Restaurant Week will return to Toledo for a third course.
The event, set for Feb. 21 to March 2, will feature new venues as well as returning favorites and will be three days longer than last year, said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo.
“Last year’s event was an overwhelming success. We received rave reviews from restaurant owners, some of whom ran out of food due to the response from the public, and we were also pleased with the feedback from patrons,” Gorman said. “We extended the event by three days due to a large volume of requests from both restaurant owners and patrons asking for more. People were begging for more time to be able to enjoy the amazing opportunities to try new restaurants they’d never been to or to try new menu items from their favorite restaurants.”
Restaurants participating so far include Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Fifi’s Reprise, LaScola Italian Grill, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and Petit Fours Patisserie and Café), Plate 21, Registry Bistro and Rosie’s Italian Grille.
“We already have 13 restaurants signed on for the event, even though it is months away,” Gorman said. “This allows us to plan and promote and prepare people for what’s coming, but it also speaks volumes about the successfulness of the event. We are thrilled that Oliver House has expanded to include all four of its restaurants this year, and that we have two brand-new restaurants signed on, Registry Bistro and Maumee Wines and Bistro.”
Each restaurant will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.
“People can feel good about going out during Restaurant Week Toledo because they are supporting local businesses while at the same time encouraging future leaders of Toledo,” said Cory Dippold, associate executive director of Leadership Toledo.
Erika Rapp, chef and co-owner of Registry Bistro, which opened Downtown in June, said she was familiar with the Restaurant Week concept from going to culinary school in New York City and working in Dallas.
“It’s always something I’ve admired in other towns and haven’t had a chance to be involved in,” Rapp said. “It’s good exposure for the public and good exposure for us. We’re just excited to be part of it.”
Neal Kovacik, general manager of The Oliver House, said Restaurant Week Toledo has gotten better every year. This will be the third year Rockwell’s has participated and the first year for the other Oliver House venues.
“It created a lot of traffic and a lot of interest last year,” Kovacik said. “It’s a great way to highlight local restaurants and a great way to get people in that may have not tried the place before, and of course it’s for a good cause.”
Kovacik said Restaurant Week Toledo encourages area residents to patronize local eateries.
“It’s great for local restaurants,” Kovacik said. “Toledo has a lot of unique places to offer. I just think it’s good for Toledo and it’s a unique local thing.”
Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.
For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.
