The Bank Roll

Most of us feel a bit of a relief at the end of the holiday season, followed by a case of the mid-winter blues. Sometimes the cure is as simple as a nice dinner out, but if you’re still paying off the holiday bills, dining out in a good restaurant might seem a bit frivolous.

Providence Restaurant Week

The good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Through Saturday, January 26, nearly 100 of the best restaurants in one of America’s hottest culinary destinations — Providence, Rhode Island — are participating in Providence Restaurant Weeks , a celebration of fine food at very reasonable prices, sponsored by the Greater Providence-Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Price points are $14.95 per person for a three-course lunch and $29.95 for a three-course dinner – savings of 50% or more over non-promotional prices. Since 1972, Providence has been home to the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson & Wales University, and over the decades has developed an internationally acclaimed restaurant scene. In fact, the readers of Travel & Leisure magazine named it the #1 Food City in the United States in last year’s reader’s poll.

A sample of some of the delicious dishes available during Providence Restaurant Week.
Photos courtesy of Nicholas Millard, Chez Pascal, and Waterman Grille.

Dine For a Good Cause in Boston

Should you find yourself in Boston the weekend of January 26 – 27, you can save on dining while helping a great cause. Super Hunger Brunch  is a collaboration of greater Boston restaurateurs, working to raise money for the Greater Boston Food Bank. On Saturday, January 26, you can pay $25 per person for brunch at North 26 or Darryl’s Corner Bar (both in Boston) or The Fireplace in Cambridge. For $35 per person, you can enjoy brunch at Boston’s Grill 23 & Bar or Sel de la Terre Back Bay, or Harvest Restaurant in Cambridge. Boston’s venerable L’Espalier is offering a $50 brunch on the same day. On Sunday, $25 brunch will be served at La Morra (Brookline), North 26, Stella (Boston), The Elephant Walk (Waltham) and Tomasso Trattoria (Southbridge). Rialto, the Cambridge restaurant  owned by James Beard Award-winning chef Jody Adams is offering a $35 brunch that day, as are Chez Henri (also in Cambridge) and Hamersley’s Bistro (Boston). Blue Ginger, the Wellesley restaurant owned by celebrity chef Ming Tsai, is offering a $50 brunch that day, as is Cragie on Main in Cambridge. These participating restaurants are donating their time and services so that all of the proceeds will benefit the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Taste of Hartford Winter Edition

Last, but not least, Taste of Hartford kicks  off January 21st and runs through February 3^rd. Approximately three dozen greater Hartford area restaurants are offering multi-course prix-fixe menus featuring some of their signature dishes for $20.13 per person. The event is a partnership of the Greater Hartford Arts Council and The Hartford Advocate.

Taste these dishes at Wood-n-Tap during the Taste of Hartford. Photos courtesy of Wood-n-Tap. Click the photo to visit the restaurant’s website.

Do you know of any mid-winter restaurant promotions in your local area? If so, please post about them, here.