Over the past few decades, restaurant week events have grown in popularity across the country. The event is a great way for restauranteurs to draw in new customers and to keep existing customers coming back. Portsmouth Restaurant Week made a stellar comeback January 26 – February 1, after a ten-year hiatus. Just as Portsmouth showcases diversity in architecture, history, culture and community – the same thing can be said for its culinary offerings.

Portsmouth Restaurant Week is a partnership of Portsmouth Hospitality, an event and business management company, the Olde Towne Business Association, and the city of Portsmouth. A consortium of great minds, creative ideas and most of all – a love for Portsmouth. Portsmouth Restaurant Week gave local restaurants the opportunity to impress customers with their food and service. The event was a special time for the port city “to show off its wide variety of gourmet specialties,” said Danielle Babcheck, from Portsmouth Hospitality. “Our local chefs prepared menus that kept customers wanting more. More than 20 participating restaurants offered special menus with options for two-course lunches at $10 or $15, and three-course dinners at $25 or $35,” she added.

According to Babcheck, who monitored responses from restaurants, Portsmouth Restaurant Week was a rip-roaring success. Roger Brown’s Restaurant and Sports Bar and Lobscouser Restaurant reported that they sold about 300 specials. Gosport Tavern and The Bier Garden sold more than 100 specials. “Café Europa had reservations all week. Fish & Slips and Stellar Wine Co. also said they had a great response.”

If you missed this year's Portsmouth Restaurant Week, stay tuned for upcoming Portsmouth Restaurant Week activities. Visit www.portsVAevents.com for a variety of events throughout the year.