Stratford Hopes To Hold Restaurant Week Despite Coronavirus

STRATFORD, CT — If Stratford Restaurant Week had gone as planned, it would have ended Saturday. Thanks to the new coronavirus outbreak, it hasn’t happened yet, although town officials still hope to hold the annual event.

“It’s a wait-and-see,” Director of Economic Development Mary Dean said April 23. “… We don’t know what the new norm is going to be.”

Restaurant dining rooms have been closed across the state since late March to prevent the spread of the virus, which has resulted in nearly 2,500 deaths statewide. During the closures, eateries are allowed to continue serving takeout and delivery. When restaurants are cleared to reopen, the town will wait a few weeks and then hold its yearly celebration, Dean said.

"We're not holding firm to any one idea," she said.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced last week that starting May 20, restaurants will be allowed to reopen for outdoor dining only.

In the meantime, Stratford has repurposed its restaurant week webpage to share information about how residents can support local eateries while the closures continue. The town adapted a promotional video originally shot for restaurant week to focus on takeout instead, and posted a list of businesses offering delivery and carryout.

“There’s a lot of different ways that we can support them,” Dean said.

Stratford restaurants have adapted to the state’s limitations, she said, by adding family style meals and make-your-own options, as well as selling groceries.

“They’ve all been very creative in their owner ways,” Dean said. “… Almost all of them have changed up their menus.”

Dean emphasized that if a restaurant is closed one week, that doesn’t mean it will stay closed. For up-to-date information, she referred residents to celebratestratford.wixsite.com/restaurantweek/covid-19-precautions. Patch has also published a guide that allows local businesses to update their status during the outbreak.