Spring Arrives with Two Restaurant Weeks

What an exciting time of year. To begin with, we’re coming off of a winter that would make Californians jealous. I expect we’ll pay for it with some unbearable heat waves this summer, but for now, the living’s pretty swell.

St. Patrick’s Day is around the corner, one of my absolute favorite holidays, and it falls on a Saturday this year. That’s a beautiful thing.

March Madness is coming, too, and even if you don’t particularly like basketball, it’s tough not to enjoy the most exciting sports event of the year. Finally, we’re being treated to not one, but two Restaurant Weeks. Back-to-back!

That’s right, it’s going to be a wonderful March. Kicking off the week of March 11 is the Taste of Collingswood Restaurant Week, featuring 13 local and loved restaurants along historic Haddon Avenue. 

Prices vary from $25-$35 per person for three or four courses, depending on where you go. Notable exceptions are , at $38 per person, and , starting at $35 per person, but featuring a number of up-charges for just about every menu item. You could spend up to an additional $36 on your meal if you really indulge.

The fun stops March 16 and, as it is anticipated to be very popular, reservations are a must. Make them as early as you can, and don’t forget to cancel if you can’t use your reservation.

But wait, the fun picks up again only a short weekend later! And if you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day like my family and I, it will be a very short weekend indeed. Beginning March 18, South Jersey Independent Restaurant Association, a.k.a. SJ Hot Chefs, is celebrating the season with the South Jersey Spring Restaurant Week. 

A few notes: unlike A Taste of Collingswood, this restaurant week features more than 40 restaurants from all over South Jersey. The deal is similar, prices vary from $25-$35 per person for four courses.  

As my jurisdiction limits me to Collingswood and Haddonfield, I believe I’ll focus on those particular restaurants. Participating restaurants include , and . Collingswood restaurants , and are also featured, making them participants in both restaurant weeks. Blackbird and West Side Gravy feature the same menu both weeks, but That’s Amore appears to change theirs up a bit for the second week.

Spring is on the doorstep, and our local chefs are here to usher her through in style. Look over the menus, make your reservations and savor the flavors.

(Have some restaurant news from the Collingswood/Haddonfield area? Want to see your favorite restaurant profiled in this column? Email David Valiante at davevaliante@gmail.com.)

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