Residents and foodies hungry for new experiences in Hillsborough will get a prime opportunity to do just that when the Hillsborough Business Association (HBA) serves as the host to the first-ever Hillsborough Restaurant Week.
Until Sunday, 30 restaurants throughout Hillsborough will serve up delectable selections from their menus for the special occasion.
David Kois, the township’s business advocate, said the newly minted program reflects a growing trend in other municipalities that host similar events.
“I’ve been going to restaurant weeks for some time,” Kois said. “We really wanted to create an initiative that really lets the businesses do what they do and to let them be the stars…so we started thinking about this as something we could do to try to promote the business community.”
Throughout the nearly week-long event, prix fixe dishes will range between $25 to $35 per person, with each offering largely consisting of three courses. Participating restaurants that don’t have a prix fixe menu, will offer discounted specials, instead.
“Our executive chef Tony Papoutsis has been to a million restaurant weeks and when he started here three years ago, he was kind of hoping that the town would do one,” Madeline Reilly, manager of The Landing, said. “This was his wish all along.”
Like other locations throughout Hillsborough, Reilly said The Landing will offer two prix fixe options – a $25 three-course lunch and a $35 three-course dinner.
“We’re hoping that people can see the kind of things our chef does and hopefully people who haven’t been to our restaurant come to check it out,” Reilly said.
Hillsborough’s take on restaurant week will also cater to the township’s casual lunch and breakfast restaurants and their patrons.
In addition to the local fare, township officials reached out to some of the larger chain restaurants to participate as well. National franchises like IHOP and Applebee’s are also involved in this year’s event.
“We didn’t want anybody to feel excluded. Our goal was to make everyone feel like they could be a part of this,” Pamela Borek, the township clerk, said. “Everything else is pretty much home-bred places. It’s really up to what you’re interested in when it comes to food.”
Ultimately, Kois said he was optimistic about this week, since it fits within the overall strategy that the HBA employs to “think of different ways to get the word out” to make the township “a more business-friendly place.”
“The idea is that some of these places can expand who’s going there,” Kois said. “It gives both visitors and residents the chance to check out places they haven’t tried or go to their favorite place. It’s all about options.”
The following establishments are participating in the Hillsborough Restaurant Week: Bombay Wok, 438 Route 206; Shakes ‘n’ Scoops, 438 Route 206; The Landing, 311 Amwell Road; Damiani’s Oven, 220 Triangle Road #230; The Falafel House, Town Center One 411 Route 2063; Super Sundaes, 435 Amwell Road #3; Basilico Trattoria, 340 South Branch Road #426; Caffe Piazza, 649 Route 206; Royce Brook, 201 Hamilton Road; Tender Lovin’ Grill, 415 Amwell Road #101; Ama Pizza e Cucina, 236 South Branch Road; IHOP, 260 Route 206; Mariana’s Pizzeria, 381 Triangle Road; Petrock’s Bar & Grille, 419 Amwell Road; Joe’s Family Pizzeria & Restaurant, 856 Route 206; Saladworks, 30 Falcon Road; Alfonso’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta Shop, 411 Route 206; Moe’s Southwest Grill, 838 Route 206; Old Man Refferty’s, 284 Route 206; Ricky’s Thai, 649 Route 206; Culinary Creations, 434 Route 206; Applebee’s, 315 Route 206 #300; Cafe Brio, 220 Triangle Road Suite 225; Big Heads, 315 Route 206; Family Mexican Grill Restaurant, 378 South Branch Road; Hillsborough Star Diner Restaurant, 842 Route 206; Jumbo Palace, 424 Route 206; Catered Affair, 424 Route 206; Victor’s Pizza, 450 Amwell Road #1; and Sweetberry Bowls, 649 Route 206 Unit 1B.
To view menus from each establishment, visit hillsborough-nj.org/restaurant-week.