North Texans can do their taste buds a favor while also benefitting their community at this year’s DFW Restaurant Week, scheduled for August 8-14.
Each summer, DFW Restaurant Week is held to raise money for two nonprofits: the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), which helps to feed the hungry in DFW, and Lena Pope, which offers child and family services in Tarrant County. Patrons at participating fine dining establishments will receive a discount on their purchase, while 20% of the proceeds from the meal will be donated to the two organizations.
A few selected restaurants will participate in a preview weekend, and some have elected to extend their participation through September 4.
“We are looking forward to this summer’s DFW Restaurant Week 25th anniversary, celebrating two and a half decades of dining out and doing good in our community!” said NTFB President and CEO Trish Cunningham.
Over the past 25 years, DFW Restaurant Week has raised over $10.7 million for the two nonprofits, significantly benefitting the families they serve.
“The community support for both local restaurants and our mission has been especially impactful over the past few years as we all continue to grapple with the ongoing impacts of the pandemic,” stated Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope. “Tarrant area diners and restaurants can take heart in knowing that every delicious DFW Restaurant Week meal has helped Lena Pope meet the increasing demand for mental health services and support for children and families in our community.”
Despite the ongoing pandemic, nearly one hundred restaurants participated in last year’s Restaurant Week event, raising a total of $428,516. The NFTB received $302,039 and Lena Pope received $126,477.
“We want to extend our sincere gratitude to both the restaurants and diners who took part in DFW Restaurant Week at such a pivotal time,” Cunningham stated. “The campaign meals purchased across the Dallas area helped the Food Bank to in turn provide more than 906,000 meals for neighbors in need.”
Last year’s event also sparked much-needed business for local restaurants amidst the COVID -19 pandemic, noted Cunningham.
On March 1, event organizers announced the top participating restaurants from 2021, recognizing them as Star Restaurants.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Dallas was recognized as the restaurant that had the most contributions. Other 2021 Star Restaurants included Mac’s On Main, Kirby’s Prime Steakhouse, Table 13, and Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine. Twenty of the recognized restaurants are in Dallas County, and ten are in Tarrant County.
There were also two 2021 Newbie of the Year Awards given out to Wicked Butcher in Tarrant County and Eataly: Terra, La Pizza & La Pasta, Il Pastio in Dallas.
DFW Restaurant Week is the largest culinary event in North Texas and the second longest-running restaurant week in America. Each year it is presented by Your Metroplex Cadillac Dealers as an Audacy event. In 2019, the pre-pandemic Restaurant Week event raised $1 million.