Where to Eat Drink HTX

Houston Restaurant Weeks’ casual offshoot kicks off with diverse new dining options

Houston Restaurant Weeks’ more casual sibling kicks off this week. Eat Drink HTX runs from February 15-28.

Similar in style to Houston Restaurant Weeks, restaurants that participate in Eat Drink HTX serve prix fixe menus at set price points for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Whereas HRW prices are $25 for lunch and brunch and $39 or $55, Eat Drink is much less expensive — $15 for lunch and brunch and $20 or $25 for dinner.

As with HRW, participating restaurants will donate a fixed amount of money per meal sold to a local charity — $1 per $15 meal, $2 per $20 meal, and $3 per $25 meal. In 2023, the event will benefit the Houston Food Bank and Children at Risk.

This roundup shines a spotlight on some of the newer restaurants participating in this year’s event. Many opened in the fall, while others are either new locations or rebranded spots in familiar locations. All offer tempting choices and a good value.

Adair Kitchen
Both locations of the neighborhood restaurant, including the recently-opened West U outpost, are serving EDH menus for both lunch and dinner. Look for lunch options such as lemon artichoke soup, a sirloin burger, and the power bowl (brown rice, kale, avocado, and more with choice of protein). At dinner, the choices include chips and dips, parmesan truffle fries, pesto grilled salmon, and Korean glass noodles with choice of protein.

CounterCommon Beerworks and Kitchen
The Bellaire brewpub’s $20 menu starts with three different salads — wedge, Asian slaw, or mixed greens. Entree choices consist of a Korean fried chicken sandwich, Thai-style pad see ew, or a trio of grilled maitake bao. Add a pint of beer for $5.

Dinette
This Vietnamese restaurant in the Heights is serving a a two-course lunch menu. Choose from five starters including summer rolls, vegetarian egg rolls, and pork rinds with honey-fish sauce. Entree choices include pho nachos, lemongrass chicken roulade, and tofu and mushroom curry.

Figo Sugo
Bravery Chef Hall’s Italian restaurant is offering both lunch and dinner menus. At lunch, the choices include Caesar salad, mozzarella sticks, spaghetti, and two slices of pizza. Dinner options include short rib lasagna bites, baked goat cheese, parmesan-crusted chicken, and spaghetti and meatballs.

Gatsby’s Grill
This casual sibling of Gatsby’s Prime Seafood in the former Acadian Coast space on Navigation is serving both lunch and dinner menus. At lunch, diners will find options such as a burger, pasta, or fish tacos with choice of dessert. Dinner choices include seafood pasta, chicken fried steak, and salmon — or upgrade to either an 8-ounce filet mignon or 10-ounce redfish for $10.

Low Tide Kitchen & Bar
This Spring Branch seafood restaurant from the team behind Harold in the Heights is serving lunch, dinner, and brunch. Dinner options include gumbo, she crab soup, fried chicken, and shrimp and grits. At brunch, the choices include hush puppies, beignets, crab cake benedict, and a shrimp po’ boy.

Ribeye & Rye
This restaurant in Lazybrook/Timbergrove is serving a two-course lunch menu that includes a 12-ounce New York strip. Those looking for something a little lighter than steak for lunch may choose either a blackened chicken Caesar salad or pesto chicken pasta.

Rooster & Rice
The Garden Oaks location of this San Francisco import is serving two-course lunch. Start with larb popcorn chicken, sweet potato fries, or spicy cucumber salad. Entree choices feature variations of the restaurant’s signature chicken and rice, including the original, chicken cutlet, or chicken sandwich.

Taste of Mulan
Formerly known as One Dim Sum, the Midtown Chinese restaurant still features dumplings on both its lunch and dinner menus. Entree choices lean towards Sichuan dishes such as Kung Pao chicken, spicy green beans, stir-fried chicken, and soft shell crab.

Photo by Raydon Creative

Gatsby's Grill is serving both lunch and dinner.

The Upside Pub
Garden Oak’s casual watering hole is serving both lunch and dinner. During the day, the choices include potato latke balls, small queso fries, kale Caesar salad, and a “super bomb” patty melt. For dinner, choose from dishes such as wings, a California-style burrito, and a BLT.

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H-E-B names 3 innovative Houston food companies among 'Texas Best'

H-E-B Quest for Texas Best Hive Food Co.

Photo courtesy of H-E-B

Hive Food Co. is known for its infused honey.

After months of pouring over video submissions, H-E-B is entering the final leg of its annual grocery games. The San Antonio-based supermarket chain has narrowed down the finalists for its annual Quest for Texas Best competition, including three from Houston.

Ten innovative Texas entrepreneurs were chosen from a record-breaking 978 entries representing more than 500 companies spread across the Lone Star State.

Now in its 13th year, the contest asks Texas small businesses to put their best foot forward for the chance to win a combined $100,000 in cash prizes and the opportunity to be stocked on H-E-B shelves. Since the competition's beginning, the grocer has discovered more than 1,000 unique products, many of which have become literal household names.

“Quest for Texas Best is more than a competition; it is a launchpad for Texas entrepreneurs,” said James Harris, senior director of diversity & inclusion and supplier diversity for H‑E‑B, in a release. “H‑E‑B began as a small business, and we know firsthand how powerful the right opportunity can be.”

This year, the San Antonio and Houston regions were at the head of the pack with three finalist nods each. But the entrepreneurs hailed from all over the state — from border town Roma to Fort Worth suburb Haltom City. The top 10 hopefuls include:

Boerne — Coley’s Foods Inc., a frozen cookie dough company
Floresville — Dean & Peeler Meats, a beef producer known for its smoked Gouda sausage and Angus tallow
San Antonio — WFN Foods, maker of heat-and-serve taco fillings like beef barbacoa, pork carnitas, and carne guisada
Roma — In Your Smokin' Face, a spice company specializing in bold chile piquín and carne asada blends
Haltom City — Sol Dias, a gourmet paleta and Mexican ice cream company
Glenn Heights — Uncle Marc’s, a manufacturer of barbecue seasonings, rubs, and sauces
Houston — Doggie Express, a small-batch maker of decorated treats for canine celebrations
Houston — Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce, a saucy supplier branching out to Bloody Mary and margarita mixes
Houston — Hive Food Co., beekeepers known for gourmet infused honey
Bastrop — La Fregona, creators of a chile sauce for elotes and esquites

The final contenders will pitch their products on October 8 at H-E-B's headquarters in San Antonio, where judges will determine the top four winning products and award $50,000 to the Grand Prize winner and the "Texas Best" title — an honor that guarantees placement on H-E-B store shelves.

The first-place winner will receive $25,000, the second-place winner will receive $15,000, and the third-place winner will receive $10,000.

Since 2014, H-E-B has handed out nearly $2.75 million in prize money to Texas entrepreneurs. But Quest for Texas Best isn’t just about capital: the winners receive marketing, mentoring, and supplemental support to grow their brands. Fifty-five Texas small businesses that took part in the contest have achieved $1 million in sales and earned a commemorative H-E-B Million Dollar Club belt buckle.

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