Special menus are in for Greensburg Restaurant Week

The menus are in for Greensburg Restaurant Week.

The semiannual showcase of Westmoreland County restaurants and what they do best runs Friday through Aug. 29, with this round featuring 21 eateries.

During the event, local restaurants promote lunch and/or dinner specials offering reduced prices for a fixed-price menu. The specials, ranging from casual to fine dining, may include meals with multiple courses for no more than $35.

Many of the venues offer outdoor seating. Reservations are recommended for diners interested in partaking of the special menus.

Kara Kurz, owner of Chef Dato’s Table in Derry Township, likes to participate in Greensburg Restaurant Week for two reasons.

“First, it brings in new people,” she said. “Second, it gives us a chance to reward our regular patrons.”

“Every restaurant does things their own way,” Kurz said. “We tend to do five courses instead of three. We like being adventurous.”

Because the pandemic limited restaurant capacities, January’s restaurant week promoted takeout and delivery options. This time around, the focus is back on dining in, said Ashley Kertes, executive director of Greensburg Community Development Corp., which organizes the semiannual event.

“Even with the (delta) variant, in semi-post-covid, I think people are eager to participate,” she said.

Because conditions can change rapidly, she noted, restaurants will adhere to whatever CDC and Pennsylvania safety protocols are in place during the event.

“People were so amazingly supportive in the depths of the pandemic,” said Rachel Flowers, co-owner of Sun Dawg Cafe in Greensburg. “We’re not in the depths now, but we’re skimming the edges.”

That has led to new challenges in preparing for restaurant week, she said. While the special offerings are posted on the event website, Flowers said hers might be subject to change.

“It’s a strange balance. We’re struggling with staffing and product availability,” she said. “The menu might depend on how creative we can get with what we can get and stay within our budget.”

Giving it their best

“These restaurants have been through a lot, and things can change so quickly,” Kertes said. “So many of them are short-staffed. We just ask people to be kind and be patient.”

“Restaurants are giving it their best,” Kurz said. “Restaurant week offers great deals, and it’s a great way to try something new. Everyone should go out and try at least one new restaurant.”

La Vita’s in Greensburg is a new participant this time around, Kertes said.

Restaurant week participants:

• Bar Nine, 9 Mt. Pleasant St., Greensburg

• The Boulevard, 900 Towne Square Drive, Greensburg

• Caffe Barista, 7 W. Otterman St., Greensburg

• Chef Dato’s Table, 645 Route 217, Derry Township

• Greensburg Country Club, 309 Pleasant Valley Road, Hempfield

• The Headkeeper, 618 S. Main St., Greensburg

• Jaffre’s, 827 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg

• J. Corks, 25 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg

• La Vita’s, 123 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg

• Major Stokes, 108 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg

• Marino’s American Eatery, 106 West Point Drive, Hempfield

• Moreland at Waterworks, 1817 Broad St. Ext., South Greensburg

• The Old Spitfire Grille, 1517 Broad St., South Greensburg

• Oliver’s Pourhouse, 8 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg

• Pit Take BBQ, 640 N. Main St., Greensburg

• Rassame’s Thai Cuisine, 430 Grove St., Greensburg

• Robokyo Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi, 117 Toll House Road, Hempfield

• South Greensburg Restaurant, 1309 Broad St., South Greensburg

• Sun Dawg Cafe, 37 N. Main St., Greensburg

• Tapped Brick Oven & Pourhouse, 6044 Route 30, Hempfield

• The Venue, 113 S. Pennsylvania Ave., Greensburg

Details: greensburgrestaurantweek.com