Local favorites join Houston Restaurant Weeks
by Kristi Sellers
There’s something about sharing a good meal that brings people together. This summer, dining out can do a little good for the community, too.
Houston Restaurant Weeks returns Aug. 1 through Sept. 7, giving Cypress residents 38 days to discover new favorites, revisit beloved local restaurants and enjoy specially priced menus, all while supporting the Houston Food Bank. The annual event features prix fixe brunch and lunch menus for $25 and dinner menus for $39 or $55 at participating restaurants throughout the Houston area. Over the past two decades, Houston Restaurant Weeks has raised $22.2 million for the Houston Food Bank.
Fortunately, Cypress diners don’t have to travel far to join in.
For an elevated night out, Dario’s Steakhouse & Seafood brings a classic steakhouse experience close to home. The Cypress restaurant is offering both lunch and dinner menus during the event, with its $55 dinner featuring choices such as filet mignon, prime rib, Gulf red snapper and a bone-in pork chop. Desserts including crème brûlée and cheesecake offer a fitting end to a great meal.
For something a little different, BRIX Restaurant offers a menu that blends familiar favorites with creative touches. Its $55 three-course Restaurant Weeks dinner includes starters such as house-made arancini and watermelon gazpacho, followed by entrée choices including Dr. Pepper-braised short ribs, cocoa-rubbed pork tenderloin and grilled shrimp bucatini. House-made crème brûlée, almond macarons and chocolate-dipped marbled cake pops give diners a few delicious ways to finish the evening.
Those looking for something with a little more Southwestern flair can add Sotos Cantina to their Restaurant Weeks plans. The participating restaurant’s $39 dinner menu offers unique Mexican and Tex-Mex flavors, with dishes such as grilled peach salad, prickly pear shrimp ceviche, squash blossom empanadas and mole verde pork belly tacos.
For families or friends looking for a familiar Texas favorite, Saltgrass Steak House Cypress is also among this year’s participating restaurants, giving locals another easy option for turning an ordinary lunch or dinner into part of the month-long event. Their $39 dinner menu offers urban cowboy medallions and salmon bianca.
Part of the fun of Houston Restaurant Weeks has always been the opportunity to try somewhere new. A restaurant saved for “someday” becomes tonight’s dinner reservation, while a longtime neighborhood favorite gets another visit, this time with the knowledge that the meal is connected to a much larger cause.
Whether the occasion is date night, lunch with friends or simply an excuse to skip cooking, Cypress residents have plenty of ways to participate close to home.
This August, the hardest part may simply be deciding where to eat first. For more information, visit houstonrestaurantweeks.com
