The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘THIS WILL GIVE A NEEDED JOLT’
Milford eateries prepare for Restaurant Week
MILFORD — People looking to get a better flavor of the city will have their chance later this month.
Milford Restaurant Week returns to the Milford and Orange area for two weeks, Sept. 27 to Oct. 10, and eatery owners are enthusiastic for the opportunity to entice more customers through their doors with dining deals — with the hope they will come back for more.
“This is important for our city’s restaurants because it offers a great marketing opportunity,” Elena Fusco, owner of Bin 100 Restaurant, one of the event’s featured venues.
Other restaurants signed on at this point are Hook & Reel, Prime 16, Stonebridge, Cast Iron Chef, Flipside Burgers and Bar, Gusto Trattoria Italian Restaurant, Liberty Rock Tavern, Milford Sports Pub and Grill, Monty’s River Grille at Great River Golf Club, Nate’s Plates, Silver Sands Pizza, and Spice and Flava.
“It’s a vehicle to bring in new guests that have never been to our restaurants,” Fusco added. “It is especially important for newer restaurants to introduce their restaurants and showcase what they have to offer.”
Fusco said this also offers an opportunity for out-of-town guests to see all that Milford has to offer along with a bustling restaurant scene.
“We have great shopping, arts and beautiful beaches to visit,” she added.
Joseph Hamboussi, owner of Prime 16 on the Post Road, just over the Milford line in Orange, said he hopes this event helps generate enthusiasm about going to restaurants again to eat — an area that all eateries are fighting to build back in the wake of the pandemic.
“For myself, this is a chance to showcase my best … it’s time to impress people,” Hamboussi, who has owned Prime 16 since March with partner and founder Robert Potter, said.
Hamboussi said business was
initially strong but slowed in the late summer with so many people away. He said this week comes as what is normally the busy season kicks off in mid- to late September.
“I feel this will give a needed jolt to local restaurants,” he said. “This week is a time where people really try, I see, to hit two or three restaurants, try different places, take advantage of deals. It’s time for us to impress them, bring them back as regular customers.”
Milford Restaurant Week is organized by the Milford Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Milford Business Association (DMBA). The goal, according to chamber Director of Marketing & Events Simon McDonald, is to give locals and visitors a chance “to indulge in a variety of the city’s finest dining establishments.
"Milford Restaurant Week is such an awesome opportunity to savor the best of Milford dining with specially-priced menus,” Tracy Bonosconi, DMBA president, said. “The DMBA is thrilled to help provide a platform for our local eateries to showcase their food to new and returning patrons alike, especially when supporting local is more important than ever.”
“Milford Restaurant Week is always a great community event,” said Jim Betzig, CEO of Trinity Point Wealth, the event’s presenting sponsor.
“This is a terrific opportunity to support our Milford restaurant industry, which needs it now more than ever, and treat yourself at the same time — whether it’s visiting your old favorites or trying something new at affordable prices,” Betzig added.
In addition to the extended campaign, McDonald said patrons can also take advantage of outdoor seating and enjoy Milford’s restaurants from home by utilizing to-go menu options.
“Milford Restaurant Week is very successful and both staff and owners look forward to it every year,” Fusco said. “We see an average of double the number of guests that we typically do during a regular week. Our hope is that this attendance rate will spill over into the second week that we are running this year.”
The participating restaurants are offering various deals for Milford Restaurant Week. Details can be found along with menus at http:// www.milfordctrestaurantweek.com/. For example, Bin 100, Fusco said, will be offering a threecourse dinner for $34.21.
“Our business has been able to carefully navigate the pandemic so far,” Fusco said. “The addition of outdoor dining was a huge factor in sustaining ourselves this past year and a half.
“We are hoping that the worst of the virus and shutdowns are behind us,” she added. “Milford Restaurant Week should give us a nice boost to offset the slower months ahead when we are unable to offer outdoor dining for guests that are still sensitive to indoor dining.”
Reservations are recommended for lunch and dinner, all pricing is per person and excludes beverage, tax and gratuity. Due to limited indoor and outdoor reservations, availability for seating is on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Customers are encouraged to check with participating restaurants for operating protocols.
Visitors are asked to follow guidelines from the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention while visiting Milford.