Cuisine with a Cause: Galveston Restaurant Week Brings Attention and Awareness

By Barrett White

Historically known as the Queen City of the Gulf, Galveston tells a rich story in shipping, trade, and commerce. Like many other destination cities, what better way for Galveston to convey its savory heritage than through a delicious meal? The sixth annual Galveston Restaurant Week kicks off on January 7 and continues for two weeks, so come aboard for the island’s tastiest prix-fixe lunch and dinner services.

January is typically the slowest month of the year for this sub-tropical getaway, so it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the thinned tourist crowds and discounted meals. Plus, participation in Galveston Restaurant Week is easy. There are no tickets to buy—simply dine out at a participating restaurant and choose their three-course dinners or two-course breakfasts or brunches. Each participating restaurant’s prix-fixe menu will showcase its best signature dishes for ultimate crowd-pleasing at a reasonable price.

Galveston Restaurant Week is sponsored by Galveston Island Brewing, a family-owned brewery and local favorite. Their brews can be found in 35 popular restaurants in Galveston. While in town for Restaurant Week, be sure to stop by the family-friendly brewery to check out their tap wall containing a variety of 12 beer styles from around the world. The Galveston Island Brewing tap wall is open seven days a week.

Although Galveston is best known for its award-winning Gulf Coast seafood, many other menu options can be found. Explore Seawall Boulevard and The Strand for fare ranging from big names like Landry’s and Bubba Gump to local hotspots like the prominent family-owned duo Gaido’s and Nick’s, as well as Yaga’s, Gypsy Joynt, and many others. Throughout the Restaurant Week festivities, participating restaurants will be vying for your votes to earn Galveston Restaurant Week’s Restaurant of the Year award. Voting is already open and will close on January 19, with the award presentation scheduled for January 20—leaving two days in Restaurant Week for last-minute diners to sample the prix-fixe menu of the winning eatery.

In addition to filling up on the island’s award-winning seafood, you’ll also be dining for a cause. Galveston Restaurant Week is proudly partnered with Access Care of Coastal Texas (ACCT), and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to ACCT to support their work in providing weekly warm meals to clients struggling with HIV/AIDS and other health issues.

Access Care of Coastal Texas was founded in 1985 to provide unparalleled HIV/AIDS care for those in the Texas Gulf Coast area. Services include counseling, free testing, preventative education, housing assistance, financial education, and much more.

For many clients, the meals that ACCT provides may be the only balanced nutrition they receive. This is not the first time Galveston Restaurant Week has paired with ACCT—the Restaurant Week’s support last year ensured that all ACCT clients received warm, nutritious meals throughout 2016. Now that’s cuisine with a cause.

Though reservations are not mandatory, they are encouraged in order to ensure you’ll find a spot at your favorite restaurant.

Galveston Restaurant Week asks that you follow and use #celebratedelicious on social media, and vote for your favorite restaurant on their website homepage. For a full list of eateries participating in Galveston Restaurant Week, go to galveston.com/galvrw.

To find out about other exciting attractions on the island, go to galveston.com.

What: The Sixth Annual Galveston Restaurant Week
When: January 7–22, 2017
Where: Galveston, Texas
Details: galveston.com/restaurantweek

Barrett White is a frequent contributor to OutSmart magazine.