The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau is encouraging people to dine out this week.
The inaugural Peoria Area Restaurant Week started Monday and runs through Sunday, as Illinois prepares to enter the “bridge” phase of the COVID-19 reopening plan on Friday.
MacKenzie Taylor, marketing coordinator for Discover Peoria, said the timing couldn't be better.
“It's no secret that it's been a hard year for the restaurant industry,” said Taylor, adding the promotion offers an opportunity to “celebrate the resilience” of restaurant owners and employees.
“(They) have been getting out there and working every day, coming back to work to show their support for us so we can get out and show our support for them,” she said.
After the pandemic scrapped plans for a restaurant week last year, Taylor said this week’s event can serve as a bit of hope that things are starting to turn around for the restaurant industry.
“We're excited that the bridge phase will be here at the end of the week and then hopefully by June will be able to move into the next phase of the Restore Illinois plan,” she said. “It's going to be a great opportunity, not only for our local owners, but for our residents as well to get out and get a sense of the new normal as we put the pandemic behind us as we move into the rest of the year.
“So it's going to be great to be able to kick off the summer this way. The weather has turned; it is beautiful. Central Illinois is in full bloom and people are ready to get out and enjoy all the things that the heart of Illinois has to offer.”
Several participating establishments will be showcasing special “prix fixe” menus throughout the week, including: Hoops Pub & Pizza, Suite Fire Bar & Grille, and The Broadway Deli & Lounge in Peoria; BBQ Smokewagon and Firehouse Pizza & Pub in East Peoria; and the area’s five Avanti’s Ristorante locations.
“We're really encouraging everybody to just get out and support our local restaurants in general,” said Taylor. “This is a really great opportunity to get out and discover things again that you maybe you haven't been able to discover in a year, or get out and try new things.
“Go to different local shopping centers in the area, the levee district in East Peoria, or head out to Pekin to try those restaurants, or in Morton or in Washington. All over the Peoria area, there is something ready for you to discover that's going to be great, not only at our local restaurants but our local shops as well.”
