Love of Food

Galveston's Restaurant Week is on the menu for the entire month of February

Get your oyster fix at Gaido's Famous Seafood Restaurant.

Photo by Wynn Myers, Galveston CVB

Love is in the air this month, and so is the delicious deal that is Galveston's Restaurant Week. The name's a bit misleading, because this year the beloved tradition is actually happening all February long.

More than 40 restaurants are participating, meaning you can try dishes from the island's most popular spots with special prix-fixe breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.

Two- and three-course dinners are priced between $20 and $35, while two-course breakfast, brunch, and lunch options only cost between $10 and $20.

You can browse all the menus here and start planning which eateries you're going to visit and when. Reservations are strongly recommended.

If outdoor dining is one of your restaurant requirements, there already exists a handy list of places that serve up beach views and al fresco vibes with their appetizers.

From tasty tacos at Taquilo's Tex-Mex Cantina to spicy etouffee at Little Daddy's Gumbo Bar and authentic Italian at Riondo's Ristorante to the Gulf's freshest seafood at Fish Tales, there's a mouth-watering option for every appetite.

You can even get a little fancy with a steak at Rudy & Paco's, or enjoy a dazzling sunset view while sipping cocktails at Waterman's.

Of course, the last thing you'll want to worry about after dessert is a long drive home, so book a night or two at any of Galveston's beautiful hotels. You could even make it a weekend of indulgent meals — and that's this year's Valentine's Day sorted.

Also make time to visit all the wild and wonderful "house floats" this Mardi Gras season.

Galveston is an official ex-pat subkrewe of The Krewe of House Floats, a New Orleans socially-distant krewe founded under the belief that if everyone cannot safely gather together on the parade route in 2021, then we can at least bring the spirit of the parades home.

Find a map of the decorated homes, porches, yards, and more here.

But remember, February is the shortest month, so you'd better start making all those reservations now.

lunch breakfast brunch vacation dinner promoted

Officially cured

Sneak peek inside San Antonio chef Steve McHugh's new Austin restaurant

Photo by Mary Whitten

A sneak peak of the interiors at Luminaire.

Bucking the recent (and growing) trend of Austinites moving to San Antonio, chef Steve McHugh just debuted his first concept in Austin. The eagerly-awaited Luminaire opened February 1 at the new Hyatt Centric Congress Avenue Austin, along with a second concept, Las Bis.

Located at 721 Congress Avenue, details of the new hotel and its restaurants were released in fall 2022, sparking excitement from anyone already familiar with McHugh's work at Cured and Landrace. For the initial announcement, CultureMap connected with the six-time James Beard finalist to hear what to expect at the new outpost, while an updated announcement this week revealed that McHugh has enlisted chef Greg Driver as executive chef at the new concepts.

“We’re thrilled to finally lift the curtain and bring in guests to dine with us,” says Chef Steve McHugh in a release. “Chef Driver and I work really well together, and I have no doubt that Luminaire and Las Bis will shine under his leadership.”

Previously the interim executive chef at Austin's Westwood Country Club, Driver will carry out McHugh's vision at the restaurants. Both new concepts and the hotel itself will no doubt be a welcome addition to downtown Austin, padding out the list of pre- and post-theatre dining options for entertainment at the city's historic Paramount and State theatres next door.

Luminaire occupies the entire ground floor of the hotel, including an expansive patio stretching both sides of the corner along Congress Avenue and 8th Street. Much like its San Antonio counterparts, the full-service restaurant will feature the seasonal, local Texas fare and charcuterie well-known (and well-loved) by McHugh devotees. Along with specially curated meat boards (hello, 24-month jamon), the menu will also showcase a heavy Spanish influence, featuring a variety of delicious breakfast empanadas, chicken a la plancha, the Angus beef Luminaire burger, and more.

The all-day restaurant will be an ideal pre-curtain-time destination, while the upstairs Las Bis will take over for post-show nightcaps. Located on the eighth floor of the hotel, the terrace bar and lounge shares space with the hotel’s lobby and will feature craft cocktails, natural and biodynamic wines. Snacks will include an assortment of playfully plated conservas, both domestic and imported, which McHugh shared the story behind in our previous coverage.

“Our team put many thoughtful hours into the menu creation for Luminaire and Las Bis, blending familiar flavors with plenty of discovery,” says McHugh in this week's latest release. “And for those without much experience in cured meats and conservas, we made sure to include plenty of must-try items to introduce folks the right way.”

In addition to the two new concepts, McHugh’s team and executive chef Driver will provide room service for guests, as well as catering for the hotel’s four meeting and event spaces. Starting February 1, Luminaire will be open Monday through Sunday from 6 am to 11 pm, while Las Bis will open Sunday through Thursday, 4 pm to midnight, and noon to midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Photo by Mary Whitten

A sneak peak at Luminaire.

restaurant opening austin bars austin restaurants