Arlington County its getting its own Restaurant Week later this month.
Arlington Restaurant Week, organized by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, will run from October 21-28. Diners can visit a number of Arlington restaurants offering special menu items at discounted prices, according to a press release.
There are currently 20 or so restaurants expected to participate, including Jaleo, SER, and Bistro 1521.
Previously, the Chamber partnered with regional groups for the Northern Virginia Restaurant Week and Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week.
However, Arlington Restaurant Week uniquely gives participating restaurants the option of setting their own price points and menus instead of the traditional, fixed $35 dinner course and $25 lunch.
“Flexibility is really important for our restaurants, so this gives them the opportunity to really showcase what they want,” said Arlington Chamber of Commerce President Kate Bates. “For example, Heidelberg Bakery will be doing speciality breakfast sandwiches, and across the board it’ll really range from bundled three-course meals to maybe a speciality dish.”
The Chamber has sent invitations across Arlington for all restaurants to participate, and will be continuing to follow up, Bates said.
For SER owner Javier Candon, the Arlington-specific celebration gives him the chance to get to know customers who might not venture out otherwise.
“Keeping it local, it encourages people who don’t go out as often during the year to have a different experience,” said Candon. “We still don’t have our menu finalized yet, but expect it to be high-quality and highly discounted.”
So far, participating restaurants include:
- Ambar
- Barley Mac
- Bistro 1521
- Bonefish Grill
- Buena Vida
- Cityhouse
- Cookology
- Copa Kitchen & Bar
- Good Company Donuts & Cafe
- Heidelberg Pastry Shoppe
- Jaleo
- La Côte D’or
- The Melting Pot
- Rhodeside Grill
- Rustico Ballston
- SER
- Slapfish
- Sushi-Zen
- The Vantage Point
The full press release about Arlington Restaurant Week is below, after the jump.
Calling all restaurants, foodies, and Arlingtonians with an adventurous palette for Arlington Restaurant Week held from Monday, October 21 through Monday, October 28. This is the first Restaurant Week event, hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce, dedicated specifically to the restaurant scene in Arlington County. Previously, the Arlington Chamber partnered with regional Chambers to produce the Northern Virginia Restaurant Week. Building off the success of that event, the Chamber is looking forward to using its strong connections to the Arlington restaurant community to showcase the many vibrant and diverse restaurants within the county’s 26 square miles!
Through this event, diners will enjoy some of the best food the area has to offer at special prices. This is a great opportunity for participants to take the week to explore the diverse restaurant scene in Arlington and find a new go-to place for dining out. To promote locally to Arlington residents, business professionals, as well as tourists, the event’s premier partner, StayArlington, will be providing information about Arlington Restaurant Week before and during the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 27.
The goal of Arlington Restaurant Week is to help local restaurants gain exposure through extensive media promotion and to attract new patrons through experiencing their food. This event runs differently from your average Restaurant Week in that it is open to all restaurants from fast-casual spots to five-star dining establishments. Restaurants are able to pick a price point that fits their restaurant’s style and market their Restaurant Week specials on the Chamber’s website.
“The Chamber is thrilled to celebrate and showcase the diverse restaurant scene in Arlington through hosting the first Restaurant Week event specifically for the Arlington community said Kate Bates, President & CEO of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. “This event offers participants the opportunity to try a variety of dining experiences and culinary options at discounted rates, and in return, restaurants gain exposure and are able to expand their customer base. We are proud to support the entire local restaurant community through this event.”
The current list of participating restaurants and their menus can be found here. Visit the Chamber’s website and follow the Arlington Restaurant Week event page on the Chamber’s Facebook to keep up-to-date on the event. Diners are encouraged to participate in the social media contest during the event by posting a picture of their dining experience to Twitter. Make sure to tag the location, tag the Chamber @ArlVAChamber, and use the hashtag #ArlRestaurantWeek. Each post during the week offers one entry into a drawing for various prizes!
Photo provided by Arlington Chamber of Commerce