Chamber Restaurant Week Returns

By Chris Katon, April 28, 2016

Some nicely attributed quotes from yours truly, being interviewed on behalf of Sea Pines Resort for the 2016 Chamber Restaurant Week feature. Check out: http://www.hiltonheadmonthly.com/food/3031-chamber-restaurant-week-returns

(RE-PRINT FROM HILTON HEAD MONTHLY MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2016)

Nothing heats up the winter menu on Hilton Head Island like Chamber Restaurant Week, which brings local diners out in droves to enjoy value-priced menus at their favorite eateries or explore new ones.

Chamber Restaurant Week returns for the eighth year from Jan. 23-30 with a wide array of Lowcountry restaurants participating in hopes of filling their dining rooms during the island’s quieter season. For one week every January, local restaurants put the offseason on the back-burner as business picks up to levels typically expected only during the high tourism season.
“It has a great impact,” said Chris Katon, director of restaurants at the Sea Pines Resort. “Traditionally it’s when all the locals come out to visit our restaurants and we love to have them.”

Sea Pines has two restaurants participating this year – Coast at the Sea Pines Beach Club and Links American Grill in the newly-renovated Harbour Town Golf Links clubhouse – and both are offering two- and three-course prix fixe menus.

“We always get a great response from it,” Katon said. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our chefs and give a sampling of what they can do in the kitchen.”

Katon admits he often finds himself on the other side of the Chamber Restaurant Week experience, too.

“Personally, I take advantage of the program just as much as everyone else,” he said. “If I have the night off during Chamber Restaurant Week, my family will go out to dinner on a night we otherwise might not and go somewhere we wouldn’t normally go. It’s a great week to get out and try something different.”

Modeled after similar popular events held in New York City and Los Angeles, the annual event continues to grow locally. More than 75 restaurants participated last year, and that number figures to rise even higher in coming years. Some of this year’s participants include island favorites Charlie’s L’etoile Verte and ELA’s Blu Water Grille and Bluffton hotspots May River Grill, Truffles Café and Red Fish Bluffton.

“Chamber Restaurant Week provides a great opportunity for restaurants to bring in business during the winter season,” said Dorothy Guscio, chamber events manager. “Growing every year in popularity and participation, it’s a win-win for everyone involved.”

From waterfront dining at Skull Creek Boathouse or island icon Hudson’s On The Docks, to Italian cuisine at OMBRA Cucina Rustica or Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana, or even barbecue at The Smokehouse or One Hot Mama’s, there’s something for every palate.

Diners can make reservations now to ensure their opportunity to check out the special menus at their favorite spots or make sure they get a table at the hot new restaurant they’ve been waiting to try. See which restaurants are participating and what they’ll have on the menu at http://www.ChamberRestaurantWeek.com.

Participating restaurants

843

Alexanders

Big Bamboo Cafe

Black Marlin Bayside Grill

Buffalo’s

Charlie’s L’etoile Verte

Chart House

Coast, Oceanfront Dining

Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse

Crane’s Tavern Steakhouse & Seafood

ELA’S Blu Water Grille

Frankie Bones

Heyward’s Restaurant

HH Prime

Hugo’s Seafood & Steakhouse

Links, an American Grill

Marley’s Island Grille

May River Grill

Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana

Nicks Steak and Seafood

OMBRA Cucina Rustica

Old Oyster Factory

One Hot Mama’s

Poseidon

Red Fish Bluffton

Red Fish Hilton Head

River House

Sea Grass Grille

Skillets Cafe & Grill

Skull Creek Boathouse

The Jazz Corner

The Smokehouse

Trattoria Divina

Truffles Cafe Belfair

Truffles Cafe Sea Pines

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