From Feb. 21 to March 2, area diners will have the opportunity to enjoy delicious dishes at dozens of locally owned restaurants while also supporting a local nonprofit that works with area youth.

Restaurant Week Toledo has grown every year and the third annual event will be the biggest yet, organizers say.

The event, presented by Medical Mutual, will feature new venues as well as returning favorites and will be three days longer than last year, said co-chair Becca Gorman. Each venue will also include at least one meal designated as a healthy option. Ten percent of proceeds will benefit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

Each of the restaurants — including venues in Toledo as well as Holland, Maumee,  Perrysburg, Swanton, Sylvania and Waterville — will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified. Plate 21 will offer a special coffeehouse menu priced at $5.

Dish from Manhattan's

Participating restaurants are Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (The Café, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Mutz and Rockwell’s), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, TREO, Ventura’s and Zinful.

“There really is something for everyone,” said co-chair Margot Estes. “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.”

A portion of funds raised by Restaurant Week Toledo will help support Youth Leadership Toledo and Students in Action, two youth programs of Leadership Toledo.

Youth Leadership Toledo is a nine-month program that works with select high school sophomores to develop leadership skills with an emphasis on exploring and resolving issues faced by their local communities.

“What we see is a tremendous amount of individual personal growth,” said Leadership Toledo Executive Director Dave Schlaudecker. “They come to understand and appreciate their talents to be leaders, to have a spirit of giving, to help motivate each other and to help give that spirit of giving to others.”

Since 1998, 697 students have participated in Youth Leadership Toledo, said Cory Dippold, associate executive director of Leadership Toledo. This year’s class is comprised of 52 students from 33 regional high schools.

“Being a part of this wonderful program has truly opened my eyes to the opportunities to be sought out in the world, and has given me, personally, a family,” said participant Amanda Eckel of Toledo School for the Arts in an email. “Having a place to belong, with people who have the same common goal, honestly proves to be the best motivation a striving high school student could receive.

“Not only are we handed individual opportunities to succeed, but we are granted a basis for developing improvements in society, with our own groups and services,” she said. “Youth Leadership Toledo has definitely proven itself a life-changing experience, giving those involved the real world skills needed in advancing the world and creating solid relationships with those who share a similar objective.”

Students in Action, a component of the national Jefferson Awards organization, recognizes area students doing community volunteer work. Since starting in four local schools as a pilot program in 2008, the program has expanded into 31 schools, including Springfield High School, which was named one of the top three programs in the country last year, Dippold said. Participating students have logged 213,000 service hours this school year.

“We see a culture change in the school,” Schlaudecker said. “Even at schools that have a requirement for community service, our youth involved in the program convert the school from having to do service to wanting to do service, and that’s a huge culture shift.”

Restaurant Week Toledo has gotten better every year, said Neal Kovacik, general manager of Oliver House operations. Rockwell’s has participated for the past two years and this year all four Oliver House restaurants will participate.

“It created a lot of traffic and a lot of interest last year,” Kovacik said. “It’s a great way to highlight local restaurants and a great way to get people in that may have not tried the place before, and of course it’s for a good cause.”

Many chefs created new dishes specifically for Restaurant Week.

“The best part is restaurants are featuring things they don’t normally have on their menus,” said Zinful owner Joyce Franzblau. “Everyone’s trying to stand out and draw new business, so the food’s going to be outstanding and exquisite.”

Rosie’s Italian Grille owner Phil Barone said he appreciates that all the participating restaurants are locally owned.

“People need to experience all the different restaurants Toledo offers,” Barone said. “There’s some great food in Toledo and I think Restaurant Week shows you that. And they’re all locally owned, so that’s supporting local restaurants and that’s a fantastic thing.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com and leadershiptoledo.org.

Tags: Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Maumee Wines and Bistro, Medical Mutual, Mutz and Rockwell’s), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Oliver House (The Café, Treo, Ventura’s, Zinful.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 at 7:45 am and is filed under Featured, Restaurant Week Toledo, Star.
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Restaurant Week Toledo is not limited to Toledo.

From Sylvania to Swanton, Perrysburg to Maumee, Waterville to Holland, the 10-day event will also offer dining options throughout the surrounding area.

“Restaurant Week Toledo encompasses the whole Greater Toledo area,” said co-chair Becca Gorman. “We want everyone to feel a part of the event and to participate. From the various price points to the healthy options offered at each location to the variety of areas represented, there’s something for everyone.”

The third annual Restaurant Week Toledo, presented by Medical Mutual, is set for Feb. 21 to March 2. This year’s event will feature 27 venues and will be three days longer than last year’s, Gorman said.

Participating restaurants are Bobby V’s American Grill in Holland; Barr’s Public House and Maumee Wines and Bistro in Maumee; Poco Piatti and Tea Tree Asian Bistro in Perrysburg; Loma Linda in Swanton; TREO in Sylvania; Zinful in Waterville; Bar 145, Gradkowski’s, La Scola Italian Grill, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks and Shorty’s True American Roadhouse in Toledo; The Blarney Irish Pub, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and The Café), ICE Restaurant and Bar, Manhattan’s and Registry Bistro in Downtown Toledo; Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant and Plate 21 in South Toledo; and Rosie’s Italian Grille and Ventura’s in West Toledo.

Zinful in Waterville will offer Restaurant Week specials including vegetarian lettuce wraps, a stuffed portabella mushroom and oxtail soup.

Each venue will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of proceeds from each meal will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

Zinful

Zinful will participate in Restaurant Week for the first time. The Waterville eatery, which opened in 2011 at 7541 Dutch Road, features an extensive wine selection and a walk-in humidor for cigars.

“The best part is restaurants are featuring things they don’t normally have on their menus,” said owner Joyce Franzblau. “Everyone’s trying to stand out and draw new business, so the food’s going to be outstanding and exquisite.”

Zinful will offer a $10 lunch menu with choices of tomato bisque soup with grilled gouda cheese, vegetarian lettuce wraps, flatbread with a side salad or bison burger and fries. Dinner options, which range from  $10-$30, include vegetarian lettuce wraps, stuffed portabella mushroom, oxtail soup, pork belly and scotch, Jägerschnitzel or short rib marengo.

Franzblau said she’s glad so many local communities are represented through Restaurant Week Toledo.

“All of us who live in the surrounding suburbs consider ourselves Toledoans, so it’s important to participate,” Franzblau said. “It exposes people to all the locally owned businesses that are just minutes away from the city limit of Toledo. City lines shouldn’t define the city of Toledo wanting to come together for a good cause.”

Caper’s

Everyone at family-owned Caper’s Restaurant in South Toledo is excited to participate in Restaurant Week for the second year, said co-owner Sue Meadows.

“It was wonderful,” Meadows said. “People just love it. We had a really good response. We even had people walking around with a list of all the restaurants, checking off the restaurants they had been to.”

Choices for the $10 lunch menu at 2038 S. Byrne Road include an Italian house special sandwich, small cobb salad or small three-item pizza. The $10 dinner menu features spaghetti with homemade meatballs, small chicken broccoli pizza, small Italian pizza or Mediterranean salad.

“People are getting a great meal at a good price, which gives us the opportunity to introduce a lot of new people to our restaurant and hopefully bring them back,” Meadows said. “A lot of people don’t realize we have such good quality local restaurants.”

Tea Tree Asian Bistro

This will be Tea Tree Asian Bistro’s third year participating in Restaurant Week Toledo. The family-owned Levis Commons eatery at 4100 Chappel Drive in Perrysburg features Japanese, Chinese, Thai and Korean dishes.

General Manager Lynn Wang said she didn’t have as many Restaurant Week diners as she was hoping for last year, so this year she made some changes, including adding lunch options and choosing lower price points.

The $10 lunch menu features bento boxes of sushi and sashimi, beef bulgogi or chicken teriyaki, served with miso soup and a side dish. Choices for the $20 dinner, which includes a house salad and a glass of sake or wine, include roasted half duck, pineapple red curry beef, grilled lamb with bok choy, super spider house special maki or Monk’s Garden Feast, a vegetarian option.

Wang said she hopes diners step outside their comfort zones and try something new.

“It’s a good opportunity to try a restaurant they’ve never tried before,” Wang said. “I’m hoping people can be a little more adventurous. Trying new things is key when you come to an Asian restaurant.”

Loma Linda

Loma Linda manager Jeanie Kunzer is excited to participate in Restaurant Week Toledo for the first time.

“I heard about it on the radio last year and said, ‘Why am I not involved? Why did no one ask us?’” said Kunzer, laughing. “It sounded great. It was Ventura’s second year so I asked them how it went. They said, ‘We did really well. You have to get in on it.’”

The family-owned eatery, at 10400 Airport Highway in Swanton, will offer a lunch and dinner menu for $10. Choices include a Cajun chicken or Cajun shrimp enchilada with queso and fried ice cream, an all-beef burrito served enchilada style with a guacamole salad, or a black bean and pollo burrito with a guacamole salad and broiled grapefruit.

“I put some of my favorite foods on there and some of the things Loma Linda is known for,” said Kunzer, noting that the eatery has been in business since 1955 and was the first Mexican restaurant in Toledo.

“We’re excited,” Kunzer said. “People are out and about that week, so hopefully this will bring people out that have never been here before.”

TREO

TREO at 5703 Main St. in Sylvania, is another first-time Restaurant Week Toledo participant.

“We have an amazing new chef and he was really excited to do it and wanted to jump in feet first,” said Kaetlyn Obey, general manager and events director.

TREO, which offers diverse Italian, French and American dishes, will feature a $20 dinner menu with entrée choices of blackened red snapper, chicken wellington, a 10-ounce New York strip steak or stuffed portabella mushroom caps.

“We love that people will know they can come to TREO and get a quality meal for $20 and that we’ll be able to bring people in who might not normally be able to try our amazing food,” Obey said.

Barr’s Public House

The Restaurant Week menu at Barr’s Public House, 3355 Briarfield Blvd., in Maumee, will feature mostly new dishes not found on its regular menu, said general manager Stephanie Soldner.

“That makes it more of a draw for people who have been coming here and, for the new clientele, it’s just a little something extra for them,” Soldner said.

Entrée choices on the $20 dinner menu, which includes a beer or wine pairing, include pasta carbonara, The Kobe O.G. burger, steak frites or a salmon cranberry salad.

Craft beer is the main focus at Barr’s, which opened in 2012, Soldner said.

“We really try to focus on being more of a pub with really good food options,” Soldner said. “Our food is definitely top-notch.”

Soldner said she is looking forward to Restaurant Week Toledo.

“It’s really cool to have so many different restaurants to choose from,”

Soldner said. “I hope they all get a lot of support and have a really good turnout. I’m excited to see what happens.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: (Mutz, Bobby V’s American Grill in Holland; Barr’s Public House and Maumee Wines and Bistro in Maumee; Poco Piatti and Tea Tree Asian Bistro in Perrysburg; Loma Linda in Swanton; TREO in Sylvania; Zinful in , Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, Holland, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks and Shorty’s True American Roadhouse in Toledo; The Blarney Irish Pub, Manhattan’s and Registry Bistro, Maumee, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Medical Mutual, Perrysburg, Plate 21, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Swanton, Sylvania, The Cafe, The Oliver House, Ventura’s, Waterville

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 14th, 2013 at 5:15 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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One of the most exciting and rewarding aspects of Toledo Free Press is the opportunity to work with strong local organizations to help move the community forward.

As we plan and work on such upcoming events as the Feb. 15 Fire & Ice Rock ‘n’ Roll for the Red Cross fundraiser, the March 10 Project iAm Acoustics for Autism concert, the May 22 American Cancer Society’s Cattle Baron’s Ball, and a CD of local musicians playing summer songs for the local American Red Cross chapter, one event is accompanied by a tremendous amount of cooperation and buzz.

The third annual Restaurant Week Toledo, presented by Medical Mutual, is set for Feb. 21 to March 2. Participating restaurants are Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and The Café), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, TREO, Ventura’s and Zinful.

Each venue will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs. We are big believers in the mission and work of Leadership Toledo, and it has been amazing to watch this event grow exponentially every year.

As Toledo Free Press Managing Editor Sarah Ottney has reported, the boundaries of the event stretch far beyond Toledo.

Participants are in Sylvania, Swanton, Perrysburg, Maumee, Waterville, Holland and the surrounding area.

“Restaurant Week Toledo encompasses the whole Greater Toledo area,” said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo. “We want everyone to feel a part of the event and to participate. From the various price points to the healthy options offered at each location to the variety of areas represented, there’s something for everyone.”

The event is a great way to visit old favorites or explore new venues, all while supporting local causes.

It’s hard to believe we are already in the third year of this event, and it’s one we hope to be a part of for many years to come. Watch for full coverage in upcoming editions of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star.

Bon Appétit!

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Maumee Wines and Bistro, Medical Mutial, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Publisher's Statement, Registry Bistro, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s and The Café), Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Oliver House (Mutz, Tom Pounds, Treo, Ventura’s, Zinful.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 8th, 2013 at 11:33 am and is filed under Opinion, Publisher's Statement, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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Several restaurants participating in this year’s Restaurant Week Toledo can offer patrons suggestions for wine and meal pairings. Many of these venues also offer Valentine’s Day specials.

The third annual Restaurant Week Toledo, presented by Medical Mutual, is set for Feb. 21 to March 2. Participating restaurants are Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and The Café), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, TREO, Ventura’s and Zinful.

Each venue will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

Barr’s Public House

While the restaurant at 3355 Briarfield Blvd., in Maumee, sells more beer than anything, general manager Stephanie Soldner said she tries to stock unique wines in addition to the standard fare.

“We like to have a nice wine list. I try to pick things that are new and different that you can’t find everywhere,” she said.

Barr’s staff can offer pairing suggestions, Soldner added.

Stephanie Soldner, general manager of Barr’s Public House.

“If you have a lighter food or a lighter salad or a lighter fish option, you want to choose a lighter wine because you don’t want the wine to overpower the flavor of the food. Now if you have a heavier food like a steak or something meaty, you want more of a heavier wine,” she said. “The same thing goes with beer as well.”

Chef Lisa LeFevre agreed.

“There are many ways to go wrong with pairing a drink with food and many ways to ruin food or a drink by putting the wrong ones together,” she said. “It can enhance your meal or elevate it, or it can take you down to bitter town.”

The date is still being determined, but a red wine tasting will occur in late February at the eatery, Soldner said. The “Mile High Club,” where patrons can sample different drink flights, is also set to start soon.

For Valentine’s Day, Barr’s Public House, which opened in January 2012, will feature tiered menu options for couples and double-daters at $50, $75 and $100 per couple. The menu will also feature drink options like O’Fallon Cherry Chocolate Beer and blood orange margaritas in addition to wine.

There will be live music from 8-11 p.m. Feb. 14 and a Ladies’ Night, featuring drink and small bite deals, will also take place from 7 p.m. to close.

The Valentine’s menu will feature a scallop special that recently debuted to rave reviews, LeFevre said.

“[The scallops are] from New Bedford, Mass. They’re wild caught. They’re probably two inches in diameter and at least an inch and a half high. They’re gigantic and delicious,” she said.

The restaurant will also feature a dessert special of chocolate-covered strawberries rolled in graham cracker and mint over a deconstructed strawberry cheesecake on Valentine’s Day.

Maumee Wines and Bistro

The bistro and wine shop at 2556 Parkway Plaza, in Maumee, features regular wine tastings. The store has been open since 1974 and the bistro opened last year, said sommelier and former owner Richard Fortney.

“Wine is food, first of all. It’s just in a liquid form. If you have the right food and wine pairing — which I think we’re really good at, we’ve been doing it for a long time — then both the wine and the food are going to be enhanced,” he said.

Balanced wines, featuring good fruit and acid and smooth tannins, are more food friendly, Fortney said.

“I have a lot of clients who will bring me their dinner menu and we can go through it and pick wines to complement. We taste everything before we buy it so we have a really good understanding of what the wine is about.”

The bistro charges an $8 corkage fee if patrons wish to select a bottle from the shop to drink with their meals. The bistro also offers wine at retail price.

“What we would sell for $20 here is going to run for $40 in a restaurant and if you drink it here, it’s going to be $28,” said Chef Bill Kolhoff.

The bistro is offering a Valentine’s Day menu at $65 per person. It features six courses and includes options like salmon and dill mousse, chocolate mousse cake and balsamic-lacquered lamb rib chops.

“It’s just a menu that’s meant to have some nice contrasts and flavors,” Kolhoff said. “We don’t rush you through it. We’re not trying to turn tables. So you’re welcome to come in and take your time. The seafood course doesn’t come out until the appetizer course is completely cleared so you can have a little time to sit back and enjoy the wine.”

Middle Grounds Market

Middle Grounds Market opened in The Oliver House, 27 Broadway St., in August. It features wine and beer from all over the world in addition to food items. The market also hosts weekly beer and wine tastings from 5-7:30 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, said Neal Kovacik, general manager of The Oliver House. For a corkage fee, patrons can buy wine from the shop and take it into The Oliver House’s other restaurants.

“We felt [a market] just went very well with everything else we do in here. It really complemented what we do,” Kovacik said. “People come in for lunch and dinner and come peruse the market.”

“We’d like to be known as the best place in Toledo for good beer, whether it’s our beer or beer from Belgium.”

In about two months, Middle Grounds is set to debut a wine lounge where people can play chess, eat tapas and relax, Kovacik added.

“It’s going to be a unique extension and a very comfortable spot. We’re excited about that,” he said.

At 5-7:30 p.m. Valentine’s Day, there is a chocolate wine tasting for $15 and a chocolate beer tasting for $10.

TREO

The restaurant at 5703 Main St., in Sylvania, typically features a wine and cheese tasting from 6-8:30 p.m. every Thursday for $15. On Valentine’s Day, instead of a tasting a special menu will be featured, said Kaetlyn Obey, general manager and banquet services director for TREO.

The restaurant will feature champagne specials and, when making reservations, customers can request roses from Beautiful Blooms By Jen to be placed at the table, Obey added.

TREO features romantic touches like dimmer lights and rose petals on the tables on Valentine’s, she said, adding that it’s a popular spot for the holiday.

“We’re always completely sold out. Reservations are definitely necessary,” she said.

The regular Thursday wine and cheese tasting has also proven to be popular, Obey said. A sommelier also recently joined the staff and can help customers make selections.

Nowadays, more customers are ordering wine by the bottle instead of by the glass, she said.

Obey added, “Wine knowledge and wine demand has definitely increased. I think people are finding it’s part of the meal instead just an alcoholic beverage.”

Zinful

Zinful, at 7541 Dutch Road, in Waterville, features more than 170 wines, including more than 70 sold by the glass, as well as a rotating local, seasonal and international beer selection. The knowledgeable staff can help guests choose the perfect pairing, said owner Joyce Franzblau.

Zinful offers weekly themed wine tastings from 6-9 p.m. Wednesdays.

“I want people to be able to relax and enjoy wine more,” Franzblau said. “People are very intimidated by wine and feel they should know a lot about it in order to enjoy it. I believe people will experience it more positively if they are less nervous and able to sample things and find something they enjoy. They don’t have to worry about the price or where it comes from. That’s why it can be more overwhelming. That’s why we have so many wines — so we can help you hone in on what you enjoy. People assume wine has to be expensive, but there are some terrific wines at a good value if you know what you are looking for.”

Zinful also offers a wine pairing dinner the last Wednesday of the month and occasional wine classes. The eatery also features a walk-in humidor for cigars.

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit the web site www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: Bar 145, Barr’s Public House, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Gradkowski’s, ICE Restaurant and Bar, La Scola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Bluewater Grille, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Maumee Wines and Bistro, Medical Mutual, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s and The Café), Rosie’s Italian Grille, Shorty’s True American Roadhouse, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Oliver House (Mutz, Treo, Valentine's Day, Ventura’s, Zinful.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 at 12:06 pm and is filed under Restaurant Week Toledo, Star.
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Restaurant Week Toledo, set for Feb. 21 to March 2, will be three days longer than last year and feature several new restaurants, including Mancy’s Steaks.

“Last year’s event was an overwhelming success. We received rave reviews from restaurant owners, some of whom ran out of food due to the response from the public. We were also pleased with the feedback from patrons,” said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo. “We extended the event by three days due to a large volume of requests from both restaurant owners and patrons asking for more.”

Eighteen restaurants participated in last year’s Restaurant Week Toledo and there are already 24 confirmed for this year’s event, Gorman said.

Participating restaurants include Bar 145, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Fifi’s Reprise, The Hungry I, ICE Restaurant and Bar, LaScola Italian Grill, Loma Linda, Mancy’s Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and Petit-Fours Patisserie and Café), Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Treo, Ventura’s and Zinful.

Each venue will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

“People can feel good about going out during Restaurant Week Toledo because they are supporting local businesses while at the same time encouraging future leaders of Toledo,” said Cory Dippold, associate executive director of Leadership Toledo.

Margot Estes, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo, said she hopes area residents use Restaurant Week Toledo as an opportunity to patronize local eateries.

“We want to encourage a healthy and robust community in Toledo,” Estes said. “By supporting the restaurant community, we strengthen our entire community.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: (Mutz, Bar 145, Becca Gorman, Bobby V's, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Cory Dippold, Fifi’s Reprise, ICE Restaurant and Bar, LaScola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Loma Linda, Mancy's Steaks, Manhattan’s, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Maumee Wines and Bistro, Petit-Fours Patisserie, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Registry Bistro, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Cafe, The Hungry I, The Oliver House, Treo, Ventura's, Zinful.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 21st, 2012 at 12:07 pm and is filed under Community, Food, Restaurant Week Toledo, Restaurants.
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Restaurant Week will return to Toledo for a third course.

The event, set for Feb. 21 to March 2, will feature new venues as well as returning favorites and will be three days longer than last year, said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo.

“Last year’s event was an overwhelming success. We received rave reviews from restaurant owners, some of whom ran out of food due to the response from the public, and we were also pleased with the feedback from patrons,” Gorman said. “We extended the event by three days due to a large volume of requests from both restaurant owners and patrons asking for more. People were begging for more time to be able to enjoy the amazing opportunities to try new restaurants they’d never been to or to try new menu items from their favorite restaurants.”

Restaurants participating so far include Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Fifi’s Reprise, LaScola Italian Grill, Manhattan’s, Maumee Wines and Bistro, The Oliver House (Mutz, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Rockwell’s and Petit Fours Patisserie and Café), Plate 21, Registry Bistro and Rosie’s Italian Grille.

“We already have 13 restaurants signed on for the event, even though it is months away,” Gorman said. “This allows us to plan and promote and prepare people for what’s coming, but it also speaks volumes about the successfulness of the event. We are thrilled that Oliver House has expanded to include all four of its restaurants this year, and that we have two brand-new restaurants signed on, Registry Bistro and Maumee Wines and Bistro.”

Each restaurant will feature a special Restaurant Week menu priced at $10, $20 or $30. (Drinks, taxes and gratuities are not included unless specified.) A portion of the proceeds will benefit local nonprofit Leadership Toledo’s youth programs.

“People can feel good about going out during Restaurant Week Toledo because they are supporting local businesses while at the same time encouraging future leaders of Toledo,” said Cory Dippold, associate executive director of Leadership Toledo.

Erika Rapp, chef and co-owner of Registry Bistro, which opened Downtown in June, said she was familiar with the Restaurant Week concept from going to culinary school in New York City and working in Dallas.

“It’s always something I’ve admired in other towns and haven’t had a chance to be involved in,” Rapp said. “It’s good exposure for the public and good exposure for us. We’re just excited to be part of it.”

Neal Kovacik, general manager of The Oliver House, said Restaurant Week Toledo has gotten better every year. This will be the third year Rockwell’s has participated and the first year for the other Oliver House venues.

“It created a lot of traffic and a lot of interest last year,” Kovacik said. “It’s a great way to highlight local restaurants and a great way to get people in that may have not tried the place before, and of course it’s for a good cause.”

Kovacik said Restaurant Week Toledo encourages area residents to patronize local eateries.

“It’s great for local restaurants,” Kovacik said. “Toledo has a lot of unique places to offer. I just think it’s good for Toledo and it’s a unique local thing.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: (Mutz, Becca Gorman, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant, Fifi’s Reprise, LaScola Italian Grill, late 21, Leadership Toledo, Manhattan’s, Maumee Bay Brew Pub, Maumee Wines and Bistro, Petit Fours Patisserie and Café, Registry Bistro, Restaurant Week Toledo, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, The Oliver House

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 23rd, 2012 at 4:15 pm and is filed under Arts and Life, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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Dave Schlaudecker, executive director of Leadership Toledo, is clear about the importance of Restaurant Week Toledo, Jan. 29-Feb. 4.

“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.”

Toledo Free Press and Leadership Toledo, with media partners FOX Toledo and Star 105.5, are promoting Restaurant Week Toledo as a way to help a great cause while taking advantage of the amazing variety of restaurants our area offers.

Participating restaurants for this second annual event 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. More details are on Page A14 and in the Jan. 25 issue of Toledo Free Press Star, on newsstands now.

These local restaurants exhibited leadership by signing up, and it has been exciting to follow the buzz and watch the event take root. We are grateful for the opportunity to support Leadership Toledo and appreciate each and every restaurant that partnered with the project.

It has been a great pleasure collaborating with Executive Director Dave Schlaudecker, Associate Executive Director Cory Dippold, and event co-chair Margot Estes and Becca Gorman; it was Dippold who first proposed the Restaurant Week Toledo concept.

Special thanks to all of you who will try a new restaurant or revisit an old favorite this week to help support the cause.

Thomas F. Pounds is president and publisher of Toledo Free Press and Toledo Free Press Star. Contact him at tpounds@toledofreepress.com.

Tags: Bar 145, Becca Gorman, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, Caper’s Restaurant and Bar, Cory Dippold, Dave Schlaudecker, Dégagé Jazz Café, Fifi’s Reprise Restaurant and Lounge, ICE Restaurant and Bar, LaScola Italian Grill, Leadership Toledo, Manhattan’s, Plate 21, Poco Piatti, Publisher's Statement, Restaurant Week, Rockwell’s, Rosie’s Italian Grille, Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar and Grill, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Hungry I, Tom Pounds, Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant

This entry was posted on Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Opinion, Publisher's Statement.
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With 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.”

Download the complete guide.

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

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 24th, 2012 at 6:36 pm and is filed under Featured, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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Four new restaurants will be among the local eateries participating in the second annual Restaurant Week Toledo. Bar 145 near Sylvania, Burger Bar 419 in South Toledo and Bobby V’s American Grill in Holland all opened within the past nine months while Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar and Grill in Holland celebrated its first year of business in December.

During the week of Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 18 area restaurants will feature special menus — priced at $10, $20 or $30 (drinks, taxes and gratuities not included) — with a portion of proceeds donated to nonprofit Leadership Toledo to benefit its youth programs. The event is also meant to showcase the variety of local culinary options and promote dining locally.

Also participating are The Blarney Irish Pub, 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, Tea Tree Asian Bistro and Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant.

Becca Gorman, co-chairwoman of Restaurant Week Toledo, said organizers are thrilled and thankful for the support from each of the participating restaurants, but were especially excited to have the support of so many newcomers to the local restaurant community.

“It builds excitement for the overall event, which in turn will help all of our participating restaurants,” Gorman said.  “People get curious when they see a newer restaurant’s name on the list and they want to check them out. We hope it will help build a customer base for these newer restaurants.”

Dave Schlaudecker, executive director of Leadership Toledo, said the new restaurants have been some of the most eager and enthusiastic supporters of the event.

“They are all really excited for the opportunity to get their names out in the community and be associated with established restaurants,” Schlaudecker said. “They look at it as a great marketing opportunity. They were actually some of our easiest ones to get on board.”

Bar 145

Bar 145 co-owner Jeremy Fitzgerald aims to bring Put-in-Bay’s party atmosphere to Toledo.

“Toledo is Put-in-Bay’s No. 1 audience,” said the 30-year-old Fitzgerald, whose family owns Mr. Ed’s Bar and Grille on the island. “A lot of people from Toledo go to Put-in-Bay, but none of the bands were really doing it. We want to bring Put-in-Bay entertainment to Toledo, focusing on out-of-town bands that have big followings at Put-in-Bay.”

Named after the temperature of a perfectly cooked medium-rare burger, the gastropub, which opened in May at 5305 Monroe St., features “burgers, bands and bourbon,” including live entertainment six nights a week, ranging from the popular dueling pianos on Wednesdays to full bands on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Menu items from Bar 145

The menu is full of gourmet burgers, including the opportunity to “stack your own” from a list of five buns (including an everything bagel from Barry Bagels), 12 cheeses, 21 sauces and 24 toppings, ranging from locally grown lettuce and vine-ripened tomatoes to bourbon-smoked bacon and sautéed wild mushrooms. Veggie patties are also available.

The eatery, which features a 50-seat oval bar that partially extends into its seasonal patio, also offers specials like $5 martinis on Wednesdays, endless toppings on Mondays and daily happy hours from 1:45 to 6 p.m.

“We’re like something you’d see in a big metro area— very modern, trendy, good ambience,” said Fitzgerald, who co-owns the venue with local business owner George Simon. “The biggest thing that sets us apart from burger joints is that we’re a bar as well. It’s both a great restaurant and a great place to have a night life. People come early to have dinner and then stay and watch the bands. It’s very unique to the city of Toledo.”

Spicy Tuna Sushi

Li Yu, owner of Spicy Tuna Sushi Bar and Grill, which opened at 7130 Airport Highway in December 2010, said he wanted to participate because he believes in giving back to the community.

“Even in just the short period of one year, we have been involved with many different organizations as far as charities and donations,” Yu said. “Basically we believe in giving back to the community that we serve. We thought [Restaurant Week] was a good idea because of the focus on local restaurants.”

Opened at the site of the former Fu Yi Chinese Restaurant by the son of the former owner, the eatery features a full sushi bar as well as a mix of “Asian Fusion” and American cuisines, including more than 30 entrees from the former Fu Yi menu, Yu said.

“We’re getting a good crowd and a lot of word of mouth from people finding out we’re part of the former Fu Yi family,” Yu said. “They are very thrilled we’re back and serving some Fu Yi menu items. That’s a good portion of our crowd. I’d say 60 percent for sushi and 40 percent coming in for the old Fu Yi dishes.”

Spicy Tuna’s full bar includes a variety of sake and imported Asian beers. The eatery also offers a game room, carryout and catering services, and daily specials. These include happy hour from 2:30 to 6 p.m. daily, half-off select sushi and sake on Wednesday nights, live entertainment and half-price martinis on Thursdays, karaoke on Saturdays, discounts for veterans, police and firefighters, and more.

“Our mission statement is to exceed guests’ expectations,” Yu said. “We want people to have the most fun and the most value for the money they spend.”

Bobby V’s American Grill

Since opening in June, Bobby V’s American Grill, located at 8165 Airport Highway, has been preparing American comfort food from scratch and serving it up in a refined casual atmosphere, said dining room manager Kyle Dumkow.

Mama’s Chicken — sautéed chicken breast with dried Michigan cherries, shiitake mushrooms and fresh basil in a white wine reduction sauce — is one signature dish from chef and owner Kevin Bowers, formerly head chef at The Real Seafood Co.

The menu includes homemade mac ’n’ cheese, handcut fries, sliders and apple fritter bread pudding. Specials at the eatery, which was named after Bowers’ grandfather and longtime Toledo restaurateur Bob Verbon, include $4 burgers and $1.25 domestic bottles on Mondays starting at 5 p.m. and a 12-ounce prime rib for $15 on Saturdays starting at 5 p.m.

The eatery’s full bar includes six rotating beers on tap and a wine list, but its $1.50 margaritas are especially popular.

“That’s all day, every day, all the time,” Dumkow said. “People love it. It’s easily, hands-down the most ordered drink from the bar.”

The 26-year-old Dumkow, who grew up in Ottawa Lake, Mich., and 29-year-old Bowers, who hails from Sylvania, met in Maryland when they both worked for Mainstreet Ventures, which operates The Real Seafood Co. Dumkow was previously dining room manager at The Real Seafood Co. in Ann Arbor.

Dumkow said he wants Bobby V’s to be a local place where people feel comfortable.

“We’ve got tablecloths on the table but we don’t want people to feel like they have to dress up to come here,” Dumkow said. “We just hope people come in and enjoy themselves and relax, whether they’re having a glass of wine, dinner, or an appetizer at the bar.”

Burger Bar 419

Taglined “Good flippin’ burgers,” Burger Bar 419, located at 4400 Heatherdowns Blvd., also opened in May.

Following a mantra of simple, fresh and delicious, co-owners Moussa Salloukh and Tony House strive to keep things local, displaying local artwork and offering homemade, handcrafted and locally grown menu items, including vegetarian options.

The eatery offers “comfort food with style,” featuring its popular and unique layered burgers like the Three Little Pigs (ground pork patty topped with smoked cheddar cheese, barbecue pork shoulder, sugar bacon and sweet and tangy slaw).

“Americans have always had a love affair with burgers and we wanted to create ones that are unique and layered with different flavors,” said Salloukh, who also co-owns LaScola Italian Grill and The Hungry I. “We’ve tried to put a few twists on our burgers and I think we’ve accomplished that.”

The eatery offers a big-city atmosphere that’s also casual, warm and inviting, House said.

“Besides a very full belly, I hope they leave with a smile on their face,” House said. “The greatest compliment I’ve had since we’ve opened is a person walking out who said ‘I just feel happy; the food made me happy,’ and that’s really what we want.”

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: Bar 145 near Sylvania, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419 in South Toledo, 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, Tea Tree Asian Bistro, The Blarney Irish Pub, The Hungry I, Ventura’s Mexican Restaurant

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 21st, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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With last year’s inaugural Restaurant Week Toledo, the Glass City joined dozens of other large and mid-sized cities nationwide in hosting successful Restaurant Week events.

Organized as a fundraiser by local nonprofit Leadership Toledo, the second Restaurant Week Toledo will be Jan. 29-Feb. 4. The event is also meant to showcase the variety of local culinary options and promote dining locally.

“We are really pleased with the enthusiastic support from the community and the restaurants,” said Becca Gorman, co-chair of Restaurant Week Toledo. “I think people really know it’s going to be an exciting thing for Toledo and they want to be a part of it.”

Seventeen area restaurants are participating so far this year — Bar 145, The Blarney Irish Pub, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, 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.

Bar145

Each restaurant creates a special Restaurant Week menu with a price point of $10, $20 or $30 (drinks, taxes and gratuities not included) and donates a portion of the proceeds to Leadership Toledo to benefit its youth programs.

Kyle Dumkow, dining room manager at Bobby V’s American Grill in Holland, said he was familiar with the Restaurant Week concept from when he worked at The Real Seafood Company in Ann Arbor.

“We knew it happened last year (in Toledo). We were familiar with Restaurant Week from Ann Arbor, where it was very successful. So we were watching for it here because it was very worthwhile for that company in Ann Arbor,” Dumkow said. “We agree with the concept. We have seen it work in other cities. Things that work elsewhere do generally work in Toledo.”

Dumkow said Bobby V’s, which opened in June, chose to participate as an opportunity for exposure as well as a desire to offer a more geographically convenient dining option for Holland area residents.

Gorman said organizers researched Restaurant Weeks in many cities before launching Restaurant Week Toledo.

“We wanted to see what ideas were working for other cities and take the best ideas that we could to integrate into our event,” Gorman said. “Our team researched Ann Arbor, Detroit, Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Akron, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, San Diego, Phoenix, Austin, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Traverse City, Baltimore, Madison, Philadelphia, Raleigh, St. Louis, Boston and Washington, D.C.  We spoke with the organizers at about half of these cities.”

Organizers also traveled to Akron, Detroit and Ann Arbor to experience Restaurant Weeks in person.

The events in Detroit and Ann Arbor are both well-established and well-received, Gorman said, while Akron is similar to Toledo in terms of population and is also new to Restaurant Week.

“We gathered menus and samples of their promotional materials and went to various restaurants and even talked to owners to get their perspective on Restaurant Week and why they participate and how they feel it helps their businesses,” Gorman said. “We came home energized to help our area restaurant owners to feel that same success with our Restaurant Week.  These events are a lot of fun, and they are really good for business.”

After feedback from last year’s inaugural event, organizers made some adjustments for this year, Gorman said.

“Many people told us that they wanted more restaurants to offer lunch options, and we now have more than half of our restaurants doing so,” Gorman said. “We have been asked from attendees to have restaurants in more parts of town and we are working hard to make that happen.”

Feedback also indicated area residents were interested in more restaurants at lower price points, so they would be able to afford visiting multiple restaurants during the promotion.

Fifi Berry, owner of Fifi’s Reprise Restaurant and Lounge in Toledo, said she participated in Restaurant Week Toledo last year and will participate again this year because supporting Leadership Toledo and the area’s youth is important to her. The event is also good for business, Berry said.

“It brought people to our restaurant who had not been there before, which is nice, and they had a wonderful dining experience,” Berry said. “I would encourage more of the local restaurants to get involved. I think they will be surprised. I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Toledo Free Press is a media sponsor of Restaurant Week Toledo.

For more information, visit www.restaurantweektoledo.com.

Tags: Bar 145, Bobby V’s American Grill, Burger Bar 419, 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

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at 12:00 am and is filed under Arts and Life, Restaurant Week Toledo.
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