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Houston restaurant groups are setting up community kitchens to help feed restaurant and hospitality employees who are out of work due to coronavirus shutdowns. Here’s where workers can go for a free meal:
Restaurant Workers Relief Program at Riel Houston
Starting Saturday, March 28, upscale Montrose eatery Riel Houston will flip into a daily relief center, providing free, to-go dinner every night to anyone who has been laid off or experienced a big reduction in hours or pay while the city enforces a no dine-in rule. The restaurant will also drop in free home essentials like toilet paper, diapers, and fresh produce. The program is funded by Maker’s Mark and chef Ed Lee’s initiative, which is taking donations to keep meals coming.
Where: Riel Houston (1927 Fairview Street) in a designated area in the parking lot
When: Pick-up time is 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily and is on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Keep Houston Fed” With Greater Houston Restaurant Association and Houston Food Bank
Customers at Houston-area restaurants offering delivery, takeout, and gift cards for sale can opt to add $1 or more to their order that goes directly to Houston Food Bank, helping meet demand for food distribution as the COVID-19 crisis continues. Every $1 donated to Houston Food Bank can provide three meals to those in need.
BCN / MAD’s Curbside Community Kitchen
The team behind Spanish restaurants BCN Taste and Tradition and MAD just rolled out a Curbside Community Kitchen geared toward members of the Houston hospitality industry who’ve been affected by the COVID-19 closures. At MAD, team members will hand out 200 complimentary, individual meals on a first come, first served basis. The dinners will be the sort of food that the staff eats at lunch for family meal, with a Spanish twist. Call 281-888-2770 for any questions.
Where: MAD, 4444 Westheimer Rd, Suite C180, Houston
When: Monday-Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.
Killen’s
This Saturday, restaurateur Ronnie Killen is offering up free meals of spicy chicken sandwiches and chips to hospitality workers who were affected by the shutdown. Head to Killen’s with a paycheck stub for proof of employment.
We are @killenstx @HoustonHeights 101 Heights Blvd. for a drive thru pop-up at noon! We have FREE Nashville hot chicken/fried chicken sandwiches+fries to all hospitality employees. And we will have fried chicken, brisket, CFS, mashed potatoes w/ gravy & green beans for purchase. pic.twitter.com/OUkcRJKjdv
— Killen's Barbecue (@killensbbq) March 26, 2020
Where: Killen’s, 101 Heights Blvd., Houston Heights
When: Saturday, March 21 at 11 a.m.
Dish Society
The restaurant is offering 50% off for hospitality pros for one meal daily. This limited time deal is offered via drive thru service, and alcohol is not included. “Some proof would be nice,” the restaurant writes.
