East Haven's Restaurant Week Kicks Off Monday

This post was reported and written by freelance writer Nancy Barnes.

It's time for food lovers of all stripes to cleanse their palates, as East Haven's restaurant week--now, the East Haven Chamber Restaurant Week--returns on Monday, April 29.  

The event, which launched in 2011, will run through Sunday, May 5.
Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe menus as varied as the Southern Mediterrean cuisine of La Pergola Ristorante, the seafood of Sandpiper's on Cosey Avenue beach and the all-American dining of the Twin Pines Restaurant and Diner at a cost of $21.95. 

According to Mary Cacace, who serves as president of the East Haven Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber will implement the week-long event, with the idea for its return after a one-year absence, she said, coming from Art Desorbo, director of administration and management in Town Hall.  

Cacace termed the first restaurant week in 2011 "fairly successful."  

"It's very good for the business, for the town, for image," said Jim Triantis, who, with his family, owns and operates the Twin Pines, of the culinary event. 

Although the restaurant has operated sinced 1979, he noted that he saw "new faces" when the restaurant participated in the first restaurant week two years ago.    The menu that  Twin Pines has put together for the event includes a glass of wine, and it is officially available from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  

Yet, Triantis said, because the restaurant is open around the clock, the diner will offer the menu whenever a client orders it.  "We will give it to them 24/7,"  he said. 

Participating in restaurant week for the first time is the Village Inn Restaurant.   

"I've become more involved with the restaurant," said manager Marge Evarts, whose association with the Village Inn stretches back five years.  "I'm trying to do more things to promote business.  With the economy the way it is, you want to do as much as you can."  

She noted that the restaurant will offer the week's menu for dinner, starting at 3 p.m.   

"We really anticipate having a good turnout.   It's a new experience for me, so I"m really excited about it," Evarts said. 

And although Hurricane Sandy wrecked havoc with some structures along  Cosey Avenue beach, the Sandpiper escaped unscathed, the Chamber's Cacace noted. The restaurant will serve its menu in the dining room.  

Cacace said board member Robert Limoncelli has visited each participating restaurant, and that the restaurants had also submitted a menu to the chamber.  

For the complete list of participants that also include such restaurants as the Rib House, the Bistro Mediterranean & Tapas Bar and Caportorto's, persons can visit the Chamber's website at http://easthavenchamber.com/page/20745-Restaurant-Week-2-13.     

There, one can also view some of the ways participating restaurants have interpreted the event, such as the decision by Antonio's Ristorante to serve two prix fixe specials for the price of one for lunch.  The website also includes the menu each restaurant will offer.    

Although some restaurants are normally closed on Mondays, all participating restaurants will open this Monday for the first day of the week-long event.