinner

Galleria/Uptown

Craft Pita, 1920 Fountain View, lunch and dinner

Loch Bar, 4444 Westheimer, brunch, lunch and dinner

Nobu Houston, 5115 Westheimer, dinner

Ouzo Bay, 4444 Westheimer, brunch, lunch and dinner

Galveston

Joe’s Crab Shack, 3502 Seawall, Dinner

Heights

Kin Dee Thai Cuisine, 1533 North Shepherd, Dinner

Memorial

Ciro’s Italian Grill, 9755 Katy Freeway, brunch, lunch and dinner

The General Public, 797 Sorella Court, lunch and dinner

Midtown

Café Poêtes, 122 West Gray, dinner

Traveler’s Table Interior. Photo by Troy Ezequiel.

Montrose

Traveler’s Table, 520 Westheimer, brunch and dinner

Northwest

Barcelona Restaurant and Lounge, 110 Vintage Park Blvd., lunch and dinner

Lan Hai Asian Restaurant, 17575 TX-249, lunch and dinner

River Oaks

Eugene’s Gulf Coast Cuisine, 1985 Welch, dinner

Gauchos do Sul Brazilian Steakhouse, 3995 Westheimer, dinner

Mastro’s Steakhouse, 1650 West Loop South, dinner

Sugar Land

State Fare Kitchen & Bar, 15930 City Walk, lunch and dinner

Upper Kirby

Woodshed Smokehouse, 3728 Wakeforest, lunch and dinner

West Side

Crown Seafood Restaurant, 10796 Bellaire Blvd., lunch and dinner

The Woodlands

Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, 19333 David Memorial, dinner

Landry’s Seafood House, 1212 Lake Robbins, lunch and dinner

Peli Peli, 1201 Lake Woodlands, lunch and dinner

Multiple Locations

Babin’s,  both Houston area locations, lunch and dinner

Brick House Tavern, all five Houston area locations, dinner

Bubba Gump Shrimp, both Houston area locations, lunch and dinner

Carrabba’s Original, both Houston area locations, lunch and dinner

Common Bond Café and Bakery, two Houston area locations, lunch and dinner

Island Grill, all five Houston area locations, brunch and dinner

Saltgrass Steak House, nineteen Houston area locations, dinner

The Rustic, both Houston area locations, dinner available at the downtown location and lunch available at the Uptown Park location