20 HRW first timers

20 exciting new Houston Restaurant Week options serve up global fare and lively entertainment

Over the weekend, Houston Restaurant Weeks released its initial lineup of participants. The event, which takes from August 1 through Labor Day (Monday, September 4), will feature more than 200 Houston restaurants serving prix-fixe menus at lunch, brunch, and dinner.

For 2023, prices remain the same as last year: with lunch and brunch priced at $25 for a two or three-course meal and dinner priced at $39 or $55 for a three or four-course meal (prices do not include beverages, tax, or tip). In turn, the restaurants will donate $3 for a $25 meal, $5 for a $39 meal, or $7 for a $55 meal to the Cleverley Stone Foundation, the non-profit that operates HRW. In turn, the foundation will make a donation to the Houston Food Bank.

HRW’s founder, the late Cleverley Stone, liked to tout the event as a win-win-win. Restaurants win by turning the formerly slow month of August into a busy one. Diners win by getting to try some of Houston’s most upscale restaurants at a fixed, discounted price. The food bank wins by securing a donation of more than $1 million.

The last 12 months have been a particularly dynamic time for new restaurant openings, and many have elected to participate in HRW for the first time. The list below isn’t a comprehensive guide to every new establishment taking the HRW plunge, but it does give diners a head start on making their plans.

Amrina
Located in The Woodlands’ Waterway, this Indian fine dining restaurant is serving a three-course, $55 menu. Its six appetizer options include jackfruit samosas, chicken meatballs, and pork belly. The entree options — all of which are served with garlic naan and dal makhani — include butter chicken, prawn curry, and lamb chops ($20 supplement). Finish with one of three desserts.

Bari Ristorante
River Oaks District’s new Italian restaurant will observe its first HRW with a three-course, $55 dinner menu. The five appetizer choices include caprese salad, frito misto, and charred octopus ($7 supplement). Entree options include braised short ribs with polenta, grilled branzino with roasted vegetables, or, for an extra $7, mushroom risotto. Bari’s menu has four dessert options, but go with the mango cheesecake.

Photo by Jenn Duncan

Ostia's signature roast chicken is on its HRW menu.

Caps Supper Club & Bar
At this restaurant in Briargrove that features live music from 9:30 pm - 1 am every Thursday - Saturday, the three-course, $39 menu features some tempting choices. Options include deviled eggs, berry beet salad, hanger steak, and chicken paillard with rice pilaf. Finish with one of three desserts.

Ciel Restaurant & Bar
Speaking of entertainment, restaurants don’t get much more lively than this establishment near River Oaks District that features pop ups performers by singers and dancers throughout the evening. The three-course, $55 menu starts with options such as calamari tempura, king salmon maki roll, and a salad that can be upgraded with shrimp, chicken, or filet. Entree options include roasted branzino, spaghetti with shrimp (add king crab for $30), or a 10-ounce ribeye for a $35 supplement. Finish with vacherin, a chocolate eclair, or raspberry sorbet that can be upgraded with a dollop of caviar for an additional $15.

Dinette
This Vietnamese restaurant’s three-course, $39 dinner menu offers all savory courses. Start with summer rolls, egg rolls, or braised pork belly. Next, choose from snow mushroom salad, brown clams in sweet chili fish sauce, and pho nachos. Finish with tofu and mushroom curry, surf and turf fried rice, or whole fried branzino.

Eau Tour
Benjy Levit’s French restaurant in Rice Village will serve a three-course, $55 dinner menu. Start with choice of soup or salad before selecting duck confit, scallop lyonnaise, roasted vegetable panisse, or grilled branzino. We suggest selecting the profiteroles for dessert.

Frnds
This Southern-inspired restaurant in Rice Village will serve a three-course, $39 dinner menu. Selections include buttermilk fried chicken tenders, wagyu sliders, chicken meatballs, cacio e pepe, and shrimp skewers with a coconut curry marinade.

Graffiti Raw
At this California-inspired restaurant in the Montrose Collective development, diners will find a number of choices on the four-course, $55 dinner menu. Start with dishes such as crispy rice and tuna, caviar and chips, red snapper ceviche, and crab and shrimp fried rice. Entree options consist of linguini with claims, roasted chicken, roasted salmon, and the popular cheeseburger. Beet cake, tres leches, or chocolate tart finish the meal.

Hamsa
This Israeli restaurant in Rice Village is also offering diners a four-course, $55 dinner menu along with a three-course lunch menu. At dinner, start with signature dishes such as lamb hummus, felafel, cauliflower couscous, or any three salatim. Entree options at dinner include one of four skewers: chicken, tenderloin, shrimp, or King Oyster mushroom, while lunch features both a felafel sandwich and chicken thigh served with rice or salad. Both menus finish with one of three desserts.

Karne Korean Steakhouse
This Heights restaurant will serve a three-course, $55 menu. Start with favorites like Black Sesame K.F.C., cured pork belly, or tuna tartare ($10 supplement). Entree choices include hanger steak, chuck flap, and fish; all are served with banchan, and sides are available for $8 each. The meal concludes with one of three desserts.

Marmo
The luxurious Italian steakhouse in the Montrose Collective development with will both a two-course lunch and a three-course, $55 dinner. At lunch, the menu features dishes such as Caesar salad, Tuscan fried chicken, chicken parm, and spaghetti with meatballs. At dinner, the entree choices include a dry-aged NY strip, Texas redfish, and the signature squid ink campanelle with blue crab and uni cream.

Mimo
The East End’s buzz-worthy new Italian restaurant will serve both a three-course lunch and a four-course, $55 dinner. At lunch, the offerings center around Mimo’s sandwiches and pastas. Dinner features both a pasta course with three selections and entree choices of filet, eggplant or Cornish game hen.

Money Cat
Find a three-course, $55 dinner menu at this Upper Kirby restaurant. Start with chutoro toast, hamachi with compressed melon, or king crab taraba. Entree options include miso cured sea bass, short rib, or sashimi. The meal ends with three dessert choices.

Ojo de Agua
This Mexico City-based restaurant will serve two-course lunch and brunch menus as well as a three-course, $39 dinner. Both lunch and brunch have similar menus with dishes such as tropical ceviche, fruit cup, chilaquiles, and quesadillas. Dinner includes choice of salad to start followed by one of three entrees: tacos (chicken or tofu); tostada with sweet potato and choice of tuna or salmon; and sirloin stuffed with cheese. Finish with guava pancake, peanut butter açaí sorbet scoop, or a chocolate chip cookie.

Ostia
Travis McShane’s Italian restaurant will serve both a two-course lunch and a three-course, $55 dinner. At lunch, the menu includes a chicken salad sandwich, bucatini carbonara, and arguably Houston’s best Caesar salad. At dinner, the choices include the same starters as long, along with gnocchi, bucatini al’Amatriciana, and the signature roast chicken with salsa verde. Finish with chocolate budino, cookies, or Basque cheesecake.

Pacha Nikkei
Located in West Houston, the restaurant’s Nikkei cuisine will be available as both a two-course lunch and a three-course, $55 dinner. Lunch options include spicy salmon maki, pork gyoza, a sashimi bento box, and a pork katsu bento. At dinner, start with ceviche or a kampachi tiradito. Entree choices include lomo saltado with beef tenderloin, vegan saltado with mushrooms, and shrimp mac and cheese. Churros, ice cream, and bread pudding constitute the dessert choices.

Pastore
Underbelly Hospitality’s new Italian restaurant will serve a three-course, $55 dinner. The menu includes two salads, shrimp in XO sauce, buccatini cacio e pepe, short rib risotto, and pan seared snapper. Finish with one of three desserts.

PS-21
The Upper Kirby French restaurant will serve a two-course lunch and a three-course, $55 dinner. At lunch, chef Philippe Schmit’s offerings include onion soup, tarte flambe, steak frites, and Flash Cooked Salmon. The dinner menu has similar starters to lunch along with entrees such as bouillabaisse, beef short rib, and crispy salmon. Choose either of the classic French desserts — crepe suzette or floating island — over the bread pudding.

The Lymbar
Chef David Cordua’s restaurant in the Ion building in Midtown will serve an impressive four-course lunch and a three-course, $39 dinner. Lunch includes an empanada, a salad, five different entree choices, and dessert. At dinner, the menu includes Cordua signatures such as truffle twinkies and ceviche. Entree options include empanadas, chicken shawarma or beef tacos, chicken and mushroom pasta, and churrasco bites. The restaurant offers three desserts, but the tres leche stands out.

Triola’s Kitchen
This favorite of Houston’s foodie Facebook groups will serve a two-course lunch and a three-course, $55 dinner. At lunch, start with choice of soup or salad before selecting one of three entrees: penne with sausage, grilled chicken with sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese, or lasagna. The dinner entrees consist of lasagna, grilled salmon, or breaded, baked chicken. Finish with cheesecake, key lime pie, or flourless chocolate cake.

lunch dinner brunch fundraisers news-you-can-eat

Where to drink now

CultureMap's 11 favorite new bars that shook up Houston in 2025

Photo by Julie Soefer

Eclectic vintage finds populate the walk-up bar at Augustine Lounge in Hotel Saint Augustine.

This was a standout year for new bars in Houston, with elevated cocktail lounges opening alongside neighborhood hangouts. Whether you’re after a cold beer while watching the Texans on a Heights patio or a tiny martini inside an emerald-green, celestial-inspired hideaway near the Galleria, these 11 openings defined Houston’s bar scene in 2025.

Augustine Lounge
Hotel Saint Augustine has been racking up awards since it opened — receiving a Michelin Key and best new hotel honors from both Esquire and Travel + Leisure. Its bar, Augustine Lounge, matches that acclaim with a focused drinks program featuring highlights like the Coyote Call, a mix of mezcal, port, and Blackstrap rum accented with raspberry, lime, and nutmeg. The food menu leans elevated but unfussy, with offerings such as a charcuterie board with duck prosciutto and a wagyu hot dog tucked into a brioche bun. It also hosts vinyl nights featuring DJ sets from high profile Houstonians. Augustine Lounge is located at 4110 Loretto Drive and open daily from 11 am-12 am.

Bar Doko
Created by Duckstache Hospitality experts (Kokoro, Handies Douzo, Himari, and Aiko) as a companion to its sushi restaurant Doko, Bar Doko has an intimate, 16-seat atmosphere and an extensive selection of Japanese whisky. Small bites shine here, including a masu crudo topped with smoked trout roe and a Jidori egg salad toast. Beverage options range from highballs, martinis, sake, beer, and wine to inventive cocktails like the “Sora” Sky, made with sesame-infused tequila, Maven cold brew, toasted barley, coffee liqueur, and vanilla miso foam. Bar Doko is located at 3737 Cogdell Street, Suite 135, and is open daily from 4 pm-2 am.

Bar Madonna
One doesn’t need a room at the Marlene Inn — a grand neoclassical home turned nine-room hotel — to enjoy this elegant watering hole. Bar Madonna takes its name from a striking, 10-foot painting of the Virgin Mary, relocated from an 18th-century Italian church. Leading the beverage program is Tom Hardy, formerly of Hotel Saint Augustine, whose menu balances Old World influence with New Orleans flair.

This is a seated-only bar, offering 12 interior seats plus additional patio seating, and while reservations aren’t required, they’re often helpful. Signature libations include the Wild Ouest, a tequila-forward blend with poblano, lime, and mezcal inspired by “cowboy boots down the Champs-Élysées.” Bar Madonna is open Monday-Thursday from 3-10 pm, Friday from 3-11 pm, Saturday from 12-11 pm, and Sunday from 12-10 pm.

Berwick’s Bird of Paradise
A tropical escape awaits at Berwick’s Bird of Paradise, created by veteran bartender Robin Berwick of Midtown's beloved Double Trouble. The space was fully renovated to invoke a resort bar attached to an imaginary hotel, complete with playful design touches and a mythical “owner” depicted on the wall. Tropical drinks anchor the menu — think spicy, frozen tequila riffs and a coconut-infused Crocodile Tears Martini — alongside a selection of bar bites like smash burgers, chicken wings, and a Bikini sandwich. Known colloquially as "Be Bop," the bar has quickly attracted locals, industry regulars, and neighbors. Open Tuesday-Thursday from 4 pm-12 am, Friday-Saturday from 3 pm-1 am, and Sunday from 2 pm-10 pm, Berwick’s Bird of Paradise is at 2020 Studewood Street.

Donna’s
The newest cocktail destination on this list, Donna’s quickly built a following after opening Thanksgiving weekend in the former Ready Room space. Named after the grandmother of co-founder Jacki Schromm, the bar is a collaboration between the veteran bartender and Anvil owner Bobby Heugel. Together, the duo aims to create a house-party atmosphere, with energetic weekends balanced by more laid-back weeknights. A vintage stereo system — complete with a reel-to-reel and a turntable — sets the soundtrack, loud enough to entertain but low enough for conversations. The Jacki’s Martini, a 50-50 mix of gin with Cocchi Americano and Dolin Blanc vermouth, nods to both the “Bobby’s Martini” at Refuge and Squable’s “Terry’s Martini.” Donna's is open daily from 2 pm-2 am at 2626 White Oak Drive.

Endless Bummer
Walk the line between Houston and hell at Endless Bummer, the tiki bar next to Beteleguese Beteleguese’s Montrose location. Skeletons, imps, and tiki idols fill the 50-seat space, turning Endless Bummer into an immersive experience displaying works by local artists. The cocktail menu reimagines tropical standards like daiquiris, mai tais, and punches, while originals include the Banana Hammock — a banana-coffee vodka drink — and the Bitter Bird, made with Jamaican rum, Campari, pineapple, yuzu, and strawberry. Located at 4500 Montrose Boulevard, Endless Bummer is open Wednesday-Sunday, from 5 pm-12 am.

Good God, Nadine’s
Designed to feel like the home of “everyone’s favorite eccentric aunt,” Good God, Nadine’s delivers a warm, casual atmosphere paired with playful, comfort-forward drinks. The Washington Corridor bar offers 17 beers and wines on tap, along with cocktails like the Mango Sticky Rice, made with vodka, coconut milk, mango, and pandan. Food options range from po' boys to cast-iron cornbread and oysters on the half shell. Patrons can choose between three distinct areas: an indoor bar, an air-conditioned patio, and a garden patio. Good God, Nadine’s sits at 33 Waugh Drive, and is open Tuesday-Saturday from 4 pm-12 am, and Sunday from 12 pm-8 pm.

The Kid
With a comfortable bartop, moody-but-visible lighting, and ample seating — The Kid nails the feel of a classic neighborhood hang. Inside, charming baby goat figurines — aka “kids” — peek out from behind chicken wire room dividers, while an astroturfed patio outside offers a prime spot to catch a game. From the team behind Flying Fish, Flying Saucer, and Rodeo Goat, the bar continues the group’s tradition of approachable comfort food, including burgers and loaded tater tots. Drink options include the La Fresita, a refreshing creation of tequila, strawberry, peach, lemon, and prosecco. Happy hour is weekdays from 4 pm-7 pm, with $8 cocktails and wines, plus an all-day happy hour on Tuesdays. Located at 1815 N. Durham Drive, The Kid is open Monday-Thursday, 4 pm-12 am, and Friday and Saturday, 4 pm-2 am.

Photo by Julie Soefer

Eclectic vintage finds populate the walk-up bar at Augustine Lounge in Hotel Saint Augustine.

Moon
Perched above Tavola, Moon is an elegant cocktail lounge inspired by the cosmos. A joint concept from the Bastion Collection — the hospitality group behind Michelin-starred Le Jardinier at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — and Cafe Natalie, Moon’s food options range from a black truffle croque monsieur to the Dark Side of the Moon, a chocolate moelleux with hazelnut crunch. House cocktails like the Nightfall, featuring spiced WhistlePig rye, dark rum, Oloroso sherry, and cherry, sit alongside classics such as French 75s, wines, mocktails, tiny martinis, and shots. For those craving something off-menu, head bartender Joao Diniz is known for crafting bespoke drinks on request. Moon is located at 1800 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 6110, and is open Tuesday-Thursday from 5 pm-12 am, and Friday and Saturday from 5 pm-2 am.

Starduster Lounge
There’s something both nostalgic and timeless about Starduster Lounge, a Heights neighborhood bar that puts a subtle cosmic spin on West Texas style. Will Thomas, co-founder of White Oak Music Hall and owner of Dan Electro’s, teamed up with Benjy Mason of Johnny’s Gold Brick and Winnie’s to transform the nearly 100-year-old building into a charming destination with a rustic yet refined interior of leather, vintage tile, and wood, and a spacious, tree-shaded backyard. The menu is constantly evolving, but standout drinks include the Pecan or Pecan?, with rye, bourbon, and Licor 43. Steak night is on Thursdays, with other food offerings announced via the bar’s Instagram. Happy hour is Monday-Friday, 4 pm-6 pm, with half-off cocktails. Starduster Lounge is located at 3921 N. Main and is open Monday-Friday from 4 pm-2 am, and Saturday and Sunday from 2 pm-2 am.

CultureMap editor Eric Sandler's Honorable Mention: Montrose Grocer
Building on her experience as the owner of Avondale Food & Wine and Heights Grocer, Houston entrepreneur Mary Clarkson opened this wine shop next to Catbirds. What distinguishes it from Heights Grocer is that MG also has a carefully-chosen selection of wines by-the-glass and bottle available for drinking on-site. Paired with snacks in the form of sandwiches and charcuterie boards and enhanced by a soundtrack of 4,000 records, Montrose Grocer has become a popular spot with hospitality workers and wine lovers who appreciate its low key atmosphere and affordable prices. (Full disclosure: Clarkson and Sandler are friends. She is a regular contributor to CultureMap's "What's Eric Eating" podcast.)

cocktails wine where to drink nightlife