With the party scene virtually slumbering this past week, I joined the throngs hitting the streets to graze through Houston Restaurant Weeks' dinner offerings.

From Brennan's to Ouisie's to Perry's Steakhouse & Grille — Memorial City, friends, family and I feasted like kings. Not because I was on assignment. Rather because I was hungry for some of those fab food bargains — three courses for $35. I was not disappointed. In fact, my friends and I loved the experiences. For anyone doubting the quality or portions, or for anyone fretting over less than attentive service, I can assure that these three restaurants delivered at the top on all points.

Our Houston Restaurant Weeks' outing for dinner at Perry's was exceptional. The selection included in the special menu was impressive in itself but that combined with the quality and quantity that we enjoyed with superb service from our waiter, Blayne, we could not have been more satisfied.

For the salad course, I opted for the field green, pear and candied pecan number while my two dinner companions went for the wedge (blue cheese dressing readily substituted for the buttermilk dressing on one). Large portions, freshly prepared and tasty.

The entrees were a pleasant surprise, as I hadn't know what to expect. I ordered Perry's "famous pork chop." Need I say, this was enough tender, flavorful pork for me and both my dinner companions. But they ordered the 8-ounce filet topped with jumbo lump crab meat and accompanied by asparagus. Delicious and tender. Dessert was killer with each of us taking one of the three offerings. I considered myself the winner here with the "milk chocolate peanut butter candy bar," actually a to-die-for ice cream bar.

Our experience at Ouisie's earlier in the week was no less satisfying and enjoyable. Two of us ordered from the HRW menu. Two ordered from the regular menu. And I have to say that the HRW offerings easily held their own against the regular menu choices.

What could be better than the crispy crab cakes for starters? For the main course, I had the braised short ribs with creamy mashed potatoes while my dinner companion (aka my husband) went for the shrimp and cheese grits. We shared the tres leches and the Grand Marnier dark chocolate cake with our friends.

Can you ever go wrong at Brennan's? Never. And the restaurant weeks menu was choice. The turtle soup from the first course selection was a slam dunk, though the Cooper Farms peach salad had its fans at the table. The shrimp creole and the 6-ounce petite filet (accompanied by enough potatoes and roasted mushrooms to serve as a full meal) were flawless as were the desserts, of which all three were sampled. The strawberry shortcake, bananas foster and bread pudding would ring anyone's chimes.

There are a great few weeks remaining in this season of dining for charity. I recommend you check out the $20 lunch and $35 dinner menus on the Houston Restaurant Weeks website, make your selections and head out the door.

All smiles

We had to ask. Why was Bering Omega Community Services holding a kickoff party for its annual Sing for Hope gala at the Dentiq Dentistry headquarters on West Gray? A most unusual party venue, you must admit. The answer, it turns out, was clear cut. Dr. Edwin Cordray, one of the founding fathers of the Bering Dental Clinic, is on staff at Dentiq. And the clinic owners wanted to show off their state-of-the-art digs.

So the doors were opened by Dentiq COO Steven Skiff, who welcomed as many as 200 Bering Omega supporters and introduced Dr. Cordray to the gathering. Headlining the mix were gala honorees Gabriela and Daniel Dror and the four gala chairs Angelica and Ed Chapman, Joel Bickley and Dr. Roland Maldonado. Adding a fresh note to the proceedings were gala after-party chairs Nick Espinosa, Liz Gorman, Jerry Guerrero and Brian O'Leary.

The Cordua catering team, including charming chef David Cordua, provided the cocktail bites while songbird Kristine Mills and bass-baritone Timothy Jones delivered the background music. Look for Jones on the Sept. 10 concert schedule in Cullen Theater of Wortham Theater Center.

Joining the party were Bering Omega president Dan Snare, Dentiq's Dr. Shreed Sista, Carlos Melcher, Davon Hatchett, Ahshia Berry, Sarah Atwood, Beth Levine and Nona Gall.

Sight 'ems

Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak celebrating his 50th birthday at Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House Saturday night with his wife, Rhonda, and several friends upstairs in the private dining room, appropriately The Texans Room.