This week in dining

These are the 7 best food and drink events in Houston this week

BCK's patio officially opens this week.

Photo by Nick Scurfield

The marquee event this week is the inaugural Iron Bartender competition at Backstreet Cafe. An epic evening of food and drink, the party to benefit the Periwinkle Foundation is a definite must-do on the social calendar. It joins another terrific party, this one hosted by Edible Houston magazine. Others may prefer an opportunity to eat healthy food and help Trees for Houston. Get out there to eat, drink, and help good causes.

Monday, September 9

Trees for Houston fundraiser at Bellagreen
Houston diners love to eat, and they love to help great causes. They can do both Monday, September 9, at all three of Bellagreen's Bayou City locations. From 11 am to 9 pm, dine-in guests who use the secret phrase “Houston is bella” get 50 percent off their meal with a donation of $5 or more to Trees for Houston.

Wednesday, September 11

Free Entrees for First Responders at Shell Shack
From 11 am to 1 am, in honor of 9/11, Houston's Shell Shack location at the corner of Washington and Sawyer is offering a free non-shellfish entree to all first responders who show valid ID.

Iron Bartender Finals at Backstreet Cafe
Building on the success of the popular Iron Sommelier competition, the inaugural Iron Bartender event brings together the best of Houston bartenders for an evening of epic food and drinks. The event offers passed bites; fried chicken; a popsicle cart; and barbecue from Roegels, Tejas Chocolate + Barbecue, and Reveille. Grey Goose has a Mule Bar, and Hendrick's is heading up the Summer Solstice Bar. Also joining the fun are Patron, Mezcal Breyente, and Monkey Shoulder.

VIP tickets are sold out, but for $75 per person, attendees get access to the featured cocktail bars, food stations, passed bites, and a bourbon and barbecue tent that features whole hog prepared by Roegels. Best of all, the event benefits The Periwinkle Foundation. The celebration kicks off at 6 pm.

Maker's Mark Patio Launch Party at BCK
The Heights spot officially opens it 500-square-foot patio with this event featuring $2 Buffalo Bayou beers, $5 Maker's Mark cocktails, patio games, Maker's Mark giveaways, and more. The new space seats 24 people and offers lounge seating, pub cocktail tables, and swings. Bonus: it's dog friendly.

Friday, September 13

Wine Dinner and Art Show at Potente
Taft McWorther Art and Duchman Family Winery pair up for this five-course dinner that gives every attendee an original painting commemorating the event. Tickets are $179 per person and can be purchased by calling 713-237-1515.

Saturday, September 14

Death by Tex-Mex vol. 3 at Light Years
Two of the city's most-exciting barbecue pop-ups, JQ's Tex-Mex Barbecue and Vietnamese-influenced Khoi Barbecue, will collaborate at this one-day-only event. The menu includes brisket bánh mì torta, beef cheek phở, beef fajita rice bowl, bò lá lốt sausage, and brisket tamales (prices vary by item). Service begins at noon; expect it to sell out quickly.

Sunday, September 15

Edible Magazine 2019 Local Hero Awards at Winter Street Studios
This live awards ceremony lauds the men and women of H-Town who've made the city a great place to eat, drink, and live, as selected by the publication's readers. The evening features local bites, brews, and booze from all the 2019 finalists, as well as wine and live music. A $30 general admission ticket comes with drinks, bites, and a raffle ticket for killer prizes. For $50, the VIP package includes everything general admission brings, plus five extra raffle tickets, gifts from the finalists, early entry, and the option to hang with winners at Poitín Bar & Kitchen after the event. Tickets are available online.

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Coming Attractions

Halal BBQ and family-friendly eatery slated for Sugar Land development

Levant BBQ

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Halal barbecue and and a family-friendly restaurant are coming to Sugar Land Town Square. Commercial real estate firm Rebees announced it has signed leases with the following two restaurants, along with a couple of retail tenants.

Levant BBQ will open its second Houston-area location in late 2026 or early 2027 in the former Ruggles Green at 15903 City Walk. Known for its halal meats, including lamb chops, leg of lamb, and lamb neck, Levant BBQ opened its first location in the Galleria area in 2024. A Dallas location followed this year.

“I did enjoy the flavor of the lamb along with the rub heavy on cardamom and Aleppo paprika with a hint of ginger,” Texas Monthly barbecue editor wrote in a 2025 review. “The chops get a kiss of post oak smoke and are mild in flavor, with much of the fat rendered out in the long cooking process. The lamb neck was bolder — just the right amount of gaminess — and the meat shred similar to pork shoulder. I especially liked it after a dip in the house barbecue sauce made sweet and tangy with pomegranate molasses.”

Joining Levant will be Majestic Kitchen. Located in the former Mahesh’s Kitchen space, it’s described in press materials as a “family-driven culinary concept” from Majestic Developers founders Santosh and Supraja Cividi. The couple signed a lease in May and will provide more information about when the restaurant will open in the coming weeks.

In addition to Levant BBQ and Majestic Kitchen, Escapology Escape Rooms is now open at 2248 Texas Dr. Nishat Mills, an online fashion retailer that specializes in contemporary South Asian-inspired apparel for men and women, will open its first brick-and-mortar location at 16160 City Walk.

Located next to First Colony Mall, Sugar Land Town Square is anchored by Sugar Land City Hall and the Houston Marriott Sugar Land. It’s home to a number of restaurants and bars, including Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Japaneiro's Sushi Bar and Latin Grill, and B.B. Italia, an Italian-American restaurant from Berg Hospitality. Among the more recent openings is Insomnia Cookies, a cookie bakery that stays open until 3 am on the weekends.

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