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Sports and wine bars join restaurant week lineup

By Mark Fisher, Staff Writer Updated 8:56 AM Thursday, July 23, 2009

Billy Joe Deck offers a simple, straightforward reason why he decided to sign up his three Cadillac Jack’s restaurants in Centerville, Beavercreek and Fairborn for the this summer’s Restaurant Week promotion.

“Right now, with the economy the way it is, the more you can reach out to the public and offer them good deals, the better off you’ll be,” Deck said. “This is a chance for us to introduce ourselves to new customers and to help people save some money.”

Deck and his three sports bar-restaurants are not alone. This year’s event — which begins Sunday, July 26, and extends through July 31 and is officially called Summer Restaurant Week Presented by Renewal by Andersen Replacement Windows — has attracted a record number of participating restaurants. And many of the first-timers are casual and relatively inexpensive eateries, sports bars and wine bars that have packaged menu items together for a dining bargain, in some cases offering meals that will feed two or four people.

“The more casual restaurants are promoting and focusing on bringing the family in for restaurant week for $20.09,” said Amy Haverstick, president of the Miami Valley Restaurant Association and co-owner of Jay’s Restaurant . “I believe having these more casual-style restaurants involved allows more people to take advantage of the promotion.”

During restaurant week, diners order from a special menu and receive a three-course meal for $20.09; 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.

Dave Sauer, co-owner of Bella Vino Wine Merchant & Bar in Springboro, and Brian Linnean, owner of the Wine Gallery & Café in downtown Dayton, embraced Restaurant Week as a way to gain exposure for their establishments, both of which are best known as wine bars rather than restaurants. Plus, “I get a chance to prepare some special foods that I don’t have every day,” Sauer said.

Linnean said Restaurant Week is “a great way to get diners from around the Miami Valley to venture into downtown Dayton.”

Haverstick said the Restaurant Week promotion has grown steadily since the MVRA launched it locally in 2005, and this summer has attracted about 70 restaurants, nearly two dozen more than last summer’s event. 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.

To view a list of participating restaurants and their menus, go to the MVRA’s Web site, www.dineoutdayton.org. Find the “Restaurant Week” tab on the black bar near the top of the page, roll your cursor over that link until a drop-down list of links appears, and then click on the “menus” link. Or as an alternative, type the following into your Web browser address window: www.dineoutdayton.org/restaurant-week-menus.php.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2258 or mfisher@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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Too bad I can't connect to the website www.dineoutdayton.org. I'd like to see what restaurants are participating, but I cannot resolve to this website. I keep getting the error 'The webpage cannot be found - HTTP 404 Not Found'.

ADMobius
4:22 PM, 7/27/2009

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The Wine Gallery and Cafe (bottom floor of The Cannery building at Wayne and Third) is amazing. Their wines are reasonably priced and the food is delicious -- especially the pizza and the appetizer cheese tray! Very laid back, relaxed atmosphere. Love it.

Oakwood mom
9:03 AM, 7/27/2009

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