It’s no secret that we love dining across Delmarva, and if we can score a fantastic deal in the process, all the better; which is why we love when Restaurant Week rolls around in Ocean City, giving us an excuse to dine out more than usual, hitting all of our favorite restaurants for lunch and dinner, along with a few new spots. So when we heard that the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce was organizing a Restaurant Week for Wicomico County, we immediately perused the list of restaurants and menus, plotting out exactly where and when we would be dining out during the week of March 2 through March 8. “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity for chefs to showcase their talents and highlight their best dishes,” Sophia Smecker, SBY Restaurant Week organizer, said. “There is some true talent here in Wicomico and foodie or not, everyone can appreciate a delicious and creative dish.”

The first official Restaurant Week debuted in 1992 in New York City. After seeing the success of the culinary event, other cities began scheduling their own Restaurant Weeks. The Salisbury Chamber of Commerce is hosting the first  SBY Restaurant Week, aiming to highlight the area’s diverse and burgeoning culinary scene. “I’ve enjoyed Restaurant Weeks in other areas and thought, why not Salisbury? I have a background in and passion for the restaurant industry and in my role at the Chamber, I am always looking for opportunities to help market and advertise businesses, so this was a perfect fit,” explained Smecker. “We have so much culinary talent and a wide variety of cuisine options in our area, so why not take a week and highlight them?”

The SBY Restaurant Week will be held the first week of March (March 2-8). Smecker explained that most Restaurant Weeks are held during the slower season, when restaurants could use the economic boost. “The greatest outcome for restaurants during this week is filling tables and bringing more diners in the door,” said Smecker. “I sat down with a lot of area restaurant owners and it was decided that March would be an advantageous time.”

In addition to encouraging diners to come in to their establishments, restaurant owners and chefs also look forward to the chance to highlight their best dishes and showcase culinary talent. “A lot of these participants are offering something new and unique that is really going to excite guests,” said Smecker. “The event also encourages diners to try new restaurants…and there have been a lot popping up lately.” For diners, the opportunity is easy on the wallet, with two and three-course fixed price menus that allow guests the chance to try a restaurant that might normally be out of their budget range.

Currently, 26 restaurants are participating in SBY Restaurant Week, with many offering specials for lunch and dinner. “It’s wonderful to see that a lot of restaurants are offering both lunch AND dinner specials,” said Smecker. “This creates more opportunities for diners to have an appetizing lunch with coworkers or a relaxing night out with friends for a delicious dinner.”

The list of participating restaurants runs the gamut from fine dining to fast-casual; seasoned favorites to newcomers to the Salisbury dining scene. Market Street Inn, La Tolteca, Cactus Taverna, The Irish Penny and Sushi De Kanpai are just a few of the places we have our eye on. “Salisbury really has been exploding culturally as a community,” said Smecker…and we couldn’t agree more. In fact, every time we turn around it seems Salisbury has added a new restaurant or event.

“People from neighboring counties are hearing the “SBY Buzz” and are coming to visit on weekends. SBY Restaurant Week just adds to all of the great things that are happening in our community,” added Smecker. “We want people from all over to come visit, contribute to our local economy and see what Wicomico has to offer – especially cuisine wise!”

It certainly won’t take much arm twisting to get us over to Salisbury for a week of terrific dining deals. Stay tuned for the first week of March as we report back on all of our culinary discoveries!

For more, visit www.sbyrestuarantweek.com or follow SBY Restaurant Week on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

And stay updated on social media for a chance to win gift cards to participating restaurants!

#SBYRestaurantWeek