Restaurant Week deals benefit Leadership Toledo
Written by Sarah Ottney | | sottney@toledofreepress.comWith participating restaurants offering a wide range of cuisine, price points and geographical locations to choose from, organizers hope everyone who wants to will find a way to support Restaurant Week Toledo.
Patrons who order off specially created menus at any of 18 area restaurants during the week of Jan. 29 to Feb. 4 will be doing more than enjoying a delicious meal and supporting a local business — they will also be supporting local nonprofit Leadership Toledo.
Participating restaurants include Bar 145, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant and Bar, Dégagé Jazz Café, Fifi’s Reprise Restaurant and Lounge, The Hungry I, ICE Restaurant and Bar, LaScola Italian Grill, Manhattan’s, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar and Grill, Tea Tree Asian Bistro and Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant.
Download the full guide here.
Each of the restaurants — which include venues in Downtown Toledo, Holland, Maumee, Perrysburg, South Toledo, Sylvania and West Toledo — will feature a special menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.)
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.
Final preparations for the second annual event are coming together, said event co-chair Margot Estes.
“We are encouraged by the buzz we see increasing around town,” Estes said. “Our participating restaurants keep running out of save the date cards and fliers. In the next two weeks, it will be hard not to notice Restaurant Week Toledo.
“There really is something for everyone,” Estes said. “Have a date night, meet some friends or take the kids out — it is all possible with the variety of restaurants supporting Restaurant Week Toledo.”
Leadership Toledo operates four programs: three for youth and one for adults.
Dave Schlaudecker, executive director of Leadership Toledo, said funds raised by Restaurant Week Toledo will help support two of the nonprofit’s youth programs: Youth Leadership Toledo and Students in Action.
Youth Leadership Toledo is a nine-month program that helps 50 sophomores from 34 regional high schools develop leadership skills, with an emphasis on exploring and resolving issues faced by their local communities.
Students in Action, a component of the national Jefferson Awards organization, recognizes area students doing community volunteer work.
The third youth program, Youth in Philanthropy Encouraging Excellence (YIPEE), is funded by the Toledo Community Foundation.
“Restaurant Week Toledo means two things to us,” Schlaudecker said. “One, it gives us the opportunity for people to learn about Leadership Toledo and the way we are changing lives in both our students and the community at large.
“And two, without raising funds we can’t run the youth programs because we don’t charge the youth to participate in any programs and we do have to cover our costs.”
Schlaudecker said he hopes area residents will consider supporting the cause.
“Restaurant Week Toledo offers what we hope is a painless way for individuals to support us as well as help local restaurants,” Schlaudecker said. “It’s just a great way to get out of the winter doldrums; go out to eat a couple times and get some nice meals at a variety of restaurants. Have some fun at a place you wouldn’t normally go — or a place you regularly go.
“And let those restaurant owners know you’re grateful they supported Leadership Toledo and moving the community forward. They are each making a sacrifice in this.”
For more information, visit the web sites www.restaurantweektoledo.com and www.leadershiptoledo.org.
Tags: Bar 145, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant and Bar, Dégagé Jazz Café, Fifi’s Reprise Restaurant and Lounge, ICE Restaurant and Bar, LaScola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Manhattan’s, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar and Grill, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Hungry I, Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant
