On this week’s episode of “What’s Eric Eating,” CultureMap editor Eric Sandler recruited five of his friends and colleagues to select their favorite date night spots via a fantasy football-style draft.

Instead of last year’s progressive date night format, Sandler switched things up by asking his panelists — Chelsea Thomas of The Infatuation Houston, Houston Barbecue Festival co-founder Michel Fulmer, marketing expert Monica Danna, dining enthusiast Lawton Driscoll, and Clarkwood co-founder Army Sadeghi — to pick their favorite places for six different occasions. They are: First Date, Third Date, Guys/Girls Night, Casual Weeknight Date, Break-up Spot, and Wildcard, which is anything that would be fun to do on a date. Sandler shared the results on Instagram.

Of the six categories, the Break-up Spot caused the most controversy. Be sure to listen to the full episode to hear the panelists explain their choices.

In this week’s second episode, James Beard Award-winning chef Justin Yu, the winner of the 2024 date night draft, reviews the results and picks a winner. Listen to the full episode to hear Yu's choices for the most standout selections on each team, as well as his suggestions for restaurants and bars the panelists could have selected. He also discusses his advisory role in Seared, a new production at the Alley Theatre that’s one of CultureMap’s picks for this month’s must-see shows.

  

Courtesy of Drake's Hollywood

Drake's Hollywood is a date night favorite.