Main Line Restaurant Week Aims At Helping Small Biz Recover

RADNOR, PA — Dozens of restaurants are lined up for an event created to showcase the Main Line's great fare and give a boost to businesses that took a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Line Today Restaurant Week aims to be the largest suburban restaurant week in the region with its 14-day culinary celebration coming Aug. 23 to Sept 5. It will feature the talents of top chefs and restaurants in Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester counties.

Though any restaurants from the Main Line and western Philly suburbs are invited to join, the program was designed and launched specifically to spotlight and help support the small independent and local restaurants that were most profoundly impacted by the pandemic, the organizers said.

"Main Line Today Restaurant Week will be a 14-day celebration of our region's top chefs, restaurants, and purveyors," said Main Line Today Associate Publisher Marie Edwards. "We want to make a real and genuine difference to the smaller and independent mom-and-pop restaurants that have been profoundly affected by the pandemic. We spent months talking to our culinary community and gathering input to see how we can best offer our support. We're proud to have the community’s support as we present something we hope will be truly memorable and impactful—not just this year but in years to come."

Main Line Today formed a steering committee from the culinary community that helped select the dates and price points, along with other details so that the event best helps and supports the restaurants in the way they need it the most, organizers explained in a news statement.

More than 30 restaurants have joined the lineup so far, with a goal of 50, and many are names known in the Main Line and western-suburb dining scene.

• Pizzeria Vetri
• Lola's Garden
• Revival Pizza Pub
• Stove and Tap West Chester, Malvern, and Lansdale
• Ryan Christopher's
• Terrain Cafe
• Nectar
• Goat's Beard
• Victory Brewing Company
• Al Pastor
• The Gables at Chadds Ford
• La Cabra Brewing
• Jasper’s Backyard
• Ram's Head Bar and Grill
• The Desmond Hotel
• DiFabio’s
• Avola Kitchen and Bar
• Harvest, Glen Mills

Participating restaurants will offer special three-course prix fixe menus for lunch for $24.95, plus tax, beverage, and gratuity, and dinner for $36.95, plus tax, beverage, and gratuity.

Restaurants can choose what works best for them, offering lunch, dinner, or both — dine-in or takeout. More information can be found here.

In addition to the restaurants, the program also supports the local farmers and purveyors hit hardest by the pandemic. The first-ever Purveyor Showcase will be held on Aug. 17. Participating eateries will receive tickets to this exclusive event, so they can connect with purveyors, network with other chefs and restaurants, and get energized for the days ahead.

When planning its inaugural event, Main Line Today actively recruited a volunteer advisory board with top leaders from area restaurants, hotels, tourism organizations, and small businesses. The goal was to solicit input and ensure a productive end result, organizers said. Committee members also helped Main Line Today pick a time of year when restaurants can benefit most from the event. The advisory board members are:

Rob Donaldson, 333 Belrose Bar & Grill
Kim Mullen, The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center Malvern
KC Kulp, The Whip Tavern
Joe Monnich, Stove and Co Restaurant Group
Ann Kolenick, The Gables at Chadds Ford
Rachel Ammon, King of Prussia District
Vern Burling, La Cabra Brewing
Marcus Dent, Brick & Brew Gastropub
Jaimi Blackburn, Fearless Restaurants
Rachel Riley, Valley Forge Tourism Board
Lou Marrocco, Visit Delco PA
Patrick Bryne, General Warren
Patrick Feury, NECTAR
Xenia Scott, Main Line Chamber of Commerce
Ken Kearns, 118 North
Ben Fileccia, Pennsylvania Lodging and Restaurant Association
Laura Manion
Jim Cohn, Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine
Bill Covaleski, Victory Brewing Company
Jim Fris, PJW Restaurant Group.

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