With no major snowstorms in sight, restaurateurs across the state are hoping residents and visitors will brave the cold to try some new cuisine or visit a favorite eatery.
Maine Restaurant Week kicked off March 1 and runs through Saturday, March 12. Patrons will be able to order from special three-course menus offered for $20, $30 or $40 throughout the event.
Many of the 80 plus restaurants are in located in Portland and beyond, but a handful in York County are participating as well.
Yellowfin’s Restaurant in Old Orchard Beach is one of half a dozen area eateries hoping to entice some new guests, according to owner and Maine native David Dunton.
Dunton is participating in Restaurant Week for the second year and said he hopes it will be just as successful as last year.
“It’s a really great thing for this time of year,” which can be slow for local businesses and restaurants, he said.
The specials are a great opportunity for guests also who may want to try a new place, said Dunton, and the prices include a three-course meal for a lower-than-usual price that is fixed.
Dunton’s dinner menu for Restaurant Week will feature haddock filet with a lemon dill white wine sauce, chicken filet with an herb Dijon yogurt sauce, swordfish with a citrus salsa and a vegetarian option of five-cheese tortellini primavera. Dunton said his menu has a spring theme. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
Just down the coast, The Run of the Mill in Saco has already seen success in its first couple of days.
Manager Bill Kiely said they have been busy for dinner this week. The brew pub is offering a three-course dinner nightly featuring some new items, like an Atlantic Char with lemon caper butter and malted crème brûlée. The restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner, and the fixed price three-course menu will be available for dinner.
Kiely said the restaurant is trying to work with local farmers to purchase produce and hope to feature more local foods on their menu. He echoed Dunton’s sentiments, saying he hopes diners will come out to try something new and take advantage of the bargains. He added that buying ”“ and dining ”“ local helps support the economy.
“It’s a good thing to support the local guys,” said Kiely.
Maine Restaurant Week includes only independent, locally owned restaurants, according to the Restaurant Week website. There are also several fundraising events throughout the week for local, non-profit organizations. Thousands of dollars have been raised since Maine Restaurant Week launched in 2009, according to the site.
In addition to supporting non-profits, local economies and offering bargains, Brian O’hea, co-owner of The Kennebunk Inn and Academe restaurant, said he hopes the event promotes downtowns and local businesses. Academe is the only downtown Kennebunk restaurant participating, but O’hea said he hopes that will change in years to come.
“It’s been a success,” he said, and he’s been trying to spread the word to other area restaurants along with his wife and co-owner Shanna O’hea.
The O’heas will offer their famous lobster pot pie for Restaurant Week, which was featured on the Food Network program “Best Thing I Ever Ate.”
Academe is open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. Academe also has a special Restaurant Week lunch menu, which includes three courses for $15.
O’hea said the week started well, with Academe taking first place for best cocktail at the Signature Event, the party that kicked off Maine Restaurant Week on Monday in Portland.
He hopes the success will continue with new guests and regulars coming through their doors for the remainder of Restaurant Week.
“It’s a great way to try some local flavors at a very reasonable price,” he said.
— Associate Editor Robyn Burnham can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 329 or rburnham@journaltribune.com.
Maine Restaurant Week – York County
Ӣ Academe Brasserie, Kennebunk, 985-3351
”¢ Federal Jack’s, Kennebunk, 967-4322
Ӣ One Dock, Kennebunkport, 967-2621
Ӣ Stripers Waterside Restaurant, Kennebunkport, 967-5333
”¢ Yellowfin’s Restaurant, Old Orchard Beach, 934-1100
Ӣ The Run of the Mill, Saco, 571-9652
Ӣ Shipyard Brew Pub, Eliot, 686-2026
”¢ Robert’s Maine Grill, Kittery, 439-0300
Ӣ Anneke Jans, Kittery, 439-0001
For a full list of participating restaurants and menus, go to www.mainerestaurantweek.com.
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