Houston Restaurant Weeks Lineup Revealed — Top New Hotspots All In

At this point in the Houston summer, it’s too hot to go outside. But staying inside is torture — especially when there’s so much great food in the city that you just can’t whip up in your own kitchen.

So, when it comes time to venture out, Houston restaurants are where we’re headed.

Luckily, The Bayou City’s most hotly anticipated foodie event is almost upon us. We’ve still got a few weeks before the always-epic Houston Restaurant Weeks kicks off, but today is worth celebrating all its own. Today, HRW revealed its staggeringly long list of restaurants participating this year.

For 33 days, from August 1 through Labor Day, September 2, hungry Houstonians can enjoy specially priced multi-course pre-fixe menus from the hottest restaurants in town. From brunch to lunch and dinner, there’s something for everyone — every time of day.

Italian. French. Spanish. Vietnamese. South African. Whether you’re looking for steak, seafood, fajitas or tapas, you’re bound to find it.

As you peruse this lengthy lineup, you’ll note some longstanding names and familiar faces — we see you, Backstreet Cafe, Rainbow Lodge and the near-thousands of El Tiempos — but there is also stunning roster of new restaurants taking part.

Quite a few instant hit eateries made their delicious debuts since last year’s Houston Restaurant Weeks ended. More than a handful of stunning new restaurants have hit the scene — and the Houston Restaurant Weeks listings.

Indianola, Tris, Warehouse 72, Superica, La Lucha, Killen’s TMX, Roma and the newest location of Perry’s Steakhouse & Grille are all relative newcomers, and they’re brand new to this uber-popular event, first orchestrated by gourmand Cleverley Stone back in 2003.

Agricole Hospitality launched a trio of new restaurants under one roof last fall — a modern, globally inspired American spot called Indianola, pint-sized pizzeria Vinny’s and chic cocktail bar Miss Carousel. This year, Indianola will participate in Houston Restaurant Weeks alongside Agricole Hospitality concepts Night Heron and Coltivare.

Indianola, inspired by the port of entry town of the same name, is offering a $20 brunch featuring Texas peach salad with Fresno chili and Moroccan eggs with English pea falafel and spiced tomato ragu. The restaurant’s not skimping on its $20 lunch, either, with dishes like butterbean hummus and baked eggplant parmesan.

It truly shines with the $35 dinner menu, with Blue Crab Imperial and a 5-ounce 44 Farms wood-grilled sirloin with green tomatillo and escabeche.

Tris, the reimagined Hubbell & Hudson Bistro, became an overnight sensation out in The Woodlands for chef Austin Simmons’ ambitious globally inspired menu featuring locally sourced ingredients.

The restaurant will be open for a $20 Restaurant Weeks lunch with highlights like shrimp toast and akaushi beef French dip, and a $45 dinner with seabass ceviche tostados and beef tournedos steak frites.

Warehouse 72, the completely revamped, iconic old Spaghetti Warehouse, opens in August. The menu goes far beyond chicken parmesan and lasagna. The inventive new menu calls for ribs and porchetta, as featured at preview events. Warehouse 72’s Houston Restaurant Weeks menu — much like its full-on permanent menu — is TBD for now. But what a great way to try it out.

Two new restaurants helmed by major culinary influencers,  have joined the throngs of Houston Tex-Mex joints.

Atlanta celebrity chef Ford Fry’s Superica took The Heights by storm, alongside San Jacinto Inn-inspired La Lucha, which will also participate in HRW. For the foodie celebration, Superica’s offering a deluxe dinner menu for $35 with crispy chicken tacos and charred pork belly tacos al pastor with grilled pineapple.

Meat maestro Ronnie Killen’s new queso-filled venture, Killen’s TMX conquered Pearland, and it’s bringing its game face to HRW with an enigmatic $45 dinner, menu coming soon. Who doesn’t love a good mystery?

And another heads-up — more treasured restaurants will continue to get added to the restaurant round-up through Wednesday, July 31st.

Our recommendation? Hit up all the new spots. After all, you’ve got a month. And it’s for a worthy cause. To date, Restaurant Weeks has raised $14.7 million for the Houston Food Bank, allowing it to provide nearly 44.1 million meals to food-insecure Houstonians.

You’ve got a few weeks to build up that appetite. Then, it’s time to chow down in H-Town.