The eleventh iteration of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance’s week-long event kicks off Monday to showcase the capital city’s culinary talents. Raleigh Restaurant Week aims to open up Raleigh’s fine dining scene to residents, employees, and visitors from all walks of life, providing wider access to a variety of locally-owned restaurants.
“Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week offers all people downtown an opportunity to try new venues and find new favorites,” said Stacey Simeone, the marketing director for the DRA, in a release.
Upscale restaurant The Overlook regularly showcases local, seasonal produce on its menu, and its $30 prix fixe selections are no different, despite their discounted price: summer panzanella salad with local heirloom tomatoes, grilled sweet corn, avocado, and roasted tuscan bread; a beef tenderloin medallion with a blackberry demi-glace, fondant potatoes, and sautéed broccoli rabe; and fresh lavender strawberry sorbet.
At Caffe Luna, guests can enjoy a three-course Italian meal for $20; its prix fixe menu includes a mixed green salad with goat cheese, grilled chicken scallopini with a lemon caper sauce, asparagus, and rosemary potatoes, and a sponge cake layered with vanilla cream and chocolate mousse.
As a special amenity to daytime downtown employees, some restaurants also plan to serve inexpensive specials at lunchtime. Tonbo Ramen will offer a bowl of ramen with duck breast confit, grilled bok choy, roasted sweet potato, and marinated soft egg—plus a black sesame ice cream-topped waffle, for dessert—for just $10, and Manhattan Cafe will have a $5 lunch deal featuring a cajun chicken panini and a chocolate chip cookie.
Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Week will run from August 12 to 18. Click here to check out all participating restaurants’ menus online; reservations are strongly recommended for dinner.
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