Annapolis, Maryland—The Downtown Annapolis Partnership (DAP) and Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (VAAAC) invite diners to mark their calendars now for Annapolis Restaurant Week, Saturday, March 20 through Sunday, March 28. To help support area restaurants and alleviate pent-up demand for safe travel experiences, the theme for the 13th annual nine-day celebration is “Go All Out for Annapolis Restaurant Week.” The DAP-managed event will target local and regional audiences to promote carryout meals (Out to Eat), carryout cocktails (Out to Drink), and dine-in overnight experiences (Out of the House).
According to DAP Executive Director and event organizer Erik Evans, “This year, it’s all about being flexible so as many people as possible can safely enjoy the wide variety of dining options Annapolis has to offer.” Foodies will get to choose from a larger selection of specially created menus, take advantage of carryout bargains, purchase cocktails to go, and/or plan for future dining experiences via online gift card purchases.
Participating restaurants will offer price-fixed dine-in meal selections for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Two-course breakfasts will be priced between $9.95 and $15.95; two-course lunches will be priced between $12.95 and $19.95; and the price of a three-course dinner will run between $29.95 and $39.95.
To add to the appeal of this year’s event, select locations will be offering additional bonus items and incentives which could include half-price bottles of wine, discounted appetizers, and/or specialty beverages. Vegetarian and gluten-free diners are in luck, as many of the participating restaurants will be featuring meals to suit their tastes. Reservations are recommended as seating will be limited to allow for safe social distancing. Group size will be capped at six people or less per table. Patrons will be required to wear masks when they are not seated for dining.
To accommodate as many dining preferences as possible, select restaurants also will be offering carryout specials that may differ from their dine-in fixed-price selections. Restauranteurs will have complete flexibility on the pricing of their carryout meals. Some will offer their fixed-price options to go; some are considering family-size meal deals; still others are planning cocktails-to-go specials, among other unique offerings.
In past years, DAP has charged dining establishments to participate in the popular annual event. Given the extreme hardships restaurants have experienced this past year, VAAAC is lending promotional assistance, thus eliminating the need to charge a participation fee. It is hoped that waiving the fee and allowing a greater variety of dining options will enable more restaurants to participate than ever before. The Restaurant Week roster typically has included more than 40 Annapolis-area restaurants annually.
The DAP event was conceived 13 years ago to help support local restaurants during the shoulder season. DAP Chairman Matt Schatzle says this year patrons will have the added satisfaction of knowing they are helping to keep some of their favorite haunts in business. “With so many dining options and specials, you will want to enjoy our restaurants every day during Restaurant Week," says Schatzle. The event features cuisine to satisfy every palate – from steaks to seafood, from international cuisine to comfort food – in settings from simple to sublime. Diners are invited to round out their day by strolling through town and enjoying the destination’s shops and galleries.
The 2021 Annapolis Restaurant Week coincides with a countywide commemoration of Maryland Day, March 19-21. The Four Rivers Heritage Area event is a salute to the area’s history and culture. Dozens of attractions are expected to participate in the hybrid event that includes a Pride of Baltimore II appearance at City Dock. Annapolis Restaurant Week will pick up where DAP’s Annapolis Oyster Fest leaves off. The first-time March 1-21 celebration of the Chesapeake Bay’s most popular bivalve will feature local oysters and craft beer specials. These celebrations and more make it a perfect time to safely mask up and visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
For more information about Annapolis Restaurant Week – including a list of participating restaurants, menu selections, gift cards, reservation options, bonus deals, and more – visit www.annapolisrestaurantweek.com.
Individuals who’d like to turn their dining experience into an overnight stay are encouraged to explore all that the region has to offer and plan their getaway to Annapolis at www.visitannapolis.org.
