Dining out for good
Delicious details revealed for brand-new Austin Restaurant Weeks
We read about it weekly, we talk about constantly, but only the most deep-pocketed among us can fully experience the booming local restaurant scene. Luckily, eateries all over town will be opening their doors this summer for lunch, dinner, and cocktail hour so you can enjoy the best of Austin at a fraction of the cost.
On April 25, the Central Texas Food Bank announced the launch of Austin Restaurant Weeks hosted by Central Texas Food Bank, a delicious promotion that helps you check off your bucket list while raising funds to fight food insecurity. The two-week event runs August 16 through September 3, so you’ll have plenty of time to hit new and old hot spots.
For the new Austin Restaurant Weeks, dozens of local eateries and bars will offer specially priced prix fixe meals and cocktails. If the idea sounds familiar, that’s because restaurant weeks are popular in most major U.S. cities. Austin even had one until 2014, although the CTFB event is unaffiliated.
The meals come at two levels: a two- or three-course lunch priced at $25 or a three- or four-course dinner priced at either $35 or $45. Some participants will also be offering a $8 cocktail or $6 beer to help sweeten the deal.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale goes directly to the eliminating hunger in Central Texas, where more than 15 percent of the community struggles with putting food on the table. Each dollar donated can provide four meals for neighbors in need.
Although restaurants have until June 30 to register, the list already includes some marquee names like Central Standard, Barley Swine, Odd Duck, L’Oca d’Oro, Nightcap, Italic, Second Bar + Kitchen, and Hops and Grain Brewing. There are plenty of hot newcomers on the list as well, including Le Politique, Il Brutto, the Cavalier, and the 2018 CultureMap Tastemaker Award winner for Best New Restaurant, Be More Pacific.
Finding a new favorite is easy. The website allows users to search by food type and location so you can quickly figure out where to eat. Through a partnership with OpenTable, you can even make some reservations without following a separate link.
For a full list of participating restaurants, go here. And check back frequently as the list is growing by the week.
