The Cleverly Stone Foundation, led by Katie Stone, presents the 2021 Houston Restaurant Weeks check to the Houston Food Bank. Photo courtesy.
Houston Restaurant Weeks 2024 is fading away soonso if you still have spots on your wish list (and, ha ha, some budget left for food this month), make your reservations now. The last day is Monday, September 2nd, Labor Day.
It has been a few years since I was able to enjoy this annual charity dinner, which primarily raises funds for the Houston Food BankSo last week I went all out and chose a mix of old favorites and a few new places. The experiences were mixed, to say the least. Some were a hit. For others, participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks (often called HRW for short) seemed to compound the shortcomings. This week I’m writing summaries of those visits.
I have a major pet peeve when it comes to Houston Restaurant Weeks. I absolutely dislike it when servers don’t automatically present the menu, but instead just offer the regular menu, putting the guest in the awkward position of having to ask for the HRW menu. The goal of Houston Restaurant Weeks is to raise money to support food banks, which have been particularly used this year by people who suffered loss and damage from the Derecho and/or Hurricane Beryl. Since HRW is for a good cause, shouldn’t the menus be presented with pride?
I know participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks can be difficult for restaurant owners. First, the challenge is creating an interesting menu while keeping food costs low to make enough profit to fund the $3 to $5 donation. Second, you have to staff up for a flood of diners who won’t necessarily come in September and October. Third – and this is new, upsetting information to me – I’ve been informed by more than one industry professional that some diners who don’t eat out regularly don’t understand that the flat price of meals doesn’t include taxes, drinks, or gratuities. Apparently there are people who go out for Houston Restaurant Weeks and then don’t tip, which is appalling. The golden rule of dining out applies: If you can’t afford (or don’t want to) tip, don’t go to restaurants with table service.
If a restaurant owner decides to participate, I hope they do so in the spirit of giving. If participating is a burden on the business or its employees, there is a simple answer: don’t take it. I realize that some view participating in Houston Restaurant Weeks as a “damned if you do and damned if you don’t” endeavor, and there is a fear that if you don’t participate, August will be a bad month for your business. However, it may be best to wait for a better year when participating is not a burden. Trust me, the resentment of servers who don’t want diners to order from the HRW menu is noticeable. The bad taste this palpable dislike left in the minds of guests is not one that will soon be forgotten. Although HRW meals are usually a good value due to the number of courses included, they are still a significant outlay for guests. There are other places where I can snag a lunch or brunch for $25 or dinner for $55 plus tax and tip.
Now that I’ve given my opinion on Houston Restaurant Weeks, let’s get to my first visit and look out for more articles on the others this week.
Phaedra Cook has been writing about Houston’s restaurant and bar scene since 2010. She was a regular contributor to My table Magazine (now closed) and was the leading restaurant critic for the Houston Press Cook worked at the magazine for two years and was eventually promoted to food editor. In November 2016, Cook founded the Houston Food Finder and has served as its editor and publisher ever since.
