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    festival season is here

    9 flavorful food festivals happening in Houston this fall

    Eric Sandler
    Sep 24, 2025 | 5:08 pm

    The imminent arrival of fall’s first “cold front” (let’s be honest — we’ll take what we can get) signals the start of Houston’s fall festival season. Every weekend is loaded with opportunities to be outdoors, and that includes any number of food-related happenings.

    With that in mind, we’ve rounded up nine of the fall’s highest profile events. From staples that will draw thousands of food lovers to an intriguing newcomer that looks very promising, this list has something for every taste and every price point.

    Iron Bartender
    Thursday, September 25
    This annual bash benefits The Periwinkle Foundation, which develops and provides programs for children, young adults, and families who are challenged by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. After an initial round of judging, these are the finalists who will compete for the coveted title: Victor Navarro (Anvil), Stephanie Di Muria (Botanica), Drew Jerdan (Bad News Bar), Leonel Galvan (Cuchara). Christian Guadiana (Johnny’s Gold Brick), and Marc Estil (Reserve 101).

    Southern Smoke Festival
    Photo courtesy of Southern Smoke Foundation

    Join Aaron Franklin and many others at the Southern Smoke Festival.

    Tickets start at $75 for the tasting or $350 for a seated dinner with cocktail pairings by the finalists.

    Chefs for Farmers
    Saturday, September 27, and Sunday, September 28
    Named for the way it connects Houston chefs with Texas farms, this two-day event returns to Autry Park this weekend. Approximately 60 chefs — split between Saturday and Sunday — will serve bites. In additions, attendees can look forward to experiences such as:

    Rosé Ranch – A garden-inspired space with curated pours and photo ops from sponsors.
    Tailgate Experience – Beer pairings, lawn games, and football on the big screen, including the Texans vs. Titans game.
    Texas Love – A celebration of barbecue traditions and regional flavors.
    Artisan Alley – A market of local vendors.

    Tickets for either Saturday or Sunday are priced at $145 for general admission and $195 for VIP. Attend both days for $249 or $349. Search Instagram for various influencers with discount codes.

    Southern Smoke Festival
    Saturday, October 4
    Benefitting the Southern Smoke Foundation, which offers mental health services and emergency financial assistance to hospitality workers, the epic food festival returns to Discovery Green with a roster of more than 85 chefs and beverage professionals from across the country. As always, star pitmaster Aaron Franklin headlines the group, which also includes Paul Carmichael (Kabawa, New York), Wylie Dufresne (Stretch Pizza, New York), Tavel Bristol-Joseph (Canje, Austin), Ana Castro (Acamaya, New Orleans), Ashley Christensen (Poole’s Diner, Raleigh), Cassidee Dabney (The Barn at Blackberry Farm), (Billy Durney, Hometown BBQ, Brooklyn), and many others.

    Attendees get access to bites and drinks from the participants, along with live entertainment, cookbook signings and more. VIP tickets are sold out, but a limited number of general admission tickets remain for $225.

    James Beard Taste America
    Wednesday, October 8
    A group of 12 Houston chefs — many who are James Beard Award finalists or semifinalists — are teaming up for this event at the Post Oak Hotel. Led by Ope Amosu (ChòpnBlọk), a current member of the James Beard Foundation’s TasteTwenty class for chefs who have shown talent and leadership, the group also includes Emmanuel Chavez (Tatemó), Suu Khin (Burmalicious), and Top Chef winner Tristen Epps (Buboy). See the full menu here.

    Tickets are priced at $175 for general admission and $225 for premier access that includes entering one hour earlier. Proceeds from the event benefit the foundation’s mission to champion a more sustainable, equitable, and thriving future for independent restaurants and the broader food system.

    Taste of Atlas
    (Update 9/29: This event has been postponed. A new date will be announced in the future.)
    Baltimore-based hospitality group Atlas Restaurants will bring together all three of Houston concepts for one special evening. Held at Azumi, the company’s Japanese restaurant in River Oaks District, attendees will have the opportunity to sample bites and drinks from Azumi, Loch Bar, and Marmo, along with a tuna cutting and live entertainment. Head to Loch Bar after for 50-percent off drinks for wristband wearers. Tickets are priced at $120 per person.

    Rare Steak Festival
    Thursday, October 23
    As many as 30 Houston-area restaurants will serve bites featuring steak at this festival at the Post Houston. Tickets — priced at $145 for general admission, $200 for early entry, and $307 for VIP — include unlimited samples from the participating restaurants alongside cocktails and other sips from the event’s sponsors. Participants include Guard & Grace, Fielding's, Rainbow Lodge, Marmo, Vic & Anthony's, State of Grace, and more.

    Delicious Alchemy: 20th Anniversary Banquet
    Monday, November 3
    Recipe for Success will celebrate 20 years of teaching children about the importance of eating their vegetables with an epic meal that features 10 Houston chefs, including Ryan Pera (Colitvare), Lucas McKinney (Josephine’s), Dominick Lee (Augustine’s), along with retired chefs Claire Smith (Shade, Alice Blue) and Greg Martin (Bistro Menil). The event takes place in the gathering barn at Recipe for Success’ urban farm in South Houston. Tickets start at $2,500 per person with tables for four priced at $12,000.

    Bites & Beyond Festival
    Saturday, November 8
    Making its debut this year, Bites & Beyond will offer a full day of food and music at Discovery Green. General admission tickets ($30) get attendees in the door, giving them access to food vendors, a craft market, and all of the day’s entertainment. VIPs ($134) get access to a tasting presented by the Houston Hospitality Alliance, along with a VIP entrance, dedicated restrooms, and a VIP lounge. Participating restaurants and bands are still TBA.

    Urban Harvest Sunday Supper
    Sunday, November 9
    The organization behind Houston’s most popular farmers market has rounded up an all-star lineup for its annual fundraiser, which will be held at J-Bar-M Barbecue in EaDo. Participating chefs include Arash Kharat (J-Bar-M Barbecue), Bryan Caswell (Latuli), Felipe Riccio (March), Hilario Zamora (Zanti), Josh Sutcliff (55 Seventy), Marco Incerti (Tavola), Michael O’Connor (Doris Metropolitan), and Jane Wild (Jane and the Lion Bakehouse). Tickets start at $350 for individuals with tables of four starting at $3,000.

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    Where to Eat on New Year's Eve

    25 Houston restaurants celebrating New Year's Eve with caviar, bubbles, and more

    Brianna McClane
    Dec 23, 2025 | 10:30 am
    The Henry restaurant new year's eve
    Photo courtesy of The Henry
    The Henry, one of the city's newest hotel's, invites diners to enjoy a three-course meal that includes chicken frites.

    Whether 2025 was great, awful, or just meh, there’s no reason not to end it on a high note. Houston restaurants are celebrating with indulgent menus featuring caviar, lobster, and steak, along with plenty of bubbly. Food and booze aren’t the only draws — many of these New Year’s Eve celebrations also bring DJs, live music, and even aerial performances into the mix.

    Bari Ristorante
    Life’s a circus at Cirque du Bari, the restaurant’s New Year’s Eve fete, where the adjoining lawn will be transformed into a whimsical experience complete with stilt walkers. A DJ will keep the atmosphere festive until 2 am, with patrons encouraged to “dress to join the circus.” Two dinner seatings are available from 7–7:30 pm and 9:30–10 pm, followed by a champagne toast at midnight.

    Camaraderie
    Find fan favorites and limited features on the menu at Camaraderie, such as roast muscovy duck breast in a cherry and foie gras jus, and a meringata with white truffle gelato and hazelnut praline. Reservations are required to snag this $98 per person curated menu. Seatings are available from 5 pm-10 pm.

    Doc’s Jazz Club
    Montrose’s new jazz club is sending off 2025 with 7 pm and 10 pm performances by Tianna Hall and the Houston Jazz Band. The four-course dinner opens with black-eyed pea soup and a grape-arugula salad, followed by a choice of stuffed pork tenderloin, 6-ounce Black Angus filet, or seared halibut. End on a sweet note with a spiced, red-wine poached pear and cinnamon whipped cream. The 7 pm seating includes a bubbly toast, while those at the 10 pm show will be served a full bottle of bubbles at midnight.

    Eculent
    There’s no reason to settle on just one restaurant for NYE, when you can visit all four of Chef David Skinner’s spots with a $99 “Ticket to Roam.” Patrons can move between eculent, ISHTIA, Meticulous Spirits Distillery, and Clear Creek Winery all in one night, with a hot buffet from 7–10 pm, a dessert bar from 10 pm-12 am, and champagne with party favors at midnight. Cocktails and wine will be available for purchase. The event is 21+ with reservations required.

    Flora Mexican Kitchen
    Toast to the new year at this Buffalo Bayou Park eatery where a live DJ will spin tracks from 8 pm-12 am, with complimentary champagne when the clock strikes midnight. A sparkling disco ball adds to the ambiance.

    Guard and Grace
    The luxurious downtown steakhouse will supplement its regular menu with NYE features, including dry-aged duck breast with foie gras dirty rice, bluefin tuna tataki, steamed crab and lobster wonton, pan-roasted Alaskan halibut, and smoked, bone-in beef short rib with black garlic glaze.

    The Henry at Town & Country Village
    One of Houston’s newest neighborhood restaurants invites diners to welcome 2026 with a three-course meal. Start with decadent bites such as the truffled brie toast, followed by entrees like a Korean prime skirt steak or roasted chicken frites. Dessert brings a chocolate fudge pie, lemon olive oil cake, or a molten butter cake. Priced at $85 per person, with optional wine pairings available as an add on. The Henry is open from 4 pm-12 am.

    Juliet
    Slip into the new year feeling like a spy at this James Bond-inspired, black-tie attire event. “Casino Royale” at Juliet is a $250-per-person celebration with casino-esque games, magicians, entertainment, open bar, and a three-course dinner. Standout dishes include a two-pound lobster thermidor and a 36-ounce tomahawk ribeye (+$150).

    Kitchen Rumors
    This fusion spot in the Arts District is marking New Year’s Eve with a $75 prix fixe menu of flavorful creations like roasted oyster tikka, shrimp ravioli, and beef vindaloo with basmati rice. The fifth and final course offers a choice between carrot halwa cheesecake or chocolate cardamom mousse. Kitchen Rumors is open from 4pm-10pm.

    Little’s Oyster Bar
    Seafood lovers will want to close out 2025 at Little’s Oyster Bar where features include Matagorda Pearl oysters on the half shell with champagne seafoam and Little’s white sturgeon caviar, Red Royal shrimp, lobster bisque, and Yellow Edge grouper. The fixed-price menu is $175 per person, served from 5 pm-10 pm.

    Makiin
    It’s “Midnight in Bangkok” at this Upper Kirby restaurant where live entertainment — like Thai dancers, aerial performance, and DJ — complement a $55, three-course menu. All diners can raise a complimentary pour at midnight. MaKiin is open until 12 am on December 31.

    The Marigold Club
    Goodnight Hospitality's decadent, Mayfair London-inspired French restaurant is celebrating New Year's Eve with a three-course, $175 per person prix fixe menu. Begin with choices such as beef tartare, tuna crudo, or Caesar salad. Entree choices include prime filet, duck Wellington, Dover sole, and lobster Thermidor. Four dessert choices complete the meal. Enhance the experience with additions such as caviar, truffles, and champagne.

    Maximo
    Executive chef Adrian Torres’ progressive Mexican cuisine is the star of Maximo’s NYE show. Smoked pork belly, masa cornbread with white truffle and caviar, and corn puree Basque cheesecake are just a few of the offerings on the five-course, $85 prix fixe menu. Add cocktail and wine pairings for an additional $45. Maximo will open at 5 pm on New Year’s Eve with a last seating at 10 pm, and return to regular service and menus on Thursday, January 1.

    Milton’s
    Say “Buon Anno” with a five-course feast at Milton’s. The curated dinner starts at $150 per person, with optional wine pairings available for $75. Find favorites such as the housemade sourdough tagliatelle with shaved black truffle, and a seafood risotto with poached lobster.

    Murray’s Pizza and Wine
    Raise a slice of pizza to the year’s end at this recently-opened pizzeria. The prix fixe menu features small plates and three limited-edition pizzas: caviar and with Norwegian salmon that's hot-smoked in house; duck confit pizza with roasted red grapes; and a truffle-wild mushroom pizza with a garlic cream sauce and salsa verde.

    North Italia
    Why not finish the year off with a sampling of new dishes? The restaurant’s three-course menu for NYE includes staples such as the Sicilian meatballs, alongside new creations like smoked prosciutto chicken parmesan and a lobster mezzaluna with tiger shrimp in a white vodka sauce. Pricing starts at $75 per diner.

    Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
    The Houston institution invites patrons to bid adieu to the year with a $150, four-course menu. Lobster deviled eggs, grilled double cut lamb chops, and “turtle” mousse tart are on the menu, as is the restaurant’s signature 16-ounce, prime ribeye. Both the Galleria and the downtown locations will host the celebration.

    Sol 7 at the Thompson Hotel
    Soar up to the seventh floor of the Thompson Hotel for Sol 7’s $70, three-course menu. Patrons can take in the restaurant’s downtown views while dishes of miniature crab cake with remoulade, a compressed melon carpaccio salad, and a red wine braised short rib are delivered to the table. A banana rum cake completes the meal. For those who want to continue the celebration, the hotel is offering a “Let’s Party” in-room decor package that includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

    State of Grace
    Join chef Ryan Lachaine at this River Oaks-staple for a four-course, $145 per person dinner. Everyone starts with house baked bread, served with butter and caviar, before choosing one of five starters such as raw oysters, chili crab, or yellowfin tuna crudo. Entree options include char sui-style duck breast, mushroom risotto, prime filet, or dry-aged cote du boeuf ($49 supplement) and are paired with shared sides including black-eyed peas. Add wine pairings for $65 or $125.

    Street to Kitchen
    James Beard Award-winning chef Benchawan Jabthong Painter and her husband Graham Painter invite diners to join them for a surprise menu that features multiple courses showcasing "unapologetically Thai sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy flavors." Priced at $100, the meal begins at 7 pm with a cocktail hour at 6 pm. Reserve seats via Street to Kitchen's website.

    Succulent Fine Dining
    The Regent Square restaurant is capping off its first year in Houston with music from DJ Sound and Vision and a seven-course prix fixe menu. From the $125 per person menu, expect entrees like a poached halibut cheek with butter-braised leeks, and a pepper-crusted, 1855 Farms prime rib. The regular dinner menu will also be available. Succulent Fine Dining is open from 5 pm-12 am.

    Turner's Cut
    Those looking to splurge may want to indulge in the seven-course tasting menu at this ultra-posh steakhouse in Autry Park. Priced at $2,026 per couple, it includes selections such as a caviar tartlet paired with champagne; lobster ravioli paired with more champagne; both an American wagyu strip and a Japanese wagyu filet; and a welcome cocktail made with Rémy Martin 1738. A toast with Louis XIII cognac ends the meal. Live music, party favors, and a midnight balloon drop complete the experience.

    Uchi and Uchiko
    New Year’s Eve is an intimate affair at Uchi, where diners can reserve a $400 omakase experience for two. Selections include Siberian caviar service, A5 wagyu gyutoro, and bluefin akami. The restaurant’s sister restaurant, Uchiko, is also offering an omakase for two at $350. The regular menu will be available at both restaurants on NYE, but no happy hour or to-go orders will be. Reservations are available from 4 pm-11 pm.

    The Woodlands Resort
    2025 is going out big in the ‘burbs with a 14-piece live band and a buffet-style dinner at the Woodlands Resort. The festivities kick off with a champagne welcome and passed appetizers, with a live DJ cranking out tunes before a confetti countdown at midnight. Tickets are $150 per person and can be purchased via Eventbrite. “Midnight Noir” at The Woodlands Resort is from 7 pm-1:30 am.

    The Henry restaurant new year's eve

    Photo courtesy of The Henry

    The Henry, one of the city's newest hotel's, invites diners to enjoy a three-course meal that includes chicken frites.

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