Restaurant Week Preparations in the Works

Town officials and marketers are preparing to hold Newtown's first-ever Restaurant Week from Sept. 6-16 during which eateries will offer discounted options or specialities that best showcase their products.

The list and more details on the week will be unveiled during the Labor Day parade, including a program booklet listing restaurant choices that will be distributed, according to Tricia Farin, president of Jantris Marketing Services.

Jantris is organizing the event, along with the town, Chamber of Commerce of Newtown, Economic Development Commission and owner of Sal e Pepe Contemporary Italian Bistro.

While organizers initially said the discount will vary depending on the eatery, they issued a press release on Monday saying restaurants would be able to offer a "value-driven menu" in certain categories, such as $5, $15, $25 or Buy-One-Get-One offer.

"Our town is such a large diverse base of restaurants," Farin said. "We decided to be a little flexible."

Organizers said they hope to market the week to consumers and allow eateries to reach a new audience who in turn become potential repeat business.

"We need to put a focus regionally on the fact that the Newtown community has the destination appeal that you can't find in other towns, and I think Restaurant Week is a great way to do that," First Selectman Pat Llodra said.

For more information, go to www.newtownrestaurantweek.com.

Newtown Patch is one of the sponsors of Newtown Restaurant Week 2011.