Troy

Upscale restaurants offer sweet and savory deals for Restaurant Week

By Terry Oparka
C & G Staff Writer

TROY — Once again, restaurants in Troy will give patrons the chance to dine out in high style on the cheap. 

Sixteen restaurants in Troy will offer special entrees Aug. 22-27 as part of Troy Restaurant Week, sponsored by the Troy Chamber of Commerce.

Three-course lunch specials will be offered for $15 per person and three-course dinner specials for $30 per person at the following restaurants:

• Benihana

• BRIO Tuscan Grille

• Charley’s Crab

• Crumpet’s Restaurant

• Franco’s Café

• Kona Grill

• Kruse & Muer on Wilshire

• Loccino Italian Grill & Bar

• McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood

• Mon Jin Lau

• Morton’s The Steakhouse

• Ocean Prime

• Ruth’s CHRIS Steak House

• The Capital Grille

• The Melting Pot of Troy

• Tre Monti Restorante

Each restaurant will offer special menu items for the promotion. Some will include dessert, others won’t. Some are open for lunch, and some aren’t. This is the second time restaurants have offered the $15/$30 deals in the summertime. The Troy Chamber of Commerce also sponsors Restaurant Week in March.

Benihana will offer a special lunch menu that includes a choice of two entrees: scallops, calamari, shrimp, chicken and beef julienne; an appetizer: edamame or Benihana roll with hibachi chicken rice; and a choice of ice cream or sherbet for dessert.

Diners at Morton’s The Steakhouse will have a choice for dinner of a Caesar or Morton’s salad; followed by filet mignon, broiled salmon filet or chicken Christopher; a signature potato or vegetable; and key lime pie or double chocolate mousse.

Deb DePue, director of marketing and communications for the Troy Chamber of Commerce, said that restaurateurs typically find the fourth week of August to be one of the slowest times of the year.

Andrea Aretakis, sales and marketing manager for Morton’s the Steakhouse, said she spearheaded Restaurant Week after seeing how successful it was in other cities across the country. She advises diners to make reservations early, and for early in the week, if possible, to avoid being disappointed.

“The reservations fill up,” she said.

“This is a great opportunity to dine with us, for guests that haven’t visited us in months or to give them another chance (to try us), some of it on our dime, and to introduce them to our product and service,” Aretakis said. She noted that the $30 deal would normally cost between $85 and $90.

“We love doing it,” Aretakis said. “Habitat for Humanity was a great (charitable) fit this time. It’s a real community event. Dine out more than once. Go out two or three times. Try something you haven’t tried before.”

This year, the charity partner for the event is Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. Diners can donate $5 to Habitat and receive a gold hammer lapel pin. From Aug. 28 through Sept. 3, those wearing the pin will receive discounts and free gifts from participating Troy Chamber businesses. These include a free appetizer or dessert at Charley’s Crab with the purchase of an entrée, 20 percent off a food bill at Crumpet’s in the Somerset Inn, a two-for-one deal at Curves for Women, a complimentary bar bite or dessert at Morton’s The Steakhouse with the purchase of an entrée, a complimentary exam and consultation at Optimum Chiropractic Neurology Center, and $20 off dinner for two at Tre Monti Ristorante. Check www.troyrestaurantweek.com/events.php for the complete list and for links to restaurant menus.

Funds raised will help build and renovate houses for local families in need. Donations may also be made online at www.habitatoakland.org.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Terry Oparka at toparka@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1054.