Restaurant weeks are making a comeback in the Philly area
This year, we’ll see the debut of a restaurant week in Northern Liberties, while Haddonfield will reprise its week for a second year.
Restaurant week promotions, which have been largely sidelined for the last year, are easing their way toward a comeback.
This year, we’ll see the debut of a restaurant week in Northern Liberties, while Haddonfield will reprise its week for a second year.
Center City District, whose semiannual restaurant weeks are the big draw in the region, is focused on takeout food through a social media campaign.
Through Friday, March 5
The East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District’s ninth annual restaurant week, on through Friday, March 5, includes about a dozen restaurants serving three-course prix fixe lunch and/or dinner menus available for takeout, delivery, indoor, and outdoor seating at price points from $15 to $55. Among the participating establishments are Bing Bing Dim Sum, Ember & Ash, Figs & Olives, The Palace of Indian, and Redcrest Fried Chicken. Details are at eastpassyunkrestaurantweek.com.
Tuesday, March 9-Sunday, March 14
The South Jersey town had its first-ever week last year, amid the pandemic. For its second year, some businesses will collect nonperishable food donations. “We did not want to lose any momentum gained last year, so we are having the event again, but with socially distanced seating and many to-go options,” said Bob Hochgertel, an owner of King’s Road Brewing Co. Among participants listed on opensouthjersey.com are Denim BYOB, El Nopalito, Jersey Java and Tea Co., Nocella’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Pizza Crime, the British Chip Shop, Valente’s Cucina, and William Heritage Winery.
Chestnut Hill
Restaurant week is not quite back at the Chestnut Hill Business District, whose restaurant week would be the first week of March. Executive director Philip Dawson said he put out the call to members but did not get takers, given the city’s reduced dining-room capacities. “One restaurateur said it best: He wasn’t sure if the juice would be worth the squeeze,” he said.
But two affiliated restaurants are offering specials, in the spirit:
Jansen, down the hill in Mount Airy, is offering a “Chestnut Hill Restaurant Week” menu through March 5, with a three-course menu for $45 for dine-in only. The restaurant is open Wednesday to Sunday.
El Poquito, a Mexican cantina, will offer a three-course menu ($22) from Sunday, March 21 - March 25.
Friday, April 9 - Sunday, April 18
The Northern Liberties Business Improvement District has a buy-in from 20-plus restaurants to offer two-course lunches for $10 or $15, and three-course dinners for $15, $20, and $25, plus nonalcoholic beverage. Seating will be indoors (at certain spots) and outdoors. Menus and venue details will go live by March 17. For reservations, contact restaurants through their phone, website, Opentable, or Resy. Among participants are Añejo, Apricot Stone, Germantown Garden, Spuntino Wood Fired Pizzeria, and Standard Tap. Details are at northernlibertiesrestaurantweek.com.
Sunday to Thursday, April 11-15 and April 18-22 (Fridays and Saturdays excluded)
The King of Prussia District, whose week benefits Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is waiving its marketing fee for restaurants in a bid to boost participation.
The deals are two-course lunch menus priced at $10, $15, or $20 and three-course dinner menus at $20, $30, or $40 from more than 23 restaurants. In addition, fast casual/quick service restaurants will offer deals and donation days throughout the 10-day period. The restaurants, along with retailers participating in KOP Shops for CHOP, donate a portion of their proceeds to CHOP.
Besides indoor dining and delivery, patrons can eat their takeout from participating restaurants in Takeout Under the Tents, a lit and landscaped outdoor dining area including four heated igloos and 12 individual dining tents, in the King of Prussia Mall parking lot (Yellow Outer Loop parking lot along Mall Boulevard directly across from the Crowne Plaza Hotel). Tents will be first-come, first-served, while the igloos must be reserved through OpenTable for a $15-per-person donation to CHOP. There will be live music on the Sundays and Thursdays from 5 to 8 p.m. Details are at koprestaurantweek.com.