Houston Restaurant Weeks has returned to give back in a big way.

From August 1 through Labor Day Weekend (Sept. 5), restaurants in Harris, Galveston and Montgomery counties will participate in a fundraiser to benefit the Houston Food Bank. For 36 days, families, foodies and casual diners alike can do their part by simply enjoying a meal at a special price at chosen locations and help feed the hungry in their communities. Each participating restaurant will make its donation according to the number of brunches, lunches or dinners they sell during the event.

Founded by food journalist Cleverley Stone, Houston Restaurant Weeks has donated more than $16.6 million to the Houston Food Bank since it was established in 2003. The Houston Food Bank provides food to needy communities in 18 counties throughout southeast Texas.

As part of the Houston Restaurant Weeks initiative, more than 200 surrounding Houston area restaurants will offer customers prix fixe menus in two, three or four-courses for dinner, lunch or brunch. During the month-long fundraising period, eight restaurants in the Bay Area, Pearland and Pasadena will be participating.

This steakhouse takes its roots to heart, bringing the traditional Brazilian grilling style and cuisine culture to its Houston locations.

Avenida Brazil takes its inspiration from the many main streets in Brazil that share the name, where people come together to visit, connect relax and enjoy good food. The restaurant’s chefs prepare and carve meats at the table, turning dinner time into a traditional Brazilian Gaucho experience.

The restaurant’s HRW $49 per person dinner menu features a salad starter course, a main course, and dessert course. For its starter menu, diners can choose up to 30 different items from the gourmet salad bar. The main course offers a list of nine different types of meat options, including beef, pork and chicken and seafood: top sirloin and bottom sirloin, salmon, picanha and Argentinian pork sausage to chicken with bacon, parmesan pork, pork ribs and chicken legs. The dessert course menu includes a choice of chocolate mousse cake, New York style cheesecake, Brazilian flan or crème brulee.

Avenida Brazil will donate $6 from each dinner sold; the Houston Food Bank will provide 18 meals from this donation.

Address: 201 Bay Area Blvd. Webster, TX

The Houston home for Tex-Orleans cooking, BB’s combines Cajun flavors with a Texas spin.

Inspired by owner Brooks Bassler’s grandmother’s home cooking, the restaurant also incorporates a variety of influences from the streets of New Orleans — the po boy shops and boudin and crawfish etouffee are all here, but so are the Queso Marisela, BB’s rendition of chips and queso, and boudin flautas.

BB’s $39 per customer HRW dinner special features three courses beginning with a starter menu that includes a choice of sausage or shrimp gumbo, Cajun empanadas, Madhatter salad (spinach, cranberry, feta), or the house salad. The second course gives diners the option of blackened redfish, boudin flautas, fried Gulf shrimp po boy, or a fried shrimp plate.

The third course hits the sweet spot with options like Maw Maw’s Bread Pudding, Pecan Royale Cheesecake, or the Butter Cake, which comes with a rum sauce.

BB’s will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Address: 1039 Bay Area Blvd. Webster, TX

Address (Pearland location): 9719 W Broadway, Pearland, TX

Marais is a New Orleans-inspired restaurant that brings Cajun spices and flavors to the Bay Area. Located along Benson’s Gully, a portion of Dickinson Bayou, the French Baroque Mansard-style building comes with indoor Bevolo gas lamps and crystal chandeliers to immerse diners in 1940s-era French Quarter elegance. It’s the perfect backdrop to a menu that features prime steak, fresh seafood and fine wine.

For its $39 per person HRW three-course dinner menu, diners have a first-round choice between Marais Blackeye Pea Gumbo, Crawfish Bisque, or a Cajun wedge salad. The second course list includes Bourbon Street New York Strip, Pecan Crusted Redfish Meuniere, or Grilled Berkshire Pork Chop. The dessert course has three options: Marais Carrot Cake, with “old New Orleans” Cajun Spiced rum sauce, Texas Blackberry Cobbler and House Vanilla Gelato, or a Dark Chocolate Lava Cake that comes with Texas bourbon and roasted pecan gelato.

Marais will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Address: 2015 FM 517 Rd. E, Dickinson, TX

Merlion in Seabrook takes fresh local seafood and turns it into a spicy Thai experience.

It’s a three-page menu, but the variety is vast. From appetizers like Dragon Fire Dumplings and calamari or shrimp tempura, seven types of curry, seven styles of Pad Thai, to house dishes like pan-seared or deep-fried panko-crusted red snapper Merlion is a taste of Thailand in the Gulf.

The restaurant is offering a $55-per person HRW dinner in four courses.

The first appetizer course includes a choice of fried green tomato topped with smoked salmon, Thai shrimp bisque or a roasted duck spring roll. The second salad course is a choice of grilled Thai chicken papaya, a goat cheese salad, or a shrimp Yum Wunsen salad. Third course options include Drunken Noodles, a curry with a choice of meat, a curry prepared with avocado and bamboo shoots, a sweet curry with pineapple and choice of meat, or a Thai style fried rice with egg and choice of meat. The fourth course is for dessert: black coconut sticky rice topped with strawberries and cream, chocolate peanut butter cake or blueberry cheesecake.

Merlion will donate $6 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 18 meals from this donation.

Address: 1205 Main St, Seabrook, TX

A traditional smokehouse with a Delta vibe, Pappas Delta Blues Smokehouse specializes in slow, pit-smoked beef and ribs, and country fried seafood and chicken. On a platter or in a sandwich bread or a glass, Pappas is classic southern comfort food and specialty cocktails and beverages with a down-home atmosphere.

The restaurant’s $39 per person HRW dinner menu comes in three-courses. First, a choice of Czech beef sausage queso, smoked brisket boudin or a Delta Blues salad. Next, diners can choose a main course of Filet Mignon and grilled shrimp, or the Delta Rib Trio, or Mississippi grilled catfish and shrimp. The dessert course options are simple and classic: pecan cobbler, vanilla ice cream, or the apple pie jar.

Pappas Delta Blues Smokehouse will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Address: 19901 Gulf Fwy, Webster, TX

Saltgrass is a traditional steakhouse that puts the open campfire concept into its kitchen. Meat platters of grilled beef, chicken or seafood come with bread, or soups and desserts made from scratch.

The restaurant’s HRW $39-per person dinner menu comes in three courses. The first course is a choice of queso, fried mushrooms or jumbo jalapeños with shrimp, cheese and ranch dressing.

For the second course, diners can choose a Gulf Coast steak and shrimp plate, bacon-wrapped filet and shrimp, or blackened shrimp and crawfish. The dessert course offers the option of apple pie ala mode, cheesecake or carrot cake.

Saltgrass will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Webster address: Home Depot Webster, TX

Pearland address: 3251 Silverlake Village Dr. Pearland, TX

Pasadena address: Interstate 45 North, Pasadena, TX

Thai Cottage is casual dining with a backstory. The eatery was founded by “Chai” and his wife, Ting, immigrants from Bangkok, Thailand who wanted to bring their love of traditional Thai recipes to the U.S. The menu boasts of variety of curries, fried rice, and other Thai favorites.

Its $39-per customer HRW dinner menu comes in four courses. The first is a choice of chicken crispy rolls, cheese rolls or fish cake. The second course has the option of TOM YUM, a spicy lime broth with lemongrass, mushrooms, Tom Kha, a blended lime broth with coconut milk, or Oriental Garden, vegetables in a noodle soup. The third course includes duck curry, seafood Pad Cha, crab meat fried rice. For the dessert course, guests can top of their meal with fried banana and ice cream, sweet rice and Thai custard or sweet rice and ice cream.

Thai Cottage will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Bay Area address: 565 Bay Area Blvd., Webster, TX

Pearland address: 2810 Business Center Dr. Suite 122, Pearland TX

Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar

With the feel of a neighborhood cafe, Whiskey Cake Kitchen and Bar hits the spot with its craft cocktails and comfort food with an emphasis on the whiskey in the name. Sourcing its ingredients from local farms, the restaurant serves classic American dishes and desserts. From its mesquite-grilled meats and fresh greens to a stocked bar with experienced bartenders prepared to hand-make and mix its specialty whiskey cocktails, whiskey flights and elixirs, the restaurant puts a whiskey-infused spin on casual dining favorites.

The restaurant’s $39 per person HRW dinner menu starts with a snack course, with a choice of fried green tomatoes, deviled eggs or flash fried brussels sprouts. The main course options are several varieties of chicken and waffles, steak frites, which are hand cut fries with whiskey peppercorn sauce or wood-grilled red fish. The dessert course features the whiskey cake, a sticky toffee cake infused with bourbon anglaise and topped with spiced pecans, house made whipped cream, seasonal dessert or locally sourced ice cream.

Whiskey Cake and Kitchen and Bar will donate $4 from each dinner sold. The Houston Food Bank will provide 12 meals from this donation.

Address: 18840 Gulf Fwy., Friendswood, TX

Yvette Orozco is a reporter with Houston Community News in Conroe.

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