Restaurant Week makes first foray into winter

PBN Staff

01/08/2011

“The first thing we had to check was when Super Bowl Sunday fell,” said Kristen Adamo.
The vice president of marketing and communications for the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau does not have tickets for the game. She and the bureau, under the direction of Martha Sheridan, PWCVB president and CEO, are debuting a second Providence Restaurant Week later this month and want to make sure the timing is right. It is.
The winter edition of the popular dine-around runs from Jan. 23 to Jan. 29, ending just before the kickoff of the big game. As of last week, 65 eateries had signed up.
The theme for the 2011 Providence Winter Restaurant Week is “Take a Bite Out of Winter.” The price is the same as it was for the summer promotion – $12.95 for a three-course, prix-fixe lunch, and $29.95 for a three-course, prix-fixe dinner.
Providence is setting the pace in New England with its first-time foray into the winter version of this foodie favorite. Frequent diners from all over New England and beyond eagerly look forward to Restaurant Weeks and do not mind traveling to find them.
Providence Winter Restaurant Week is the first such promotion of the year in the region. New York City’s Winter Restaurant Week is behind by one day, running Jan. 24 through Feb. 6. Boston’s Winter Restaurant Week will not be held until March.
Ever since the summer Restaurant Week promotion began six years ago, restaurateurs have been urging the PWCVB to launch a winter version. This groundswell kept building, led by proprietors such as Gianfranco Marrocco, with his cadre of eateries on Federal Hill, and Christopher Tarro, of the popular Siena restaurants both on the Hill and in East Greenwich. While the bulk of participating restaurants are in Providence, as in the summer, there are spots throughout the state, from the Marra restaurants in North Smithfield and South Kingstown to Il Piccolo in Johnston, to the Lobster Pot in Bristol, where the view in winter is as charming as it is in the high summer.
New entries in the winter-week program include the well-received Cook and Brown Public House on Hope Street and the exciting Centro in the Westin Providence – where Agora “used to be” – as well as La Masseria in East Greenwich and Fred and Steve’s and Wicked Good Bar and Grill at Twin River.
While dining at the likes of Capital Grille, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse or Ruth’s Chris Steak House for $29.95 is appealing, what makes Providence Restaurant Week, both summer and winter, an especially good deal is that many of the participating restaurants such as Angelo’s Civita Farnese, Luxe Burger Bar, Red Fez and Union Station Brewery are offering two-for-one for the prix-fixe price. In addition, some restaurants are including additional specials such as an extra course. Adamo says that restaurants that add their own individual touches are the most popular during Restaurant Week. The Restaurant Week phenomenon has cultural aspects that go far beyond bargain-hunting. Adamo points out that when the summer Restaurant Week started in Providence in 2005, the city was comparatively quiet. Now, with not only WaterFire but SoundSession and the Iron Man competition, summer in the capital is quite busy.
Adamo confided that choosing a “quiet” week for Winter Restaurant Week was not easy. Providence Performing Arts Center, the Dunkin’ Donuts Center, the R.I. Convention Center and Trinity Repertory Co. are all featuring shows and athletic events for practically the entire month of January.
A brief word on making the most of your Restaurant Week experience. Keep in mind that the fixed-price menus do not include the cost of a beverage, nor the gratuity. Take your server’s suggestion on what to order, especially if you are trying an eatery for the first time and are unfamiliar with its menu.
While you are having a great time during Restaurant Week, you might observe – as many out-of-town journalists have – the uniqueness of our restaurants. The fact is that the owner of the restaurant you are in is very likely the chef who prepared your meal. Travel + Leisure magazine readers ranked Providence dining third best in the nation in 2010, behind only San Francisco and New Orleans.
So break out those restaurant gift certificates you received as presents and get ready to give them a workout. Try new places and revisit old favorites. You’ll enjoy being a tourist in your own backyard.
For complete menus and details on specific restaurant specials for Providence Winter Restaurant Week, visit ProvidenceRestaurantWeeks.com. &#8226

Bruce Newbury’s “Dining Out” food and wine talk radio show is heard Saturdays and Sundays on WPRV-AM 790 and stations throughout New England. He can be reached by e-mail at bruce@brucenewbury.com.

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