Businesses hope diners warm to Restaurant Week.

Byline: Barbara M. Houle

The winter edition of Worcester Restaurant Week couldn't come at a better time for diners and local restaurateurs.

After nearly a month of steady snow and a deep freeze, most of us are more than ready for this special, 13-day promotion, Feb. 23-March 7.

Restaurants especially have taken a beating this month, and according to Worcester Restaurant Week organizers, the 2015 winter event has the largest number of participating restaurants to date.

"This has been a tough winter for all of us in the Worcester area,'' said George Voyiatzis, event chairman and owner of the recently opened The Urban Kitchen + Bar in Worcester. "This (Worcester Restaurant Week) is a wonderful way to beat the winter blues and and have a great night out for a good price.''

Participating restaurants charge $23.15 per person for a prix fixe three-course meal. "A great bargain at any time of year,'' according to event organizer Paul Giorgio of Pulse magazine. "It's a good way to spend an evening out without breaking the bank,'' he said "Everyone is seeking value these days.''

Worcester restaurant participants, to date: Armsby Abbey, Ritual, Peppercorn's Grille & Tavern, El Basha, with its Park Avenue and Belmont Street locations, Park Grill & Spirits, Rosalina's Kitchen, Padavano's Place, the Flying Rhino, Piccolo's Restaurant, Meze Greek Tapas Bar & Grill, Nuovo Restaurant, Brew City Grill & Brew House, Sweet Kitchen & Bar, Leo's Ristorante, 111 Chop House, VIA Italian Table, The Sole Proprietor, O'Connor's Restaurant & Bar, The Fix, Bocado Tapas Wine Bar, Mezcal Tequila Cantina, The People's Kitchen, Perfect Game, Compass Tavern, Tatnuck Grille, The Urban Kitchen + Bar, Ceres Bistro at the Beechwood Hotel, EVO Dining, Joey's Bar & Grill, Tweed's Pub Restaurant, Caffe Espresso Trattoria, Mare e Monti Trattoria and Pepe's.

Also, Two Chefs Restaurant in Spencer; The Mill, Il Forno and the Draught House Bar & Grill, all in West Boylston; Billy's Pub, Amici Trattoria, Willy's Steakhouse Grill & Sushi Bar, and Lakeside Bar & Grille, all in Shrewsbury; A.J. Tomaiolo's Restaurant in Northboro.

Presenting sponsors are UniBank and Atlas Distributing in Auburn; supporting sponsor is Mercadante Funeral Home in Worcester.

Pagio Inc., Pulse magazine, Vitality Magazine and TasteWorcester.com produce Worcester Restaurant Week.

For updates on the event, visit www.worcesterrestaurantweek.com.

Note: Some restaurants post WRW menus on their websites, while others do not. Worcester Restaurant Week's Facebook page will have some menus.

Personally, I like to be surprised when it comes to what chefs have cooked up.

There are plenty of restaurants participating, including several new ones: Compass Tavern, The Urban Kitchen + Bar, Billy's Pub and Sweet, where owner Alina Eisenhauer has expanded the menu to include savory dinner choices.

Enjoy!

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to bhoulefood@gmail.com.