Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, your weekly serving of Atlanta’s restaurant, bar, and culinary happenings. From buzzy openings and chef moves to can’t-miss events, menu debuts, and industry news, here’s everything you need to know about the city’s dining scene this week.
The 411
Houston Restaurant Weeks is gearing up for its 23rd year with the first round of participating restaurants and menus now available online. Set to begin Saturday, August 1 and running through Monday, September 7, this year’s iteration will feature more than 350 restaurants offering prix fixe brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, with a portion of every meal benefiting the Houston Food Bank. Diners can now browse menus and make reservations at houstonrestaurantweeks.com.
Kirby Ice House is expanding to Clear Lake, bringing its sprawling indoor-outdoor hangout to 530 Bay Area Blvd. this September. Located near NASA’s Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston, the new outpost is slated to open just in time for football season, offering the brand’s signature oversized patio, dozens of beer taps, giant TV screens, and neighborhood-inspired design touches—including a custom neon sign featuring Kirby’s iconic cowgirl mascot riding a space rocket. The project is also expected to create more than 100 hospitality jobs, with hiring already underway. More opening details are expected in the coming weeks.
Happenings
Turner’s is giving Houstonians two new reasons to make midweek dinner plans. A new steak night series, coined Prime Affairs, takes over Tuesday nights with a menu of premium steaks, including American wagyu, dry-aged New York strip, and dry-aged ribeye, each served with potato purée, grilled asparagus, and a choice of signature sauces, plus optional sommelier-selected wine pairings. On Wednesdays, a separate series called A Night in Little Italy showcases chef Luigi Shimaj’s handmade pastas, including Meyer lemon linguine, seafood ravioli, and lamb ragù pappardelle, also paired with thoughtfully selected wines. Reservations are recommended.
Little Woodrow’s EaDo is hosting a high-energy Belly Flop Competition on Saturday, July 25, where contestants will battle for bragging rights, a championship-style wrestling belt, and cash prizes. Check-in begins at 5 p.m., with the competition kicking off at 7 p.m. Flops will be judged on splash size, creativity, and overall wow factor, with $500 awarded to first place, followed by $150 for second and $50 for third. Entry is $10, with proceeds benefiting the Houston Fire Department. Registration is encouraged, though walk-up participants are welcome.
Ouisie’s Table is extending the celebration of National Scotch Day with a special three-night dinner event from July 27-29. The River Oaks favorite will offer a three-course prix-fixe menu for $85 per person, with each course paired with Scotch whisky, including a Bowmore Sour, a Glenlivet 12 Rob Roy, and a neat pour of Macallan 12. Diners can choose between dishes such as charred octopus or smoked cheddar and apple soup, Scotch-glazed short ribs or bourbon-barrel salmon, and dark chocolate bourbon tart or vanilla bean panna cotta with Scotch caramel. The special menu is available during dinner service only, with à la carte options also offered.
Zaranda is partnering with Sonoma’s Aperture Wine Cellars for an intimate four-course wine dinner on Tuesday, July 28. The evening begins with a passed-bites reception and Aperture Chenin Blanc before guests enjoy pairings including hamachi tiradito with Sauvignon Blanc, a confit duck taco with Aperture Red Blend, grilled New York strip with Cabernet Sauvignon, and a dark chocolate cremeux dessert finished with a signature cocktail. National Sales Manager Aaron Robertson will guide diners through the wines and share the stories behind the family-owned winery. Seating is limited, and guests must be 21 or older to participate.
Marvino’s Italian Steakhouse in Cypress is taking guests on a culinary tour of Italy with a one-night-only Italian Wine Dinner on Thursday, July 30, at 7 p.m. The five-course experience pairs dishes like fried burrata, Parmesan cream linguini with shrimp, wood-grilled filet mignon, and olive oil cake with wines from Banfi’s acclaimed Italian portfolio, including Chianti, Vermentino, and Super Tuscan selections. The dinner is $109 per person, plus tax, and reservations are recommended.
On the Menu
Shake Shack is bringing California-inspired flavors to Houston with a new limited-time West Coast menu, available now at participating locations nationwide. The lineup includes a West Coast Burger topped with caramelized onions, Secret Sauce, and honey mustard pickles; a West Coast Chicken Sandwich layered with fresh avocado and Sour Cream & Onion Sauce; and West Coast Loaded Fries smothered in cheese, caramelized onions, and Secret Sauce. The chain is also reviving the fan-favorite Big Shack, its towering double-patty burger with an extra bun in the middle. The new menu is available now, while supplies last.
