It’s back!
The annual Orange County Restaurant Week returns Sunday, March 3 through Saturday, March 9.
More than 175 restaurants throughout the county are participating with creative menus and cocktails concocted for Restaurant Week as examples of their restaurant’s cuisine.
The diverse dining options will be highlighted in a variety of prix fixe menus ranging from $15 to $25 for lunch, and $25 to $45 for dinner.
There are also Date Night options and curated Luxe menus from $60 to $120.
The OC Restaurant Week website showcases various options, including “Family Friendly” and “Vegetarian Dining.” There are also Wine Lover menus and special cocktails.
“The restaurants are really putting a lot into it—there seems to be a different level of engagement this year,” said Pamela Waitt, founder of OC Restaurant Week and president of OC Restaurant Association.
“We have more than 180 restaurants, and more wanted on board.”
Waitt said she had to cut off restaurant submissions, so she could get the OC Restaurant Week website completed.
“We learn how diners like to dine, how they like to plan their week. Everyone does it differently. Some do date night, others do luxury wine diners. We wanted to make sure the website can accommodate every type of diner.”
The website offers different ways to search restaurants, from price to style of cuisine.
Global Tour
Waitt is also working on a map that will show food diversity.
“It’s a fun global tour of Orange County,” Waitt said.
Also new this year is a smaller bites section that shows café offerings and dessert shops.
Waitt noted that the Date Night listings keep growing every year.
“Those bundled meals for two people can even be for girl’s night or guy’s night—some of those menus are incredible,” Waitt said.
So why host Restaurant Week in March?
It makes sense for the restaurants, Waitt said.
“It falls during a time when restaurants need an extra push. They look forward to it. In February you have Valentines, which is bread and butter for restaurants. In March the weather is better, and everyone is back in the groove of dining out.
Some cities have a restaurant week in January, which I always thought was odd. Chefs and restaurant teams are exhausted from Christmas, and customers are balancing credit card bills.”
Launch Party
This year’s OC Restaurant Week kicks off with an exclusive Restaurant Week Masters VIP Launch Party at the Marriott Irvine Spectrum on Saturday, March 2 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
A limited number of VIP guests will be the first to sample bites from more than 30 OC Restaurant Week participants, along with premium wines, craft beer, and cocktails and mocktails. Elevating the event, guests will enjoy a food art display and live DJ.
“We have more restaurants at the preview day this year than ever before,” Waitt said. “We have 35 restaurants, a whole roasted pig, and a giant paella. The experience this year is elevated.”
For more information on OC Restaurant Week, including tickets to the Preview Party, visit OCRestaurantWeek.com.
