Welcome to DiningOut’s Plate Full of News, where you’ll get a plateful of restaurant, bar, and chefs happenings each week.
The 411
As part of Nando’s first-ever Texas Food Truck Tour, the Nando’s “Fire Truck” is making surprise stops around Houston hospitals, schools, offices, and non-profits, through Saturday, October 18, serving up free flame-grilled chicken, chips, and sides to locals. In addition to the surprise stops, the truck will be dishing out free food at 8th Wonder Brewery from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 9.
Goode Bird, by Goode Company is making its triumphant return this fall. The dedicated fried chicken food truck will pop-up at Goode Co. Armadillo Palace, beginning Thursday, October 16 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (or until it sells out), and will remain open weekly, Thursdays through Saturdays. The truck will rotate locations with updates on where it will be posted up next given on social media. Customers can look forward to a revamped menu featuring dishes like the Texas tender sandwich on Texas toast, the SOTX hot chicken sandwich, and buttermilk fried chicken tenders.
Hotel Granduca’s popular afternoon tea service has been reimagined as Tea d’Alba, and is now available from noon to 2 p.m., every Friday through Sunday. Led by executive chef Maurizio Ferrarese, the experience features a selection of teas from Dammann Frères and Smith Teamaker alongside sweet and savory bites like roasted mushroom profiterole puffs and lemon curd tarts presented on tiered plates. Guests can choose from a variety of tea service options, like the Frizzante d’Amba, which is $79 and includes a glass of Prosecco or the indulgent Tea Reale for $98, which includes a caviar bite and a glass of Champagne. Kid-friendly tea-service is also available for $39 to children 8 and under.
Happenings
To commemorate its one-year anniversary at the Montrose Collective, Mi Luna is kicking off its new Thursday happy hour series, called Bullshitters Happy Hour, with a celebratory paella demonstration on Thursday, October 9. Starting at 4:30 p.m., the restaurant will serve a massive paella to guests, cooked in the dining room, while supplies last; plus free happy hour tapas at the bar from 5 to 7 p.m., and extended happy hour on drinks from 3 to 7 p.m. The Bullshitters Happy Hour, with complimentary tapas and happy hour drinks, will continue every Thursday following.
As the final installment of ChòpnBlọk’s Celebration Circuit, a month-long series commemorating the one-year anniversary of its Montrose restaurant, Bun B and Ope Amosu are joining forces for a special two-part collaboration. On Wednesday, October 9, from 9 to 11 p.m., guests can expect an after-hours experience featuring dishes that fuse the flavors of Trill Burgers and ChòpnBlọk, like suya sliders, loaded fries, and more, paired with Afro-soul DJ sets. The second part of the collaboration will move to Trill Burgers, where on Wednesday, October 23 from 9 to 11 p.m., Amosu and his ChòpnBlọk team will takeover the space to showcase West African-inspired twists on Trill burgers and tenders.
Coco Crepes is commemorating the opening of its new Katy location at 24818 Morton Ranch Road with a celebration on Thursday, October 16. Attendees that stop by from 7 to 11 a.m. or 5 to 9 p.m. will be treated to free Duffins, Nutella crepes, Berry Berry smoothies, and free t-shirts and hats while supplies last. As a bonus, the first 100 visitors will be gifted free drip coffee for 100 days.
On Thursday, October 16, KA Sushi is hosting an intimate Macallan and Wagyu dinner at 7 p.m. The exclusive experience, limited to 20 seats only, will feature curated bites of KA Sushi wagyu alongside Macallan pairings, served neat or as cocktails. The cost is $265 per person, with reservations available via OpenTable.
Chapman & Kirby is hosting its monthly drag queen brunch on Saturday, October 18th, with this month’s theme fittingly being Scream Queens. Doors open at 11:45 a.m., with the show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The experience includes access to the brunch buffet, with craft cocktails, mimosa flights, and bottle service also available. The cost is $35 per person and seats can be reserved via Resy.
J. Alexander’s at Uptown Park is hosting an exclusive wine dinner with Orin Swift Cellars on Tuesday, October 21 at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of the four-course menu with wine pairings include crab-stuffed shrimp with Blank Stare Sauvignon Blanc from Russian River Valley; parmesan crisp Caesar salad with Slander Pinot Noir from California; and steak Diane with Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. The cost is $150 per person, and seats may be reserved via Resy.
On Wednesday, October 22, the Marigold Club will host a Billecart-Salmon Champagne dinner with Mathieu Billecart, seventh-generation owner and CEO of the prestigious Billecart-Salmon champagne house. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m., during which guests will taste their way through a four-course menu by chef Austin Waiter and nine champagnes, including rare magnums and vintages. The cost is $395, and reservations can be made via OpenTable.
Picos is hosting its final H-Town Agave festival on Saturday, November 1 from 4 to 8 p.m. Guests can look forward to tequila and cocktail tastings, agave cocktails for purchase, street eats, face painting with Día de los Muertos flair by HTXGloUp, and swag and giveaways. With the restaurant preparing for its closure next year, this will be one of the restaurant’s final celebrations. Pre-sale tickets can be purchased for $25 at picos.net, or at the door for $35.
On the Menu
Coinciding with the appointment of new executive chef Jesus Gonzalez and new general manager Andrew Ojeda, Nobu has introduced a fall tasting menu highlighting Houston-exclusive dishes. Guests can expect Glacier 51 seabass tempura with amazu ponzu, beef tenderloin with seared foie gras and fig demi, and Kuromitsu crisp with caramelized pear and cranberry.
Hamsa has updated its happy hour offerings to include drink specials like $8 wines by the glass and $5 Estrella Damm beer; plus discounted bites like $5 pickle plates with Kasseri cheese, $6 falafel, and $8 meat skewers. There is also a Pitale and Bottle special, which includes ground lamb and beef pitale with a bottle of Recanati white or red wine for $35. Happy hour is available from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, at the bar and on the patio.
Tommy Bahama Restaurant and Bar at the Woodlands Waterway has launched a new fall menu, available through mid-November. Seasonal offerings include the sweet potato pierogi and Wagyu French dip, plus a Tipsy Cider cocktail, made with Marker’s Mark, apple cider syrup, and cinnamon.
The Waffle Bus has launched a new lunch special, available Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring entrees like the fried chicken sandwich, classic cheeseburger, half chicken and waffle sandwich, and smashburger for $10.99.
