Houston Black Restaurant Week Picks

My 2017 Houston Black Restaurant Week picks of where to go and what to order.

Y'all probably know something is up since I'm posting on a Monday but it's that time of year: the 2nd annual Houston Black Restaurant Week is here and it officially starts today! This year, it spans about two weeks (April 17-30) and includes a number of exciting events--some old and some brand new, that I am excited about. Last year, I recapped the eateries and events I took in here and this year I have decided to kick things off by highlighting my picks, meaning where I plan to go and what I plan to order. Hopefully, this is helpful to you in planning out what you'll do. With the extended time frame, there's certainly enough time to visit every spot that's participating and if you've got the available time and funds, go ahead and do it! You'd be supporting local, black-owned businesses and eating a lot of yummy food in the process so it's a win-win. I just thought this would be a prudent and efficient way to go about it. Speaking of being prudent, Weekender Passes are available this year (I've already snagged mine) and they include the following for one price:

• Nosh Culinary Showcase entry (Thursday)
• Kitchen 713 Gift Certificate (Friday)
• Soundbites Food Truck Festival (Saturday)
• Live Oak Brunch Gift Certificate (Sunday)

Scroll down to see what menu items and events I've mapped out to be most enticing and a few reasons why. You can also view the full lineup of events and participating restaurants on the Houston Black Restaurant Week website. In addition to the obvious lure of good food, a portion of proceeds from the weeks will support the renovation of the Blue Triangle Community Commercial Kitchen in Third Ward. You can learn more about it and even donate directly here!

Breakfast & Brunch

Etta's (@ Bar 5015): Brunch Plate | Brioche French Toast | Shrimp & Grits

I plan to visit more than once because it's just that good. If you haven't heard of Etta's (what?!), here's a recap of my first couple of visits. If you follow me on Instagram, you've likely seen some of these dishes on my feed because this is my go-to Sunday brunch spot! I've also shared a bit about Bar 5015 before in this post.

Cafeza: Loose-leaf Tea | Arroz de Coco | Churros with Guava Sauce

Lunch

Reggae Hut: Cocoa Bread | Cuban Creole Shrimp | Ginger Beer

Dinner

Lucille's (reservation required): Fried Green Tomatoes | Roasted Fish | Bread Pudding

Lucille's fried green tomatoes and bread pudding are popular classics because they're just done so well. The Southern hummus & roots is a solid option as well. As for the main course, the shrimp & grits is my go to but I've decided to try something new for the occasion.

Holley's Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar: Thai Curry Mussels | Blackened Grouper | Chocolate Semifreddo

I wasn't able to make it to Holley's last year and am looking forward to this visit, especially the main course because grouper is one of my favorite types of fish.

Kitchen 713: Turkey Neck Lettuce Wraps | Crispy Catfish Bouillabaise | Sweet Potato Bread Pudding

I've heard nothing but great things about Kitchen 713 (especially their brunch). They are in a new location and, while there's only one menu combination for Black Restaurant Week, it sounds fantastic so I'll be there to try it. Also, a Kitchen 713 gift certificate is included in the Weekender Pass mentioned above.

Ogun Art + Wine: Herbed Hummus | Chicken Skewers

Events

Soundbites Food Truck Festival | Nosh Culinary Showcase | Power of the Palate Bartending Competition

Let me know below if your picks match up with mine or if you have any questions. Thanks for reading!