The second annual Restaurant Week starts Friday as area restaurants participate to raise money for the York Foundation for Public Education – a nonprofit fundraising arm of the York County School Division.
During the week-long event that goes through Nov. 8, customers who enter one of 22 participating restaurants will help raise money for York County schools just by having a meal and maybe bringing along a coupon (see full list at the end of the article for required coupons). The restaurants participate in different ways – from donating one dollar per lunch to giving 20 percent of the restaurant’s profit for the entire week
A few restaurants will have a table set up for the event that will guide patrons through instructions to participate in the event. For other restaurants, nothing special is required but YFPE Liaison Peggy Myatt said she encourages families to let their server know they are there for Restaurant Week.
There is also a list of 11 more restaurants that are participating in other ways, like simply paying a participation fee of $100 to YFPE. For a full list of participating restaurants, when they are participating and any related coupons, see the end of this article.
“The easy part of it is that we let restaurants decide what they want to do,” Myatt said.
The event is also meant to raise money for the restaurants in York County and the surrounding area. It’s something Myatt said she hoped would be a “win-win” for the businesses, community and school division.
Restaurant Week started for YCSD last year after Myatt heard about the idea from Chesapeake Public Schools, who already have the program up and running. She said that starting the event was a little scary last year, but she’s had a lot of help.
Mario Buffa – a local restaurateur who owns Joe & Mimma’s, Riverwalk Restaurant, Water Street Grille and is a co-owner of IHOP in York County – helped with the process. Myatt also noted that the YFPE Board of Trustees helped in the months leading up to the event.
The foundation sent out emails to more than 10,000 families whose children attend YCSD schools. Last year the event brought in about $9,000 and this year – even though the goal is a conservative $3,300 – the event is expected to do better with eight more sponsors.
“It’s a lot of fun. It’s a lot of work,” Myatt said in the same breath.
Last year, YFPE gave about $65,000 total to the school division.
Walk-in Locations:
- Andrea’s Italian Restaurant
- Bay Haven Grille
- Bistro Restaurant Courtyard Marriott of Yorktown – from Nov. 2 – 4 only (breakfast only)
- Buffalo Wild Wings of Newport News
- Duke of York Island Cafe
- Duke of York River Room – not open Nov. 4 – 5
- Food Craft Restaurant – from Nov. 5 – 8 only (lunch special only)
- IHOP
- Joe & Mimma’s Italian Restaurant
- Plaza Azteca
- Riverwalk Restaurant
- Ruby Tuesday of Kiln Creek – from Nov. 1 – 3 only (coupon)
- Smokin’ Joe’s
- Sweet Frog
- Thai Erawan Restaurant
- Thai Siam Cuisine
- Texas Roadhouse – from Nov. 4 – 7 only (coupon)
- The Pizza Shop
- Uno Chicago Grill of Yorktown & Williamsburg – (coupon)
- Vinny’s Pizza & Pasta Restaurant – from Nov. 4 – 7 only (lunch only)
- Water Street Grille
- Yorktown Pub
Restaurants sponsoring in alternative ways:
- Bonefish Grill of Newport News
- Ginny’s All You Can Eat Buffet
- Gus New York Pizza 2
- HoneyBaked Ham of Newport News
- Main Moon
- Miyaki Sushi & Grill
- Salsa’s Mexican Grill of City Center
- Sodexo
- Starbucks Coffee of Grafton
- Tropical Smoothie
- Wendy’s Restaurants of Grafton & Yorktown
