This week in dining

These are the best 11 food and drink events in Houston this week

The calendar is packed with food and drink options this week, including a special anniversary for one of Houston's most-loved restaurants. Eighth Wonder Brewery shows its stuff at State Fare, Burns Original BBQ launches the next phase of its business with a party, and those looking for early Halloween revelry will find it at a'Bouzy and Eight Row Flint. Diwali also starts this week, and Kiran's serves up traditional dishes for the holiday.

Wednesday, October 23

8th Wonder Brewery and Distillery Dinner at State Fare Kitchen and Bar
This four-course dinner showcases the beer and spirits styles of 8th Wonder Brewery and its companion distillery, paired with creations from chef Justin Yoakum. The menu includes shrimp cocktail, oysters, and a crab salad with strawberry habanero mignonette and smoked cocktail sauce served with a Pimm’s Cup featuring 8th Wonder Distillery Gin, and a beer-battered Chilean sea bass paired with Achtoberfest. Tickets are $71.45 per person and dinner starts at 6 pm. Purchase tickets online.

An Evening in Sardinia at Roma
With only 16 seats available for these weekly dinners featuring an exploration of Italy's culinary region, they've become a must-do for Houston diners who love Italian cuisine. The three-course, deep dive into Sardinia includes homemade, potato-stuffed pasta in a tomato sauce served with the 2017 Cantina Mesa Giunco Vermentino and a traditional suckling pig served with the 2016 Pala “Silenzi." Dinner starts at 6 pm and tickets are $49.50 per person, plus tax and gratuity. To reserve, call 713-664-7581.

36th Anniversary Dinner at Backstreet Cafe
This Houston classic marks its anniversary with a wine dinner that focuses on a connection to the harvest. Sommelier Sean Beck shares varieties from around the world, paired with exquisite Backstreet dishes. The menu includes dishes such as lump crab meat with spicy lemon gremolata and sweet potato couscous paired with a 2012 Schloss-Schonborn Pfaffenburg Riesling from Germany, and anise-rubbed duck confit with pomegranate-foie gras juice and a butternut squash puree, paired with both the 2013 Eylse Zinfandel from California's Dry Creek Valley and the Elyse Korte Ranch Zinfandel from Napa. The cost is $119 per person and dinner begins at 7 pm.

Thursday, October 24

Burns Original BBQ Catering Kickoff at 8th Wonder Brewery
The acclaimed barbecue house throws a launch party in celebration of its new catering division, with menu items such as brisket, ribs, and chicken sausage, as well as sides like baked beans, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. The catering options feature two new items, the Roy Burns 10-lb. Loaded Baked Potato and the Baked Potato Bar. Party guests can sample selections from the catering menu. The event runs from 5 to 8 pm and is free to attend. Advance registration appreciated.

LUCKYRICE Night Market of the Future at The Astorian
As the first to bring a traditional night market experience to New York City a decade ago, LUCKYRICE, founded by TV host and media personality Danielle Chang, is reinventing the night market in celebration of the brand’s 10 year anniversary.

The event's purpose is to transcend boundaries and illustrate that Asian food has never been more ground-breaking. Chefs including Brandon Silva, Chen-Wei Chan, and Cyrus Caclini, will present dishes, alongside drinks from sponsor Rémy Martin cognac. Admission is $88; American Express cardholders may purchase VIP passes for $150, 7pm.

Wines of Portugal Happy Hour at Caracol
From 5 to 7 pm, enjoy this walk-around tasting of 12 different Portuguese wines, along with a raw bar of seafood cocktails, oysters, and ceviche, plus passed bites such as crispy pork tacos and black rice croquettes. The cost is $30 per person, and tickets may be purchased online.

Chef Collaboration Dinner at Ninfa's Uptown
Chef Alex Padilla welcomes Felix Florez, of Cherry Block and Blood Bros. BBQ, for this five-course dinner. Menu selections include a fall ceviche of yellowtail, passion fruit, and truffle salt; goat shank with charred pineapple, achiote, and flour tortillas; and a 32-ounce bone-in ribeye with tomato-garlic butter and a green bean salad.

Stephanie Velasquez, pastry chef and co-owner of Tlahuac will also join in the festivities, and each of the five courses features a cocktail or wine pairing by Linda Salinas. Dinner begins at 6:30 pm and tickets are $79 per person. They can be purchased online.

Saturday, October 26

Yelloween at a'Bouzy
Get into the Halloween spirit a little early with the River Oaks wine spot's Yelloween Brunch. From 10 am to 3 pm, get a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut for $49. Costumes optional. Reservations required. Call 713-722-6899 for a table.

Sunday, October 27

Diwali Brunch at Kiran's
The Indian festival of lights begins today, and the lunch buffet at this beloved Upper Kirby restaurant features dishes the hew to the holiday. More than a dozen selections are available, including Badam Ka Shorba, a creamy almond-based soup; Pindi Channa, a chickpea dish seasoned with cardamom and cinnamon; and saffron rice with dried fruits and nuts. Lunch is $55 per person for adults and $25 for children under the age of 10. To reserve a table, call 713-960-8472.

Third Annual Dog Costume Contest at Eight Row Flint
From 4 to 6 pm, show up with a pooch in costume. Bring a can of pet food to donate to the Rescued Pets Movement. Costume judging is at 5 pm. The winner gets a $50 Eight Row Flint gift card and a basket of goodies for their furry friend. Enjoy beers, food, fun.

Paella Supper at Ibiza
From now until the Midtown favorites closes its doors in February, enjoy made-to-order paella on Sundays only. The traditional Spanish dish is made with simmered Gulf shrimp, mussels, calamari, Spanish sausage, and chicken over saffron-infused arborio rice. It pairs perfectly with Ibiza's house-made sangria, macerated for 24 hours with chopped cantaloupe, green apple, pineapple, and sliced grapes. The dish is $25 per person and is available from 5 pm to close.

Eight Row Flint hosts its annual dog costume contest.

Photo by Carla Gomez

Eight Row Flint hosts its annual dog costume contest.

news-you-can-eat

Coming soon to Fredericksburg

Houston restaurant vet serves up Roman-style eatery in the Hill Country

Photo courtesy of Bottega Salaria

Valerio Lombardozzi is opening Bottega Salaria in the former home of La Bergerie.

Valerio Lombardozzi’s culinary career has taken him to the world’s finest kitchens, including restaurants owned by icons like Alain Ducasse, Giorgio Locatelli, and Joël Robuchon. In Houston, he led La Table and Tavola, where he earned a reputation for being one of the city's most engaging front of the house personalities.

But his latest project might be his biggest accomplishment yet. The hospitality veteran is opening Bottega Salaria, a homey Italian osteria and artisan market, in the former home of La Bergerie at 312 E Austin St in his adopted home of Fredericksburg.

Lombardozzi says the restaurant, expected to arrive in winter 2026, fills a gap in the Hill Country dining scene, but, more importantly, it's a reflection of his personal history and time spent working at his family’s restaurant in Rome.

“[It’s about] where I grew up, how I grew up, and how I eat,” he shares.

The three-concept experience is inspired by Italy’s Via Salaria, the ancient route Italians used to transport salt from the Adriatic Sea to Rome. The menu acts as a sort of travelogue, borrowing from the different cultures along the road, and the way village fishermen and shepherds ate.

Lombardozzi is quick to say he didn’t want to open a chef-driven restaurant. Instead, the osteria will serve traditional Roman staples such as cacio e pepe, amatriciana, carbonara, saltimbocca with sage and prosciutto, and branzino carved tableside.

“I was one of the last to be exposed to the old generation of professionals who knew how to carve elegantly for the guests,” he says.

The adjacent bottega will stay open during restaurant hours, offering fresh pasta made on-site, house-made sauces, imported Italian pantry items, cheeses, salumi, breads, and biscotti. Patrons will be able to shop for individual items or put together custom gift baskets.

Outdoors, La Fraschetteria will debut a new hospitality experience in the U.S. The self-guided experience invites diners to grab wine directly from garden shelves, gather a spread of meats, cheeses, bread, or pasta, and linger around long communal tables lit by string lights.

Keeping the chit-chat going will be a thoughtful beverage program anchored by a primarily Italian wine list and imported beer. Lombardozzi says the cocktail menu might be a surprise, offering only gin and tonics, spritzes, and negronis. The latter has been made into a game where diners roll dice to determine the evening's combination of gin, vermouth, and bitters.

After dinner, guests can select an amaro from a rolling cart, sip grappa and limoncello, or sip a neat whiskey.

Lombardozzi shares that he wants Bottega Salaria to be just as comfortable for Fredericksburg locals as it is for destination travelers. Beyond daily service, Bottega Salaria plans community events such as garden wine nights with live music, Sunday movie nights, and hands-on cooking classes.

The space is designed for ease with a warm palette combining olive green and pomegranate reds. The decor blends heritage and modernity, bringing in objects like antique mirrors, plates, custom-made lamps, and even old tablecloths and curtains for an Old World feel.

"We’re not just opening a restaurant,” Lombardozzi says. “We’re creating a gathering place. A home for everyone who loves Italian food, culture, and the joy of sharing a meal with others.”

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