Guide to Restaurant Week York: 30 meals in 8 days

Abbey Zelko | azelko@ydr.com

Update: This story has been updated to reflect the change that Healthy World Cafe will no longer be participating in Restaurant Week due to unexpected staff changes.

Prepare your stomachs for eight days of dining out. Restaurant Week York is back.

The sixth annual celebration of York's best cuisine will include prix-fixe menus ($5, $10 and $15 lunch specials and $20, $30 or $40 dinner specials) at 30 participating restaurants, making this event York's largest Restaurant Week yet.

The addition of eight new restaurants this year has sparked an unofficial challenge among locals to see who can hit the most locations, according to organizer Meagan Feeser of the York City Independent Restaurant Association.

If you eat out three meals a day for all eight days, you can try 24 different restaurants, she said. You’ll have to add a few snacks into your schedule if you want to hit all 30, but it can be done.

Here’s a guide to how to make the most out of Restaurant Week York.

Kick things off at happy hour

Discounted drinks, free appetizers, signature cocktails, live music and door prizes make the FlipSidePA Happy Hour a great first stop on your Restaurant Week agenda. The party is slated for 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Offcenter Grill at the Yorktowne Hotel. Don't forget to try the $5 beer and dessert pairing: a half-pint of Sam Adams Merry Maker (gingerbread stout) served with a blueberry bruschetta. It's free to attend.

FLIPSIDEPA

Register: FlipSidePA Restaurant Week Happy Hour

FLIPSIDEPA

Photos: FlipSide Happy Hour MINT Photobooth at Yorktowne Hotel

Start your day with brunch

Prior to this year, Central Family Restaurant was the only Restaurant Week participant to offer a formal breakfast special, Feeser said. And while its banana bread French toast is always a crowd favorite, Restaurant Week-goers will be happy to learn that a few more restaurants are adding breakfast and brunch options into the mix this year.

With the arrival of restaurants like Glazin’, Otto’s Kitchen & Cocktails and I-ron-ic’s coffee bar, York’s brunch game elevated in 2015, Feeser said. And because Restaurant Week has grown to 30 participating restaurants this year, people need more opportunities to hit as many as they can.

“Adding the breakfast option gives them another eight meals they could eat out if they choose to this week,” Feeser said.

So, make sure you start your day off right with a breakfast sandwich from Otto’s, a house-made sticky bun from Mezzogiorno or crab benedict from the Offcenter Grill.

Restaurants serving breakfast include The Busy Bee, Central Family Restaurant, The Copper Crust Company, Glazin’, i-ron-ic, Mezzogiorno, Offcenter Grill, Otto’s Kitchen & Cocktails and York City Pretzel Company.

FLIPSIDEPA

On The Menu Directory: Search for restaurants

Try something new

Sure, it’s a given that you’ll want to hit up your old favorites. But Restaurant Week also gives you a chance to try something new from some of York's newest restaurants at a special price.

Don’t pass up the opportunity to try the cheese curds or a burger from Holy Hound Taproom’s new food menu, soon to be available for both lunch and dinner. Or try Coffee, Teas, and Thee’s (on South Pershing Avenue) $5 pick-two lunch special, featuring your choice of soup, salad and sandwich.

Other new participants this year include Glazin', I-ron-ic, Otto's Kitchen & Cocktails, Copper Crust Company, Joyful Garden and Forno Bova.

Attend a Restaurant Week-only dinner

Restaurant Week diners love Restaurant Week-only exclusives – dishes created specifically for Restaurant Week – like the short rib at Roosevelt Tavern, pretzel wings at York City Pretzel Company, Nutella mocha at Green Bean Roasting Co. and specialty pizzas (Philly classic, roasted cauliflower and meatball) at Brewvino, Feeser said.

But, even better are the Restaurant Week-exclusive dinner events.

Forno Bova will host a one-night only Pizza Pop-Up at York City Pretzel Company on Sunday, Feb. 21. Tickets are $22 per person and include a choice of one pizza and two appetizers, followed by a Nutella-stuffed pizza wedge.

Mezzogiorno, which typically serves only breakfast and lunch, will offer guests a special $40 three-course dinner experience on Thursday, Feb. 25. The menu includes New Zealand mussels with fennel to start, veal saltimbocca with braised escarole as the main dish and EVOO cake with amaretto caramel, fresh berries and semifreddo for dessert.

For those looking for a true fine dining experience, Tutoni’s exclusive Truffle Dinner is the way to go. The $200 meal is 10 courses with a $90 wine pairing. To see the full menu and purchase tickets, visit www.tutonis.com/truffle-dinner.

Get carryout

Don’t have time for a sit-down meal? Twenty-four of the 30 participating restaurants have a carryout option so you can enjoy Restaurant Week on the go. For a complete list, visit rwyork.com/rwmenus.

Save room for dessert

This might be the most important Restaurant Week tip of all, and possibly the most difficult. After you've finished several courses of soups, salads, appetizers and main dishes, many participating restaurants offer a choice of desserts. These tasty treats range from crème brûlée to baked Alaska, and many are only offered during Restaurant Week. Click through the photo gallery above for a sneak peek at the desserts.

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS

IF YOU GO

What: Restaurant Week York

When: Feb. 20-27

Where: 30 participating restaurants

Cost: $5 and $10 breakfast or brunch specials; $5, $10 and $15 lunch specials; $20, $30, $40 three-course dinner specials

More info: Visit www.rwyork.com

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