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Diners, eateries line up for Summer Restaurant Week

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Rue Dumaine, 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp.
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L'Auberge, 4120 Far Hills Ave., Kettering.
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Keith Taylor, owner and chef of Savona Restaurant and Wine Bar, 79 S. Main St. in Centerville, works in the kitchen. Savona is among the eateries that will take part in this summer’s charity fundraiser Restaurant Week.
Staff Photo by Jan Underwood Keith Taylor, owner and chef of Savona Restaurant and Wine Bar, 79 S. Main St. in Centerville, works in the kitchen. Savona is among the eateries that will take part in this summer’s charity fundraiser Restaurant Week.
By Mark Fisher, Staff Writer Updated 3:15 PM Thursday, July 23, 2009

It’s not just diners who are eagerly anticipating 
Restaurant Week, which begins Sunday, July 26. This summer, the restaurants themselves are lining up to participate.

“I’ve had restaurants calling me and wanting to know how they can be a part of Restaurant Week,” said Amy Zahora, executive director of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association who sometimes has had to cajole restaurant owners to participate in the twice-a-year promotion. These days, restaurants are looking to attract potential new customers, bask in the exposure that comes with the promotion and avoid being “dead” that week as some of their regular customers take advantage of the special deals elsewhere, Zahora said.

This summer’s event — officially called Summer Restaurant Week Presented by Renewal by Andersen Replacement Windows — begins Sunday and extends through July 31. Here’s how it works: Diners order from a special menu and receive a three-course meal for $20.09; the price traditionally matches the year (in Dayton, anyway). The restaurants then donate to local charities $1 for each special dinner sold. This summer, the beneficiaries are the March of Dimes and the Miami Valley Restaurant Association Scholarship Fund.

The Restaurant Week promotion has grown steadily since the MVRA launched it locally in 2005, and this summer has attracted at least 60 restaurants, more than a dozen more than the summer 2008. Miami Valley diners have embraced the concept with enthusiasm; some carefully map out a full week’s worth of eating out.

At most of the restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, reservations are a must. Owners and managers strongly recommend calling to check on availability and hours. Be aware that some restaurants are closed Sunday or Monday — or in some cases, closed both days — so calling ahead will avoid disappointment. And remember that tax, tip and beverages are not included in the $20.09 price.

Two restaurants that are otherwise open to members only — the Dayton Racquet Club and Greene Country Club — will be open to the public during restaurant week. And some restaurants, including l’Auberge, extend the specials into a second week.

Many other local restaurants have taken note of the popularity of Restaurant Week — and of the tight economy that diners are facing — and embraced similar specials that are available year-round. Jay’s Restaurant, for example, offers monthly three-course specials for $22.95 that look a lot like a Restaurant Week menu, for a couple of bucks more.

Many larger cities’ Restaurant Week promotions have gotten away from the price-matching-the-year concept and are more expensive for diners, but Zahora said there hasn’t been much talk among Dayton-area restaurants about hiking the price beyond the $20.09 mark — at least not until 2010, when the cost will jump one whole penny.

Even restaurants that have inexpensive menus are finding ways to join the Restaurant Week bandwagon by offering two-for-$20.09 or four-for-$20.09 specials, the restaurant association director said.

To take a look at the all-important menus and to start planning Restaurant Week strategy, go to the MVRA’s Web site, www.dineoutdayton.org/restaurant-week-menus.php

Restaurant Week 
Sample Menus

Barleycorns

  • Appetizer: Crab cake or Tomato/Onion Bruschetta or Thai lettuce wraps
  • Entree: Lamb Chops or Chicken Cordon Bleu or Snow Crab Legs
  • Dessert: Fried Raspberry Cheesecake or Cherries Jubilee or Blackberry Cobbler

Cafe Boulevard

Choose any three courses from among:

  • Appetizer: Spicy Corn Dip or Bruschetta Parmesan Toasts or Cheese-Stuffed Mushrooms with Balsamic Glaze
  • Salad: House Salad or Cafe Boulevard Caesar
  • Soup: Soup du Jour
  • Entree: Blackened Tilapia or Chicken Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes, Broccolini, Feta Cheese and Peppers or Beef Galette or Portobello Mushroom with Piccata sauce

Caffe Anticoli

  • Appetizer: Bruschetta Margherita or Calamari with Marinara Sauce or Mixed Green Salad
  • Entree: Pork Chops Marsala or Pasta Misti or Salmon
  • Dessert: Homemade Tiramisu or Lemon Sorbet with Fresh Peaches

C’est Tout

  • Soup/Salad: Cold Roasted Corn and Tomato Soup or Mesclun, Beets, Tomato and Beans in White Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Entree: Blackened Tilapia, Brown Rice and Nicoise Vegetables or Chicken Scaloppini with Rosemary Jus
  • Dessert: Blueberry Tart

Figlio

  • Salad: Balsamic or Peasant salad
  • Entree: Choice of Pasta — Shrimp and Scallop, or Basil Chicken with Feta
  • Dessert: Chocolate Mousse or Creme Brulee

Restaurant Week 
participants*

  • Amber Rose, 1400 Valley St., Dayton, (937) 228-2511
  • Amelia’s Bistro, 129 W. Franklin St., (937) 310-3040
  • Bahn Mai Thai Cafe, 725 Lyons Road, Washington Twp., (937) 435-0624
  • Barbie’s Bistro, 1122 E. Dorothy Lane, Kettering, (937) 262-7300
  • Barleycorns, 6204 Wilmington Pike, Sugarcreek Plaza/Centerville, (937) 848-6999
  • Bella Vino Wine Merchants and Bar, 495 N. Main St., Springboro, (937) 748-3807
  • Benham’s Restaurant, 209 Warren St., Dayton, (937) 228-7041
  • Boosalis Bakery, 9486 Springboro Pike, Miami Twp., (937) 424-0636
  • Brixx Ice Company, 500 E. First St., Dayton, (937) 222-2257
  • Buckhorn Tavern, 8800 Meeker Road, Butler Twp., (937) 890-3261
  • Bullwinkles Top Hat Bistro, 19 N. Main St., Miamisburg, (937) 859-7677 and 6484 Culberston Road, Middletown, (513) 217-6030
  • Cadillac Jack’s, three locations in Beavercreek, Centerville and Fairborn are participating
  • Cafe Boulevard, 329 E. Fifth St., Dayton, (937) 824-2722
  • Caffe Anticoli, 8268 N. Main St., Clayton, (937) 890-0300
  • The Caroline, 5 S. Market St. Troy, (937) 552-7676
  • Carvers, 1535 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp., (937) 433-7099
  • Cena Restaurant, 2854 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Miami Twp., (937) 438-2362
  • C’est Tout, 2600 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood, (937) 298-0022
  • Champp’s Americana, 7880 Washington Village Drive, Washington Twp., (937) 433-2333
  • Chappy’s Tap Room & Grille, 2733 W. Alex-Bell Road, Moraine, (937) 299-7427
  • Chin’s Ginger Grill, 965 W. Main St., Tipp City, (937) 667- 6664
  • The Chop House, 7727 Washington Village Drive, Washington Twp., (937) 291-1661
  • Christopher’s, 318 E. Dorothy Lane, Kettering, (937) 299-0089
  • Coco’s Bistro, 515 Wayne Ave., Dayton, (937) 228-2626
  • Cork & Vine, 3452 York Commons Blvd., Butler Twp., (937) 387-0044
  • Dayton Racquet Club, 40 N. Main St., Dayton, (937) 224-4381
  • The Deli and Top of The Market, 32 Webster St., (937) 224-3663
  • The Dock, 250 W. Main St., Enon, (937) 864-5011
  • Duke’s Restaurant, 630 E. Dixie Drive, West Carrollton, (937) 866-1111
  • El Meson, 903 E. Dixie Drive, West Carrollton, (937) 859-8229
  • Fairlawn Steak House, 925 Sweitzer St., Greenville, (937) 548-2262
  • Figlio, 424 E. Stroop Road in the Town & Country center, Kettering, (937) 534-0494
  • Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 4432 Walnut St. at The Greene, Beavercreek, (937) 320-9548
  • Franco’s, 824 E. Fifth St., Dayton, (937) 222-0204
  • Fricker’s, locations in Troy, Huber Heights, Dayton, Miller Lane, Ohio 725, Vandalia and Springfield are participating
  • Greene Country Club, 920 W. Dayton-Yellow Springs Road, Fairborn, (937) 767-5621
  • Grub Steak, 2098 Alex Road, West Carrollton, (937) 276-4193
  • Jay’s Restaurant, 225 E. Sixth St., Dayton, (937) 222-2892
  • Joe Kiss’s Hickory Bar-B-Q, 1082 Brown St., Dayton, (937) 228-5252
  • Kohinoor Palace, 38 S. Springboro Pike across from the Dayton Mall, Miamisburg, (937) 723-9014
  • L’Auberge, 4120 Far Hills Ave., Kettering, (937) 299-5536
  • La Piazza, 2 N. Market St., Troy, (937) 339-5553
  • Madison’s Bistro, 5531 Far Hills Ave, Kettering, (937) 435-7080
  • Mamma Disalvo’s, 1375 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, (937) 299-5831
  • McCormick & Schmicks, 4429 Cedar Park Drive at The Greene, Beavercreek, (937) 431-9200
  • Meadowlark, 2094 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Miami Twp., (937) 434-4750
  • The Melting Pot, 453 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp., (937) 567-8888
  • Michael Anthony’s at the Inn, 21 W. Main St., Versailles, (937) 526-3020
  • The Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood, (937) 293-6973
  • Pacchia, 410 E. Fifth St., Dayton, (937) 341-5050
  • Pasha Grill, 72 Plum St., 
The Greene, Beavercreek, (937) 429-9000
  • Roush’s, 305 W. Main St., Fairborn, (937) 878-3611
  • Rudy’s Churrascaria, 42 W. Main St., Germantown, (937) 353-7375
  • Rue Dumaine, 1061 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, Washington Twp., (937) 610-1061
  • Savona Restaurant and Wine Bar, 79 S. Main St., Centerville, (937) 610-9835
  • Sweeney’s Seafood, 28 W. Franklin St., Centerville, (937) 291-3474
  • Thai 9, 11 Brown St., Dayton, (937) 222-3227
  • TJ Chumps, 2 E. Linden Ave. in Miamisburg, (937) 859-4000 and 559 S. Main St. in Englewood, (937) 836-4300
  • Wellington Grille, 2450 Dayton-Xenia Road, Beavercreek, (937) 426-4600
  • Winds Cafe, 215 Xenia Ave., Yellow Springs, (937) 767-1144
  • Wine Gallery and Café, 424 E. Third St. Dayton, (937) 224-9463

*There are often last-minute changes and additions to the list of participants, so you may want to check www.dineoutdayton.org or call your favorite restaurant to confirm.

Source: Miami Valley Restaurant Association Web site (www.dineoutdayton.org); MVRA Executive Director Amy Zahora

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