After its successful inaugural year, Knoxville Restaurant Week returns to offer Knoxville diners a special week of great meals to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee. Restaurant Week kicks off this weekend, Sunday, Feb. 26 and continues through Thursday, March 2, 2012.
During the second annual Knoxville Restaurant Week, Knoxville residents and visitors can enjoy the highest-quality fine dining that Knoxville has to offer at a fixed price.
Local restaurants from Fleming's and Nama to The Chop House and Ruth's Chris Steak House will offer three-course meals at $25 or $35 fixed prices with a portion of the dinner price going to help feed the hungry.
Knoxville restaurant owners were joined by Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett, other elected officials and community leaders at a kick-off event at Ruth's Chris on Feb. 7.
Several other U.S. cities, including New York, Chicago and San Diego, have built restaurant weeks into hugely popular culinary events and significant tourist draws. After last year's successful debut, Knoxville Restaurant Week now positions Knoxville among these cities.
"Knoxville is a dining out town. We have wonderful, diverse restaurants that provide excellent dining experiences," Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero said. "Knoxville Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to sample our local fine dining and help a great cause."
Diners are encouraged to go the Knoxville Restaurant Week website, http://www.knoxvillerestaurantweek.com, and choose a participating restaurant (list attached) and then call or e-mail the restaurant directly to make a reservation for this special week.
Participating restaurants donate $5 from every fixed price meal to Second Harvest Food Bank.
"Knoxville Restaurant Week was a huge success for us last year. Our sales were up 74 percent over the same week the in 2010," said Paul Hohe, general manager of Ruth's Chris Steak House. "We look forward to another successful Restaurant Week this year. This event will continue to raise awareness of Knoxville on the national culinary scene" Knoxville Restaurant Week benefits the East Tennessee region in many ways.
First, Restaurant Week drives traffic to restaurants at a typically slow period for the industry. Second, the city of Knoxville sees increased economic activity by Knoxville residents dining out at restaurants. Furthermore, Restaurant Week draws tourism to the Knoxville market.
Lastly, Second Harvest Food Bank receives donations to feed the hungry in the region. Last year, donations from Knoxville Restaurant Week alone allowed Second Harvest to provide more than 120,000 meals to needy East Tennesseans.
Pilot Travel Centers LLC is the presenting sponsor of this event. Other sponsors include more than 20 leading Knoxville restaurants, the City of Knoxville, Knox County, Knoxville Tourism and Sports Corporation, Knoxville Tourism Alliance, the Knoxville News Sentinel and Moxley Carmichael.
Participating Restaurants Include:
31 Bistro Abuelo's Brazeiros Chez Liberty Cocoa Moon Fusion Grill Connors Steak & Seafood Echo Bistro & Wine Bar Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Hilton Knoxville Marty's Bistro Latitude 35 Le Parigo Restaurant Nama Naples Italian Restaurant Northshore Brasserie RouXbarb Ruth's Chris Steak House Seasons Cafe Sequoyah Grille Stir Fry Cafe Surin of Thailand The Bistro at the Bijou The Chop House The Grill at Highlands Row The Melting Pot The Orangery
For more information about Knoxville Restaurant Week visit
www.knoxvillerestaurantweek.com.