🔒Maine Restaurant Week — 12 days long — off to a busy start

The 17th edition of Maine Restaurant Week — running this year from March 1-12 to boost winter revenue with menu and drink specials — is off to a busy start for some participants. Nearly 100 restaurants are participating this year — from Kittery to Camden and west to Augusta, Auburn and Norway — with the majority in Portland. Maine Restaurant Week was created in 2009 by Gillian and Jim Britt of South Portland-based public relations firm gBritt PR in response to many of their restaurant clients cutting staff and hours during winter as diner numbers dwindled. “We created MRW to give restaurants a winter boost and to celebrate Maine’s incredible chefs and dining culture,” said Gillian Britt, who also edits the Eat Drink Lucky newsletter. “From Day One, the response has been enthusiastic — drawing diners from near and far and strengthening our culinary community," she told Mainebiz. This year, Maine Restaurant Week started on a Sunday. Justin DeWalt, chief operating officer of Saddle Up Hospitality, cited busy opening days at the company's two Portland restaurants, Ocotillo and Terlingua. "Ocotillo was open on the first day of Maine Restaurant Week, and we had a very busy and exciting brunch, which was about 10% higher than the last four weeks," he told Mainebiz. "Sunday dinner service saw about five tables who specifically referenced Maine Restaurant Week." The first day was similarly "fantastic" at Terlingua, with diners at more than half a dozen tables who specifically mentioned Maine Restaurant Week to enter the eatery's raffle. "In addition, the Maine Restaurant Week feature sold quite well," he said. "Reservations throughout the week look to be slightly higher from the week prior." The first day of Maine Restaurant Week was also good for business at SoPo Seafood compared to the previous week, according to operations director Lucas Myers. The establishment also saw a 10% jump in sales over the same day last year, he said. "We don’t take reservations, so I can’t forecast the rest of the week, but in years past, Restaurant Week has yielded the busiest days of the late winter/early spring season," he said. It was not immediately clear what, if any, impact Tuesday night's snowfall would have on restaurants, even those offering Maine Restaurant Week specials.

Proceeds for Preble Street

Maine Restaurant Week also supports Portland-based social services provider Preble Street by sharing a portion of the proceeds from sponsorships, ticketed events and coffee-infused treats sold by local bakeries, sweet shops and food markets. Beans for the coffee treats are supplied by Portland-based Coffee By Design. "Maine Restaurant Week is open to all restaurants across Maine, and to get started with a listing, it's as easy as visiting the website and creating a listing," Britt said. She also noted that diners can visit the website and sort locations by city, menu, price, or specials, making it easy to find places close to home or elsewhere.