HRW Brunches

7 bountiful brunches to wrap up Houston Restaurant Weeks

As hard as it may be to believe, Houston Restaurant Weeks is drawing to a close. The month-long event that raises money for the Houston Food Bank via prix-fixe menus at almost 300 Houston-area restaurants wraps up on Labor Day.

Part of the event’s appeal, other than the obvious motivation of helping others, is getting a good deal at one of the city’s top dining destinations. HRW offers a particularly good deal at brunch, when $20 is all it takes to get a two or three-course meal. For each brunch meal sold, the restaurant will make a $3 donation to the Food Bank.

With most people looking forward to being off work on Monday, September 3 — and real football still a week away — this weekend seems like a perfect opportunity to enjoy a leisurely midday meal. Putting that HRW savings towards a second cocktail and then enjoying a refreshing nap sounds like the perfect plan.

Andes Cafe
David Guerrero’s innovative South American restaurant offers a two-course brunch. Start with green plantain empanadas, an Amazon salad (avocado, tomatoes, roasted hazelnuts, etc), or a Peruvian-inspired ceviche. For an entree, opt for a Chilean riff on steak and eggs, a Colombian-style hamburguesa with bacon, cheese, and avocado relish, or Peruvian-style fried rice with shellfish. Served Saturday and Sunday starting at 9 am. 2311 Canal St.; 832-659-0063

Backstreet Cafe
Hugo Ortega and Tracy Vaught’s River Oaks institution goes above and beyond for HRW by serving a three-course brunch. Keep things classic with either a summer parfait (Greek yogurt, grapefruit) or a wedge salad. The seven entree choices include a the Korean-inspired “Long Point brunch” (bulgolgi beef cheeks, kim chi grits, eggs), migas, or brioche French toast. For dessert, choose from a summer cobbler of peaches and blueberries, an orange chocolate tart, or sorbet. Served Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. 1103 S. Shepherd Dr.; 713-521-2239

Oporto Fooding House & Wine
The underrated Midtown restaurant shows a global influence on its two-course menu. Start with salt cod fritters, a faro and kale bowl, or shakshuka, the super trendy dish of baked eggs in a spicy tomato sauce. Entree choices include a vegetarian-friendly mushroom tartine, shrimp and grits, or migas with bacon and linguiça sausage. Sunday Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. 125 West Gray Ave.; 713-528-0115

Brennan’s of Houston
Few restaurants are better equipped to handle HRW crowds than this Midtown classic. The two-course menu offers many of Brennan’s signature items such as turtle soup, gumbo ya-ya, shrimp and grits, and eggs Benedict. Those looking for something a little lighter could opt for starters like a house salad, peach parfait breakfast bowl, smoked salmon omelette, or baked portabella mushroom. Add sides like bacon or andouille sausage ($7 each) or a demi dessert for $5. Served Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm. 3300 Smith St.; 713-522-9711

Rainbow Lodge
Speaking of Houston classics, this rustic cabin in the Lazybrook/Timbergrove neighborhood remains a popular destination for all sorts of special occasions. Appetizer options include the signature smoked duck and andouille sausage gumbo, chilled sweet corn soup, or grilled shrimp bruschetta. The three entree choices include a classic breakfast platter of eggs, sausage, potatoes, and toast, a buffalo short rib Benedict, or seared red snapper. Feeling extra indulgent? Add a butter-poached lobster tail ($30), fried oysters ($8) or a mini dessert ($3). Served Sunday starting at 10:30 am. 2011 Ella Blvd.; 713-861-8666

Lucille’s
The Museum District favorite keep things tidy with its two-course brunch menu. Start with the chili biscuits, a recipe originally developed by chef-owner Chris Williams’ grandmother (the restaurant’s namesake), fried green tomatoes, or watermelon salads. Entree choices include an oxtail omelet, Creole benedict with chopped scallops and andouille sausage, or a croissant French toast with the option of adding three wings for $5 (do it). Served Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. 5512 La Branch St.; 713-568-2505

Federal Grill
No one can accuse Federal Grill owner Matt Brice of offering a skimpy HRW menu; not only does the Washington Avenue-area restaurant offer three courses, the number of choices is almost overwhelming. Of the six starter options, the most-appealing look to be fried oysters, tuna poke, or a classic wedge salad. The seven entree options include chicken fried steak, grilled salmon with polenta cake, or shrimp and grits. For dessert, choose from bourbon bread pudding, a brownie with ice cream, or sweet cream and berries. Served Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm. 510 Shepherd Dr.; 713-863-7777

Lucille’s is a Museum District fave.

$Lucille\u2019s Houston$

Photo courtesy of Lucille’s Houston

Lucille’s is a Museum District fave.

brunch

What's eric eating episodes 513 and 514

Beard Award-winning chef and family dish on their new Houston restaurant

Zaranda restaurant Tracy Vaught Hugo Ortega Sophia Ortega

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega are this week's guests.

On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” James Beard Award-winning chef Hugo Ortega, his wife and business partner Tracy Vaught, and their daughter Sophia Ortega join CultureMap editor Eric Sandler to discuss H-Town Restaurant Group. The company operates a number of local concepts, including interior Mexican restaurant Hugo’s, Backstreet Cafe, Mexican street food eatery Urbe, and Zaranda, the company’s newly opened restaurant in downtown that’s inspired by California.

After a brief discussion of the early days of Hugo’s, the trio dives into the process of opening Zaranda. Vaught explains how she became aware of the space in the Norton Rose Fulbright Tower and why it’s proximity to Discovery Green made it particularly appealing. Chef Ortega shares how a three-week road trip throughout Mexico provided some of the inspiration for both Zaranda and Caracol, his Galleria-area seafood restaurant.

From there, chef Ortega describes how the zaranda — a wire metal basket used to cook seafood over an open flame — anchors much of the menu. He also recommends some dishes diners should try when they visit Zaranda.

Sandler asks Sophia Ortega what it’s like working with her parents. “I get that comment a lot. It is very different. A lot of people can’t imagine working with family,” she says.

“For me, I’m an only child. We’re a very close family unit. The restaurants have been a huge part of my growing up. For us, it comes very naturally to work together. It’s all we know. I’ve only ever worked for my restaurants. A lot of the employees have seen me grow up. I think we all have our own lane, but at the same time we overlap. We’re always open to hearing different opinions. That’s when the best decisions are made. I love it.”

“Sophia is very intuitive. The way she communicates is very thoughtful and sensitive. I think that’s so valuable for our staff. Everybody loves her,” Vaught adds.

Listen to the full episode for an update on Backstreet Cafe. Its original building was torn down last year to make way for an all-new structure that’s on track to open next year — hopefully in time for its legendary Mother’s Day brunch. Sandler also asks about the restaurant group’s conspicuous omission from the Michelin Guide.

In this week’s other episode, Sandler and co-host Mary Clarkson, the proprietor of newly-open wine shop Montrose Grocer, discuss the news out of the week. They begin with a discussion about the Houston Chronicle’s list of the city’s top 100 restaurants, including a discussion of Aga’s as the No.1 selection, some of the new entries on the list, and restaurants that dropped off the list entirely, such as Himalaya, Kata Robata, and Killen’s Barbecue. They also talk about Bari Ristorante opening a new location in The Woodlands and restaurateur Brian Doke’s plans to open Lazy Lane restaurant in Garden Oaks.

In the restaurant of the week segment, Clarkson and Sandler share thoughts on their recent meal at Maison Chinoise. Located next to Brasserie 19 in the River Oaks Shopping center, the new Chinese restaurant is the latest project from Dallas-based Lombardi Family Concepts, known locally for Toulouse Cafe and Bar, its French restaurant in River Oaks District, and Lombardi Cucina Italiana in Uptown Park.

Listen to the episode to hear which dishes they liked best, as well as the one that missed the mark. They also discuss its decor and how it will fit with the other luxurious restaurants in the shopping center.

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Subscribe to "What's Eric Eating" on Apple podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hear it Sunday at 9 am on ESPN 97.5.

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega.

Photo by Nick de la Torre

Zaranda owners Tracy Vaught, Hugo Ortega, and Sophia Ortega are this week's guests.

podcast interview news-you-can-eat chefs