Island time
5 great places to dine in Galveston: Island city showcases thriving food sceneduring Restaurant Week
Looking for an out-of-town trip? Hit up Galveston's second annual RestaurantWeek for some cheap eats with a side of Texas history.Galveston.com/Facebook
Luigi'sAsergeev.com
Star Drug StoreStar Drug Store/Facebook
Nonno Tony's World KitchenPhoto by © Vadim Troshkin/Flickr
The M&M Restaurant & BarGalveston.com/Facebook
The Mosquito CafeGalveston.com/Facebook
The second annual Galveston Restaurant Week kicks off Sunday, offering both islanders and non-islanders a opportunity to delve into the Texas coast's rich culinary culture.
For 14 days — yes, restaurant "week" is a little misleading — more than 40 eateries will roll out special prix-fixe menus to help raise funds for the Galveston County Food Bank.
In true Galveston fashion, the list of participating restaurants runs the gamut with gourmet classics like Rudy & Paco at one end . . . and Domino's Pizza at the other. In between, you'll find Restaurant Week menus offering everything from shumai dumplings at the Sky Bar to Texas redfish Ponchartrain at the Saltwater Grill.
Here are some highlights to get you started:
Mosquito Cafe (628 14th St.)
A perennial Island favorite since 1999, Mosquito Cafe has lunch and dinner menus focusing on Texas comfort food. The historic 1870 building was beautifully restored after suffering serious flood damage during Hurricane Ike. Don't miss the high-water marker near the front counter.
Luigi's (2338 Strand)
Housed in the Hutchingson Sealy building —what many consider one of city's most haunted locales — Luigi's offers a great $15 lunch menu showcasing the cafe's popular northern Italian cuisine. (Click here for more on Galveston's spooky past.)
Star Drug Store (510 23rd St.)
Those yearning for a by-gone era can check out the Star Drug Store, which is offering an "Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain Special" for $10 during lunch hours.
Nonno Tony's (Pier 21)
A relative newcomer to the Island food scene, Nonno Tony's at tourist-friendly Pier 21 strikes an interesting balance of Italian, Asian and Creole options. Both lunch and dinner menus will be available for Restaurant Week.
M&M Restaurant (2401 Church)
Oozing with old-time charm in its historic 1844 building, the M&M brings patrons back to Galveston's golden era, when the city served as the chief port for a new Republic of Texas. A three-course dinner menu will be offered $25.
Check out the official Galveston Restaurant Week video for a jazzy look at your culinary options from Jan. 13 to 26:
