By Jessica Hudgins
SDUN Reporter
Every participating restaurant will serve a designated prix-fixe menu priced at $20, $30 or $40 per person depending on the restaurant. Most offer a choice of three appetizers, three entrées and three deserts. However, Tracy Borkum, co-chair of Restaurant Week and owner of both Kensington Grill and Cucina Urbana, said some spots offer more than that.
“Individual restaurants have cultivated their own in-house style of Restaurant Week,” she said. “At Cucina Urbana we offer the $30 option, but we also offer a $25 option for pizza because that’s a big part of what we do there.”
Some venues such as Terra Restaurant in Hillcrest are offering discounts on wine pairings and cocktails. Others are giving diners a wide range of choices for each course. For example, Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant has seven appetizers, eight entrees and three desserts available to mix and match on their $30 menu.
As the new kid on the block, Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant is looking forward to its first Restaurant Week.
“It’s important to any restaurant because it showcases what you have to offer, especially for those who would only go to your restaurant for special occasions,” said General Manager Nicola Gabriele. “We’re also a new restaurant, so we really want people to come try out our food.”
At Avenue 5, also in Bankers Hill, it’s not just about recruiting more customers.
“Avenue 5 is a privately owned family restaurant, so we like to participate to represent the local community,” said Colin MacLaggan, owner and executive chef. “We want to encourage people to support local businesses just like we do in-house with our produce and beer selection.”
Specializing in contemporary Californian and Mediterranean cuisine, Avenue 5 has a diverse $30 menu.
“All [our dishes] have different characteristics. The pasta takes care of the vegetarian option. The ribs offer a more fine-dining experience and the burger is there to satisfy the average Joe,” he said
For the ultimate Avenue 5 experience, MacLaggan recommends the grilled Caesar salad for a starter, the braised boneless short ribs smothered in a red wine sauce and served with garlic puréed potatoes and seasonal vegetables for the main course, and for dessert, the chocolate Kahlua tart with an espresso crème anglaise.
Terra Restaurant and Bar has been a presence in Hillcrest for more than 12 years. Along with his managerial duties, owner Mike Rossman also serves on the board of directors for Restaurant Week.
“A lot of people haven’t tried these different restaurants, and if they go in when it’s not Restaurant Week, they’re going to end up paying a lot more. It really is a great bargain,” Rossman said.
Rossman said he recognizes there are many San Diegans who still haven’t heard of his restaurant.
“There are a lot people who have never been to our restaurant before. This gives them a chance to try our menu. They’ll get to try signature dishes and some new dishes,” he said.
Some of those signature dishes—such as Terra’s crab cakes and pumpkin ravioli with roasted corn cream and toasted hazelnuts—have been on the restaurant’s menu since day one.
For Borkum, Restaurant Week isn’t about competing with other restaurants.
“I think it’s a way for all of us to support each other,” she said. “I hope people literally eat out all six nights that week so they can experience a number of restaurants, not just mine.”
Surprisingly, few to no restaurants in North Park, South Park, Normal Heights and Mission Hills are participating in this Restaurant Week. To participate, Borkum said, restaurants have to pay $1,000 and be a member of the Restaurant Association. This may or may not have been a factor for these absent restaurants, but she said she believes the investment is well worth it.
“It’s the opportunity to get your product in front of hundreds of people in one week’s time. We’re talking a full house every single night, and that’s not common,” she said.
For a complete list of participating restaurants and their menus, go to sandiegorestaurantweek.com.
