Summer may be winding down, but Houston’s dining calendar is still heating up with food festivals, restaurant celebrations and limited-time menus. August brings plenty of reasons to savor the season one bite at a time, from Houston Restaurant Weeks and a walkable food crawl to tropical parties and one-night-only dinners.
Whether the mood calls for an elegant prix fixe meal or a lively end-of-summer bash, there is something worth adding to the calendar. Here are the best Houston food events to attend this month.
Bayou Heights Bier Garten’s Annual Luau on the Bayou
Nothing says summer like a luau. Bayou Heights Bier Garten’s annual tropical-themed party returns on Saturday, August 8, with themed food and cocktails served throughout the day. The regular menu of craft beer, signature drinks and bar bites, including boudin balls and corn, will also be available. Evening festivities begin with a fire and hula dance performance at 7 p.m., followed by live music from 8 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m., and admission is free. 3905 Washington Ave, Houston, bayouheightsbiergarten.com
Heights Bier Garten’s Y2K Annual End of Summer Event
While its sister restaurant heads to the tropics, Heights Bier Garten is turning back the clock on Saturday, August 8. The annual Y2K End of Summer Celebration promises a full day of food, drinks, music and shopping, with local vendors including Beauty by Adri, Lala Links, Wicked Garden, Other Side of the Luna, Beaded Bliss and More, and Vintage by Laura. Start with brunch, served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring a variety of omelets, Benedicts and breakfast sandwiches. Good Time Muffin performs from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by a DJ from 8 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m., and there is no cover charge. 1433 N. Shepherd Dr., Houston, heightsbiergarten.com
A Taste of CityCentre
West Houston’s vibrant mixed-use destination is home to a diverse lineup of restaurants, and Taste of CityCentre on Thursday, August 13 offers the chance to sample several in one evening. The walkable dining event invites guests to enjoy one signature bite and one drink from each of the nine participating restaurants. Highlights include the Daily Gather’s summer watermelon salad and frozen guava margarita, Cyclone Anaya’s quesadilla and margarita samplers, and the General Public’s Korean meatballs in a sweet-and-spicy ginger sauce with a yuzu spritz mocktail. Collect a stamp in your “foodie passport” at each stop for a chance to win a $50 gift card to the participating restaurant of your choice. Tickets for this ultimate food crawl are $45 and available on Eventbrite. 800 Town and Country Blvd., Houston, citycentrehouston.com
Mixers & Elixirs at the Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is turning its halls into a dance floor for the Latin Night edition of Mixers & Elixirs on Friday, August 14. The 21-and-older after-hours party features live music from Houston Quimbara Band, DJs spinning Latin beats, cocktails and bites from local vendors. Guests can dance beneath the dinosaurs, explore the museum’s exhibits after dark or take a break with a screening of Selena and karaoke in the planetarium. The event runs from 7 to 11 p.m., with tickets starting at $30 for museum members and $35 for the public. 5555 Hermann Park Dr., Houston, my.hmns.org
Houston Chef Series “A Night at the Theater” Grand Finale Dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse
Landry’s is bringing down the curtain on its annual Houston Chef Series with the “A Night at the Theater” Grand Finale Dinner at Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse on Saturday, August 15. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with handcrafted cocktails and six passed appetizers inspired by iconic films, followed by a six-course dinner at 7 p.m. Executive chefs from across the restaurant group will collaborate on dishes including dry-aged Australian Wagyu picanha, harissa butter shrimp and a showstopping chocolate finale, each paired with wine or cocktails. Tickets are $199 per person, plus tax. 1510 Texas Ave., Houston, vicandanthonys.com
Scenes from An Italian Restaurant at Bar Bludorn
On Saturday, August 15, Bar Bludorn will transform into an old-school neighborhood ristorante for Scenes from an Italian Restaurant. The one-night event will feature Italian comfort-food favorites such as eggplant Parmesan and tiramisu, plenty of wine, and live piano music from Thomas Cokinos, creating the warm, nostalgic atmosphere of a classic Italian dining room. The prix fixe experience is $95 per person, with seatings available from 5 to 8 p.m. Reservations are required. 9061 Gaylord Dr. Ste. 200 barbludorn.com
Brenner’s on the Bayou
Escape to the tropics during Brenner’s on the Bayou’s Tiki Takeover Dinner on Thursday, August 20, a five-course Caribbean-inspired experience paired with handcrafted tropical cocktails. The lush, sprawling grounds of this longtime Houston favorite provide an ideal setting for a summer evening affair. The island-inspired menu features lomi lomi salad, crispy soft-shell crab, kalua pork, huli huli chicken and mahi mahi. Tickets, available on Eventbrite, are required for this one-night getaway. 1 Birdsall St. Houston, brennerssteakhouse.com/location/brenners-steakhouse/
