Who doesn’t love food? Okay, dead things, maybe, but that was a rhetorical question. People eagerly look forward to finding excuses to eat good food, be it for a holiday, such as Thanksgiving, or for a good cause. What would it be like if there were an entire week dedicated to eating out at your favorite places for a real purpose?
The Huntsville Restaurant Week offered just that. From August 16-25, twenty-eight restaurants around Madison County participated in the event and offered special deals to help the customer save money. For lunch specials, entire meals could have set-prices at $5, $10, or $15. Dinner deals could be set at $10, $20, or $30. This could include the entrée, appetizer, and dessert. Depending on the restaurant, the deals could’ve gone all day long.
This was the second year Huntsville got its own Restaurant Week. The Huntsville/Madison County Conventions & Visitors Bureau (The CVB) marketed much of the event and holds a list of the participating restaurants on their own website.
So how is a week of deals a real excuse to go out and eat? The purpose behind Restaurant Week is to promote the culture of Madison County and to increase local business and tourism. Getting involved in the week’s activities and deals actually earns Huntsville more money.
One participating restaurant, Grille 29 along Providence Main Street, was particularly grateful for the event. “We have participated in restaurant week for the past 2 years and have loved the response both times. We get a chance to meet new guests in our community and also surrounding counties. . . . Guests have loved the meals and we have seen a significant increase in sales for the entire week,” says manager Carey Letson.
It might seem like this is only an event for those of high culture to take part in, but that’s not true. While there are many fancy places apart of Restaurant Week, teens are also encouraged to take part in the weeklong festivities. Jessica Carlton, the marketing manager for the CVB, explains, “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity for folks of all ages to experience new restaurants and great deals around our community. The special savings offered by our 28 participating restaurants in this 10-day period are a great opportunity for teens and young professionals to experience the many great dining choices we have available to us here in Madison County.” A lot of Bob Jones kids who work at the participating restaurants no doubt also enjoy the generated business.
Now you just have to wait and store your forks for a third course of Restaurant Week.
