Harford’s Restaurant Week Hailed as a Success, Bel Air Couple Wins $1,000 Worth of Local Dining

From Harford County government:

Harford County’s first ever Restaurant Week was held June 10-16,and both restaurant owners and patrons alike hailed the week as a success, and are already looking forward to next year’s event.

During Restaurant Week, Harford County restaurants were asked to offer special prixfixe menus for $20.10, plus beverage, taxes, and gratuity. Forty restaurants participated the promotion, which was coordinated by the Harford County Office of Economic Development’s Tourism Office. The majority of participating establishments reported a 10-15% increase in business during the week-long event.

“We can’t wait to do it again next year,” commented Mindy Hapsis, manager of Olive Tree restaurant in Aberdeen. “The Restaurant Week promotion brought in a lot of new faces to our restaurant, which is great for business all year long.”

The Olive Tree was recognized as the busiest restaurant during Restaurant Week, and was presented with a commemorative plate. Activity was tracked through the use of contest cards given out at each participating restaurant, with Bonefish Grille and Open Door Café of Bel Air, and the Laurrapin Grille of Havre de Grace all close runners up to the Olive Tree.

More than 2,400 contest cards were entered by patrons to win the Restaurant Week grand prize drawing of $1,000 worth of dining gift cards from participating Harford County restaurants. The winner was picked at random by County Executive David R. Craig. Winners Bob and Ellen Pettibone of Bel Air were presented with their prize at the Olive Tree on Friday, July 9, 2010.

“The goal of Restaurant Week was to get Harford Countians excited about dining out and to attract new patrons to local establishments. I think it would be an understatement to say that we accomplished that,” remarked Harford County Tourism Marketing Manager Wini Roche. “I’m very pleased with how well the week went this year, and we look forward to another great promotion next year.”

For more information on dining out in Harford County, visit the Office of Tourism’s website at www.harfordmd.com.