One of the most appealing aspects of Houston Restaurant Weeks is the opportunity to visit some of Houston's best steakhouses at prices that are far below what diners would typically pay. Even at the new, $45 Restaurant Weeks price point, the cost for three courses is still about what a diner could typically expect to pay for a 16-ounce USDA prime New York strip alone at any of these restaurants during the other 11 months of the year.
The chance to leave a restaurant fat, happy and full of delicious meat while contributing to the Houston Food Bank? That's eating well and doing good.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse
Yes, it's a chain, but Del Frisco's always puts together a great Houston Restaurant Weeks menu, which is why it's always among the top restaurants in terms of fundraising. This year's $45 menu includes two steak options with both a filet and a prime strip — and both came with potatoes. For an additional $6 to $10, diners can add either a fancy butter, side of shrimp or oscar topping ((béarnaise sauce, crab meat, asparagus).
Sauteed salmon and chicken picatta are the "lighter" options, but sticking to the steak is probably the way to go. The salad and dessert choices are pretty standard looking, but Del Frisco's always gets the basics right. Del Frisco's is popular with visiting athletes, so going a day or two before the Houston Texans preseason games on Saturday and Aug. 25 could yield the sight of large men ordering massive slabs of meat, which is always kind of fun.
The Mexican steakhouse in the heart of Montrose might be offering up one of the best deals of any HRW restaurant, period. La Casa del Caballo's $35 menu offers three different steak options, including a massive, 20-ounce portion of smoked brisket and an eight-ounce rib eye.
As with the steaks on the normal menu, sides are included. Starter options include tortilla soup and signature beef carpaccio. White and dark chocolate mousse looks like the most compelling of the dessert options, but the flan also makes a good choice. Anyone who's feeling particularly indulgent should order the restaurant's excellent cheese enchiladas as a side to share at the table.
This South American restaurant is offering up one of Houston Restaurant Week's most diverse, $35 menus with six choices for both starters and desserts and a whopping eight mains. Each dish has its own recommended wine pairing that are all reasonably priced at $5 to $10.
Feeling conservative? Stick to classic menu items like empanadas, the churrasco steak and tres leches. Go slightly more adventurous with shrimp and crab polenta spoons, a mixed grill parrillada and caramel cheese flan. Among the supplements, the $14 lobster tail looks like the best bet.
Usually, Tradicao's all-you-can-eat rodizio service and salad bar is $41 at dinner. Dessert is extra.
During Houston Restaurant Weeks, it's $35 and includes dessert, so save a little room. That's a pretty killer deal for an unlimited parade of 10 different cuts of beef, chicken, pork and seafood plus sides. Those with either a day off or a sufficiently relaxed work schedule to give into a meat coma should consider lunch. The same menu drops to $20 then.
Remember, the Brazilian cheese bread is a delicious trick. Eat one or two, then push them away to avoid filling up on bread.
An eight ounce portion of prime rib is $26 on Lorenzo's dinner menu, but during Restaurant Weeks it comes with a starter and dessert for $35. Sure, the crab etouffee enchiladas sound delicious, but let's be serious.
The words "prime rib" are in the restaurant's name, and, as with pho shops, it's best to order what the restaurant wants to be known for. Among the starters and desserts, house smoked salmon and Italian cream cake look like the most appealing options.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House
The Paella Valenciana is one of the most popular dishes at Mi Luna.Photo by Dylan McEwan
No TVs to distract diners at Mi Luna.Photo by Dylan McEwan