Fall into New Flavors

By: Karen Dybis | October 11, 2019
Restaurant Weeks

Photo Courtesy of SW Detroit Restaurant Week

If you’ve wanted to try a new cuisine, sample an up-and-coming chef’s work or just have an excuse to eat out, this autumn’s restaurant weeks provide ample opportunities to explore Metro Detroit’s best eateries at good prices as well. 

There are two such events in the area planned for October – SW Detroit Restaurant Week and Royal Oak Restaurant Week. If you’re into traveling, head north to Petoskey, where that picturesque tourist spot is doing it’s fall version of its twice-a-year Petoskey Restaurant Week from October 18 to 25. 

Metro Detroiters can explore Royal Oak’s wide array of restaurants as well as the culture of Southwest Detroit in the two local restaurant weeks. Royal Oak Restaurant Week runs from October 18 to 27. SW Detroit Restaurant Week began October 4 and continues through October 13.

Organizers of both events are excited to add new themes and new restaurants to their offerings, which hope to highlight the many eateries available in their communities all year long. 

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In Detroit, the mission of SW Detroit Restaurant Week is to offer an annual event with pride and laughter so that inclusiveness comes with ease and the resulting participation exudes a collaboration of culture, language and food, according to organizers Monica Casarez and Juan Carlos Dueweke-Perez.

This is the second annual event, and it features two dozen Latin American restaurants that highlight food from countries including the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Venezuela, among others. 

“Participating restaurants will offer guests a truly remarkable dining experience by showcasing an exclusive menu that is centered on Southwest Detroit’s diverse cultures, origins and stories,” Casarez said.

SWDRW, whose presenting sponsor is the Southwest Detroit Business Association (SDBA), will offer participants a wide variety of restaurants to choose from and experience. For example, there’s El Asador, offering Chuleta de Borrego en Barbacoa (Lamb Chops in Mexican Barbecue) and Northern Mexican Food. Over at Antojitos el Catracho, you can try its cuisine from Honduras and its Machuca (Mashed ingredients). And Asty Time is offering Pescado al Coco (Fish in Coconut) from the Dominican Republic.

“We hope this event helps to showcase our rich cultural diversity while encouraging more visitors to explore the area. In addition to our authentic restaurants and taquerias, visitors can find products and services among the more than 1,700 small businesses many mercados, bakeries, merchants, specialty retailers,” said SDBA President Robert Dewaelsche. 

Royal Oak Restaurant Week returns Friday, October 18 – Sunday, October 27.  More than 20 downtown Royal Oak’s top restaurants and venues will feature 3-course lunch and dinner menus for $15 – $35 a person.  No tickets or passes are necessary, but reservations are strongly recommended.

“We are excited to bring back a Fall Royal Oak Restaurant Week this year,” said Carrie O’Neill, President of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association. “As part of the month-long Pink Out! Celebration here in downtown Royal Oak, restaurants will be featuring new and favorite recipes along with Tito’s Handmade Vodka pink drinks.”

Participating Royal Oak Restaurant Week Venues include: 526 Main, Ale Mary’s Beer Hall, Bar Louie, Bigalora, Café Muse, D’Amato’s, Diamonds Steak & Seafood, Fifth Avenue, Jim Brady’s Detroit, Jolly Pumpkin Taphouse, Le Crepe, Lily’s Seafood Grill & Brewery, Lockhart’s BBQ, Mesa Tacos and Tequila, Mr. B’s Gastropub, Oak City Grille, Pinky’s Rooftop, Rock on 3rd, Royal Oak Brewery, Royal Oak Taphouse, Smoky’s Cigar Bar & Bistro, Tom’s Oyster Bar and Trattoria da Luigi.

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