Hope you’re hungry, because Austin Restaurant Weeks is back, giving Central Texans a delicious reason to dine out while supporting an important cause.
The annual dining event kicks off August 28 and runs through September 13, bringing together more than 120 restaurants across the greater Austin area with special menus, drinks and other offerings that benefit the Central Texas Food Bank.
Amelia Long with the Central Texas Food Bank and Chef Julio Florez, chef de cuisine at Lucky Robot, joined We Are Austin to give Trevor Scott a taste of what diners can expect and explain how simply enjoying a meal can help neighbors in need.
Amelia Long with the Central Texas Food Bank and Chef Julio Florez, chef de cuisine at Lucky Robot, joined We Are Austin to give Sierra Waggoner a taste of what diners can expect and explain how simply enjoying a meal can help neighbors in need.
“Austin Restaurant Weeks is a dining extravaganza where we have more than 120 restaurants in the greater Austin area,” Long said. “They are offering special menus, drink specials and other special items.”
A portion of each participating Austin Restaurant Weeks purchase is donated to the Central Texas Food Bank, helping the organization provide nutritious food to people throughout the community.
For diners, participating is easy. Head to one of the participating restaurants and ask for its Austin Restaurant Weeks menu. Depending on the restaurant, diners can find special lunch or dinner menus at a variety of price points.
“You know that you’re going to get to try something amazing, go out to a restaurant that you maybe had never had a chance to try before, and it helps our community,” Long said.
One of the restaurants joining the effort this year is Lucky Robot, a South Congress favorite located at 1303 South Congress Avenue near Amy’s Ice Creams and the Continental Club.
Lucky Robot has also made supporting the Central Texas Food Bank part of its relationship with the community.
Chef Julio Florez says the restaurant brings its own take on Nikkei cuisine to Austin, combining Japanese and Peruvian influences and using dry-aged fish for its sushi.
And he brought a taste of it to the We Are Austin studio.
Chef Julio Florez says the restaurant brings its own take on Nikkei cuisine to Austin, combining Japanese and Peruvian influences and using dry-aged fish for its sushi.
Florez prepared Lucky Robot’s Sakura Masu, featuring Tasmanian ocean trout served over a taro root and coconut purée. The dish is finished with shallots, cucumber, a passion fruit and ají amarillo sauce, caper oil, crispy capers and spheres made from sakura leaf.
And he brought a taste of it to the We Are Austin studio.
The result is a fresh dish with a little heat that Florez says is perfect for Austin’s summer weather.
Lucky Robot has also made supporting the Central Texas Food Bank part of its relationship with the community.
Chef Julio Florez says the restaurant brings its own take on Nikkei cuisine to Austin, combining Japanese and Peruvian influences and using dry-aged fish for its sushi.
“We at Lucky Robot have been really proud of being part of the community that helps out the Central Texas Food Bank,” Florez said. “We just love to keep going back and doing it every single year.”
The timing of Austin Restaurant Weeks is especially important for the food bank.
Long explained that household budgets can become particularly strained during the summer as families deal with higher cooling costs and children spend more time out of school, potentially losing access to breakfasts and lunches they normally receive during the school year.
“A lot of the households that the Central Texas Food Bank is helping out with food are making more difficult choices during the summertime,” Long said. “It really makes a difference to us that the community comes out to support and helps our neighbors in need.”
And with more than 120 participating restaurants — and counting — there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Austin Restaurant Weeks runs August 28 through September 13. Diners can use the event as an excuse to revisit an Austin favorite, discover somewhere completely new or make a few stops along the way, all while helping the Central Texas Food Bank serve neighbors experiencing hunger.
For the complete list of participating restaurants, menus and more information, visit AustinRestaurantWeeks.org.
For the complete list of participating restaurants, menus and more information, visit AustinRestaurantWeeks.org.