Winchester Restaurant Week highlights variety of local eateries

A delighted Dana Garmey surveyed the comings and goings at Sogno Monday afternoon, as residents packed the restaurant for the first-ever Winchester Restaurant Week.

“Other towns do it,” the Chamber of Commerce’s executive director said of the upcoming event, “so we’re copying them. It’s the best form of flattery! And Winchester has an amazing variety of restaurants.”

Winchester Restaurant Week is being held July 14 through July 21. The idea to highlight the growing and thriving restaurant scene in the town is of course, Garmey’s. She reached out to a variety of businesses, 15 in all, by email or visiting in person to talk about the idea.

“Everyone was excited,” Garmey said, adding this was the perfect time of year for such an event. “You couldn’t do it the Fourth of July weekend and in August, most people go away. But this was the perfect time.”

Garmey added Winchester Restaurant Week will feature special prix-fixe menus, tasting events, and exclusive promotions at the following participating restaurants and small eateries: A Tavola, First House Pub, Karma, Krave, Kyuramen, Ristorante Serena, Sogno, Bagels and Brew, Bagel Bar, Frozen Hoagies, Gingerbread Construction Co, Nourish Your Soul, Nouvelle Maison and Playa Bowls.

The July 14 kick-off event was open to every Winchester resident. In total, 211 people responded they would indeed attend.

“Can you believe it?” Chamber President Julie Fish said, of the number. “On a Monday. In the summer. We have so many great restaurants and it’s just great to have this exposure for them.”

Fish credited Garmey, who came up with the idea a few months ago and put it forward to the chamber’s board.

“She’s always coming up with different ideas to highlight our businesses,” she said. “The Wellness Fair earlier this year? That was her idea and it was very successful. She’s got the momentum going with all these great ideas!”

Restaurant owners react

Joe Carli, who owns A Tavola on Church Street, said he participated in a similar event when he worked at Boston-area restaurants. He said it’s a great idea to do something similar in Winchester.

“It’s exciting to get a lot of different people together,” he said. “Boston has a very active restaurant scene, where a lot of people know each other and try to help each other out. Winchester is doing that, too. Look at Sogno, they’re hosting everyone here today.”

Carli said A Tavola will have different specials during the week, along with cocktail specials like the Winchester-rita, a margarita that can be both non-alcoholic and alcoholic.

Sogno co-owners Ron Martignetti and his son John Paul were excited to hold the chamber event, adding they are strong supporters of the organization and the town.

“It’s a wonderful event and we hope it gets everyone out and into the town’s restaurants and spend their money locally,” John Paul Martignetti said. “We are so thrilled to be a part of it.”

He added many Winchester residents come to Sogno for dinner, but they aren’t always aware the restaurant is also open for lunch. He said the special menu for Restaurant Week will probably be extended into the summer.

J.P. Faiella, who has worked with many chambers of commerce, said Garmey’s goal is to really highlight the restaurants and offer a variety for all budgets, whether it’s picking up a special lavender latte from Nouvelle Maison for $7 or going out for the $22 lunch at Sogno.

“There was no barrier,” Garmey said. “I let the restaurants do whatever they wanted, like Sogno’s special lunch menu or [Ristorante] Serena’s free appetizer with dinner. We wanted to highlight some of the smaller, individual establishments.”

With attendees enjoying the treats at Sogno on Monday afternoon, Fish said she was really looking forward to checking out the establishments participating.

“It’s a slow time of year in Winchester and our restaurants don’t get a lot of traffic in mid-summer, but hopefully, people will attend this week,” she said. “I love that we’re at Sogno. I was looking at the menu and I thought ‘I’m going to bring a client of mine here for lunch’ and there’s another restaurant that I think will be big with my kids!”