For 17 years, Annapolis Restaurant Week (ARW) has been bringing budget-friendly 2-3 course meals to the tummies of Naptown thanks to The Downtown Annapolis Partnership. Participating Annapolis restaurants will offer prix fixe menus and you’ll be able to choose a two-course breakfast between $9.95 and $15.95, a two-course lunch between $12.95 and $19.95, or a three-course dinner between $29.95 and $39.95.
Café Normandie, a Main Street staple, will be joining the ARW fun again this year! Photo courtesy of Café Normandie Facebook.
Get your brunch on during ARW at Miss Shirley’s. Photo courtesy of Miss Shirley’s Facebook.
Tuscan Prime Italian Chophouse & Dolce Bar is all fired up to participate in ARW this year. Photo courtesy of Tuscan Prime Annapolis Facebook.
This year’s event, February 24 to March 3, is quickly approaching so we spoke with Erik Evans, Executive Director for The Downtown Annapolis Partnership to get some tips for how to make the most of ARW.
- Make reservations as soon as possible!
Usually around 30,000 people visit the ARW website but last year, over 54,000 visited to peruse menus and make reservations. When making reservations, consider all the happy hours to choose from Monday through Friday as well as wine bottle discounts that happen throughout the week year-round. For example, booking a reservation during ARW on a Wednesday at Luna Blu’s will get you a half-priced bottle of wine along with your 2-3 course meal. Evans recommends capping what you don’t finish and taking it home.
- Consult with your party people.
Interested in a group outing? A handful of restaurants have private or semi-private dining options. You’ll have more flexibility reserving the rooms on a weekday.
For family-friendly options, breakfast or lunch might be more agreeable for the littles in your life who have early bedtimes. Chick & Ruth’s Delly and Lighthouse Bistro are sure to have options galore for your picky eater. “My [2-year-old] daughter loves going to Carpaccio’s…give her a bowl of pasta and she is set to go!” exclaimed Evans.
- Try something new!
If there’s a place you’ve never been, but keep hearing about, this is your chance to have a unique dining experience! Even Evans admits, “One I haven’t been to yet, but I’ve been wanting to try is Cafe Mezzanotte.”
So, I say, reserve now, indulge later. Let them eat cake…plus two other courses for less than $20.
For full details and menus from each restaurant (plus possible additions), check ARW’s website…but to whet your appetite, here’s a Cheat Sheet of who is participating!
ARW Cheat Sheet:
49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery
Agave Mexican Restaurant and Tequila Bar
Carpaccio’s Tuscan Kitchen l Wine Bar
O’Brien’s Oyster Bar & Seafood Tavern
Ruth’s Chris Steak House Annapolis
Tuscan Prime Italian Chophouse & Dolce Bar
Wine Specials Cheat Sheet:
Daily
Chick and Ruth’s Delly $14.99 wine bottles
Monday through Friday 4-7 pm
49 West Coffeehouse, Winebar & Gallery 1/4 off wine
Tuesdays
Cafe Mezzanotte 1/2 price bottles of wine priced under $100
Wednesdays
Blackwall Hitch 1/2 price bottles of wine priced $100 or less
Luna Blu 1/2 price bottles of wine
Middleton Tavern 1/3 off bottles of wine
Obrien’s Oyster Bar and Seafood Tavern 1/2 price bottles of wine
Paul’s Homewood Cafe 1/2 price bottles of wine
Thursdays
Melting Pot 1/2 price bottles of wine priced under $100
Author: Liza Roe
Liza Roe is a writer and award-winning spoken word artist. You can find her book, “The Sober Poet” and her online video course, “Learning to Live an Amazing Alcohol-Free Life in 7 Simple Steps” at www.lizaroe.com. She currently lives in Annapolis with her dog and pet rabbit.
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