DOZENS OF DEALS
Where to catch the World Series in Houston: 34 hot deals at Houston's best bars and restaurants
Oct 22, 2019, 3:35 pm
DOZENS OF DEALS
This article originally appeared on CultureMap.
With the Astros set to square off against the Washington Nationals in the World Series, every Houston restaurant with a TV (more or less) wants to be included in the festivities. Skim the list below to find special dishes, extended happy hours, and even free queso.
Springer dingers and Bregman bombs will reap their own rewards in form of freebies for every Astros home run. Read on to find the right deal for a perfect game day experience.
This champagne-fueled restaurant in River Oaks is offering 50-cent Gulf oysters on the half shell during the games, which will be on shown on TVs in the bar and patio. When the Astros win, the restaurant's extensive champagne list will come in handy.
The Midtown hot spot will show all of the games on its giant outdoor screen. Dine on pizza from Luigi's next door or one of the on-site food trucks. The craft beer selection is among the city's best.
The luxurious steakhouse feature four hot dog specials ($14-$124) featuring Texas wagyu dogs topped with classics like mustard and sauerkraut all the way to two ounces of Japanese wagyu and sauteed Maine lobster. Even better, diners who eat at B&B before the game can get a ride on the restaurant's shuttle bus (seats limited, reservations required).
All four locations are offering a deal on hot dogs: buy one, get the second for just $2. Options include a bacon-wrapped dog topped with diner's choices of: chili and green chile queso, guacamole and chipotle aioli, or white cheddar and brisket. In addition, get a pint of Texas craft beer for only $4.
Watch the games on the patio at this Houston institution while dining on a special menu of $7 bar bites created by chef Joe Cervantez. Dishes include: duck fat chili cheese fries, 44 Farms chili hot dog, crab boil-spiced fried chicken wings, and a fried oyster boy. To drink, choose from two for $7 select beers, select wines for $7, or the Line-Drive Lemonade (vodka, gin, Blue Curacao, house lemonade, lemon-lime soda).
Continue reading on CultureMap to see the rest of the list.
After riding high from a statement sweep of the Dodgers, the Astros limped into the All-Star break, having lost five of their last six games, including two of three to the rival Rangers. They still hold a five-game lead in the American League West, but the momentum they carried into July has cooled considerably.
While it’s tempting to point to the battered lineup as the reason for Houston’s recent struggles, the more pressing issue has been on the mound. For much of the season, elite pitching has masked an offense operating in the league’s bottom third. But during this six-game slide, the script flipped. Over the last seven days, Houston ranks 24th in team ERA at 5.37. The offense hasn’t been great either, 20th in runs, 22nd in OPS, 23rd in batting average, but those numbers aren’t that far off their season-long identity. The difference is that the pitching has stopped bailing them out.
The good news? Help may be (somewhat) on the way.
Astros GM Dana Brown recently provided updates on three key contributors. Shortstop Jeremy Peña isn’t expected back immediately after the break, but Brown said it shouldn’t be long before he returns from a fractured rib. Yordan Alvarez, meanwhile, is progressing well from his hand injury. According to Brown, Alvarez has “absolutely no pain” and will be re-evaluated Thursday. If cleared to swing, the Astros plan to expedite his return. Center fielder Jake Meyers, however, remains at least three weeks away as he recovers from a calf injury.
On the pitching front, expectations for late-season contributions from Cristian Javier and Luis Garcia remain uncertain. Both pitchers have thrown rehab starts recently in the Florida Complex League. Garcia has now been out for over two years following Tommy John surgery. If he’s not able to return this season, serious questions will need to be asked about his long-term outlook. Javier, also rehabbing from Tommy John, may be an option in August, but expectations should be tempered. As Brown himself has admitted, he tends to be optimistic. Fans would be wise to stay grounded.
Another arm to watch is Spencer Arrighetti. With no major injury (thumb) holding him back, Arrighetti may be Houston’s most viable rotation boost in the second half.
Fortunately, the schedule sets up favorably after the break. Over the next seven series, the Astros face four sub-.500 teams. But that doesn’t mean anything is guaranteed, especially if current trends continue.
Lance McCullers remains an enigma. When he’s locked in, he gives Houston a legitimate No. 3-caliber arm. When he’s off, he’s out of the game early and the bullpen pays the price. Manager Joe Espada faces one of his toughest managing challenges every time McCullers takes the hill.
Cam Smith has cooled off at the plate, hitless in his last 11 at-bats. He’s also been bounced all over the batting order. A simple solution? Plant him in the cleanup spot and let him adjust without the added mental shuffle.
And then there’s Josh Hader. The All-Star closer has surrendered home runs in three of his last four outings. If Houston is going to continue winning tight games with a low-margin offense, Hader has to be lights-out. His dominance alongside a top-tier setup man (Bryan Abreu) has been a pillar of the Astros’ success model this season. They need that foundation to hold.
The Astros aren’t panicking — nor should they. But after a hot run turned lukewarm, the margin for error is shrinking. The second half opens with an opportunity to bank wins and regain rhythm. Whether Houston capitalizes depends on health, consistency, and maybe a little creativity from the front office.
There's so much more to discuss! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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