Houston Restaurant Weeks Celebrates 20 Years

Dine Out & Do Good—August 1st through September 4th

Houston’s most anticipated foodie event will celebrate its 20th year, Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW) beginning August 1st and running through Labor Day, September 4th with a record breaking 385 participating restaurants.

“We are excited to see the number of restaurants continue to climb this year,” said Katie Stone. “In addition to many of the long-time favorites, we have more than 80 first timers. This shows how much the industry respects and embraces HRW. You can feel the power of our city’s philanthropic personality. Everyone can’t wait to Dine Out & Do Good!”

That’s 35 days of delicious meals and super deals raising necessary funds for the Houston Food Bank. An extensive list of the area’s most popular restaurants is expected to participate by serving specially priced, multi-course prix fixe menus including brunch, lunch, and dinner, available for dine-in and take-out. For brunch and lunch, restaurants can offer either two or three courses, and for dinner, three or four courses. Diners can visit the all-new website to view a list of participants, their menus, and start making reservations!

Restaurants from the Galleria, Inner Loop, West Houston, East End, Midtown, Downtown, Sugar Land to Galveston and The Woodlands will be participating. The month-long event raises more money for the Houston Food Bank than any other fundraiser and, to date, has raised $18.8 million, which equates to 56.4 million meals that have gone to help those who are a food insecure in the region. A new commemorative logo has been created for HRW’s 20th year.

“As Houston Restaurant Weeks enters its 20th year of dining out for a cause, Houston Food Bank is grateful for the continued support of the Cleverley Stone Foundation,” said Brian Greene, president/CEO of Houston Food Bank. “We also want to congratulate the Cleverley Stone Foundation on this special anniversary, and we look forward to being a part of this event for the next 20 years.”

HRW was founded in 2003 by 26-year restaurant correspondent and philanthropist Cleverley Stone, known affectionately as the “Diva of Dining,” and former host of “The Cleverley Food Talk Radio Show,” which aired live on Saturdays as a freewheeling talk show about food, wine, dining, and issues influencing the food scene at national and local levels.

Stone created HRW to benefit restaurants and the hospitality industry which historically suffered from a downturn in business during the month of August. Before the inception of HRW, that month was the worst financial period for restaurants and usually meant economic hardship for many. Over the 20 years, HRW has become the single largest engine driving the industry and is a major economic boom to the city of Houston and surrounding areas. It is the largest event of its kind in the U.S. and is an exceptional testament to her vision.

“Houston Restaurant Weeks founder, Cleverley Stone, was one of my very first friends and mentors in Houston. All my restaurants have participated in Houston Restaurant Weeks every year since opening, and B&B Butchers & Restaurant has been the number one donor to the Houston Food Bank for the past seven years. Thank you and congratulations to Cleverley and now her daughter, Katie, for carrying on this special annual event for the past 20 years. And cheers to another 20 years of success.” – Benjamin Berg, CEO & Founder of Berg Hospitality Group.

“Over the past twenty years, it has been incredible to witness a simple idea—help Houston restaurants and their staffs get through the summer doldrums while doing some good—evolve into such a dynamo,” said Alex Brennan-Martin. “I’ve seen many try to emulate the concept, but the sense of cooperation and camaraderie that Cleverley fostered from the jump makes our HRWs so much more than a promotion or fundraiser. Brennan’s of Houston is proud to have taken part in the initiative since day one. These are our favorite checks to write every year!” – Alex Brennan-Martin, Proprietor.

HRW is carried on by her daughter Katie Stone in memory of her mother, who passed away in 2020 following a lengthy battle with cancer. Stone’s wish was that HRW continue in perpetuity in her name. In 2020, Katie Stone established The Cleverley Stone Foundation, which exists to continue her mission and legacy by supporting Houstonians in need by producing HRW and sister event Eat Drink HTX.

“HRW became my mother’s sole purpose,” said Katie Stone. “She was relentless in her passion for its success and supporting the industry she loved. I know that she would be so happy that it continues to thrive! This year’s HRW will see a return to pre-pandemic donation amounts per meals sold, and we hope that area residents will come out to Dine Out & Do Good, which was her mantra.”

Photos: V. Sweeten

Follow HRW on social media:
Facebook: @HoustonRestaurantWeeks
Instagram: @HoustonRestaurantWeeks
Twitter: @HouRestaurantWk