BRW 2023

Houston's Black Restaurant Week returns with more than 70 mouthwatering options

One of Houston’s most popular dining events has returned for 2023. Black Restaurant Week takes place from April 2-16.

Founded in 2016 by Warren Luckett, Falayn Ferrell, and Derek Robinson, the event shines a spotlight on Black-owned restaurants and other culinary businesses and serves as a showcase for African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine. Organizers cite a 15-percent increase in business for participating restaurants as proof of the event’s popularity.

“From being overlooked for revitalization funds to inflation, most Black-owned culinary businesses cannot afford advertisements/PR/marketing to build awareness and attract consumers,” Luckett said in a statement. “That’s why we proudly do this for free — it’s peer-to-peer support for 10 or 14 days within each market and for the past seven years.”

This year’s event features more than 70 restaurants, caterers, and food trucks. Below are five restaurants that have opened new locations in the last year or so along with one of Third Ward’s most popular breakfast spots.

Bungalow Downtown Dining
Part of ALife Hospitality Group (Lost & Found, Kamp, etc.), this luxurious restaurant on Main St. is participating in its first BRW. The $65, three-course menu begins with appetizers such as spicy seafood bisque and wagyu meatballs. Entree choices include filet mignon with garlic butter, a pork chop with chimichurri, and Texas redfish topped with crab. Finish with one of three desserts.

Kuji’s Kitchen
At this new coffee shop and restaurant in the South Park neighborhood, chef Keisha Griggs has partnered with Houston farmers Jeremy Peaches of Fresh Life Organics and Ivy Walls to serve healthy, Caribbean-inspired dishes made with locally-sourced ingredients. The restaurant’s BRW menu include choices such as a Classic Sunday plate that comes with Trinidadian Stew Chicken, Macaroni Pie, and Coconut Red Beans; a Trinidadian flatbread stuffed with curry chickpeas; and a smoked salmon burger topped with a fried egg, pickled red onions, caper-avocado mayo, and Dijon mustard.

Mo Better Brews
Third Ward residents have been flocking to this vegan coffee shop and restaurant since it opened in 2021. For BRW, it will be featuring specials such as the Blvd. Burger, chicken-fried mushrooms and grits with three different sauces, gumbo, and chicken fried mushrooms and waffle

1929 Po-boy Kitchen
Located at Lyric Market in the Theater District downtown, this Louisiana-inspired eatery offers a compelling menu of sandwiches, gumbo, seafood, and more. At lunch, the restaurant is offering a two-course, $25 menu that include choice of cucumber salad or fried green tomatoes and a choice of Buffalo chicken po’ boy or shrimp and grits. The $45, three-course dinner menu features entree choices such as beef rib yakamein, blacked catfish po’ boy, and whole fried snapper. Add strawberry lemonade or blueberry limeade for $3.99 more.

The Smoke
Among the newest additions to downtown’s Finn Hall food hall is this barbecue joint from Oxtail Mash Up winner Reginald Scott. The restaurant’s BRW offerings include chicken boudin with choice of side ($15) and a stuffed turkey leg with a side ($25).

Stuff’d Wings
Located in the Ion mixed-use development, this food truck-turned-restaurant sells chicken wings and chicken tenders stuffed with fillings like dirty rice and mac and cheese. Its BRW special is four stuffed tenders with fries and a purple lemonade for $14 (usually $18).

Courtesy of The Smoke

Chef Reginald Scott serves barbecue at The Smoke.

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The Audrey's premiere

Hollywood-inspired Houston restaurant sets Uptown opening date

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

A restaurant inspired by a glamorous Hollywood icon is ready to make its debut. The Audrey Restaurant & Bar will open on Wednesday, August 5 at Aspire Post Oak, a 40-story luxury high-rise at 1616 Post Oak Blvd.

Part of Culinary Khancepts, the hospitality group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, the River Oaks Theatre, and others, the Audrey occupies almost 5,500 square feet on the building’s first floor. The restaurant seats about 160 people, dividend between a bar and lounge, main dining room, outdoor patio, and private dining areas.

Owners Denise and Omar Khan worked with Laura Loreman Interior Design Studio to bring elements of Audrey Hepburn’s signature style to the restaurant’s interior. Details include Tiffany blue interiors, crystal chandeliers, gold accents, floor-to-ceiling windows. An Audrey Hepburn-inspired mural and floral installations greet diners as they enter.

On the culinary side, the restaurant will serve the same menu of contemporary American fare that’s served the original location well since it opened in The Woodlands three years ago. That includes pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood towers. Signature items include: citrus scallops with fennel-orange salad, truffle mushroom ravioli, and beef Wellington. The popular “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” brunch will also be served at the new location.

Mayahuel chef Luis Robledo Richards designed the Audry’s dessert menu. Winner of Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and a judge on Netflix’s baking competition show Sugar Rush, the chef’s menu includes chocolate cake, mascarpone cheesecake, and coconut panna cotta.

"Opening in Houston has always been part of our vision for The Audrey," Omar Khan said in a statement. "The response to our Woodlands location confirmed what we hoped — that guests were looking for a restaurant where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and timeless design come together naturally. Audrey Hepburn represented elegance, warmth and kindness, and those values continue to inspire every detail of the guest experience.”

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

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