MISSION VIEJO – Residents looking for good restaurant deals need not look further than the city limits this coming week as the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce hosts its first annual Restaurant Week, Aug. 21-27.
In its inaugural run, 22 full-service restaurants in Mission Viejo will offer up deals and specials as a way of formally introducing themselves to residents who may have been thinking of trying that restaurant, but haven’t walked in yet.
The event is put on jointly by the Mission Viejo Chamber of Commerce and the city.
“It’s very easy (to get involved),” said Doug Zielasko, chief operating officer of the Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “There are no passes, tickets or coupons required for the event.
“We decided to go with full-service restaurants this year, which somewhat limits the number, but we wanted to keep it simple,” Zielasko added.
Instead, the list of participating restaurants and their offers and specials can be found by visiting mvrestaurantweek.org.
The event took about a year to form and finalize, Zielasko said, and was spurred by conversations between the Chamber of Commerce board committee and current city mayor Wendy Bucknum, an advocate for businesses in the city.
Restaurant Week gives residents the chance to be introduced to new eateries around town, while also boosting and exposing those eateries to new guests, which could stimulate the city’s economy, particularly during a week where restaurant business slows due to family summer vacations.
“That’s really what we’re after here,” Zielasko said, adding that the city has helped by running plenty of advertising. “We’re all excited to see how it plays out.”
While officials are focused on the inaugural event, which starts Monday, other ideas are already circling for future events.
“We’re going to take a look to see how this goes, but we do have another idea in mind for those (restaurants) that don’t have full service,” Zielasko said.
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
•Antonucci’s Italian and Seafood Restaurant, 24190 Alicia Pkwy.
•The Broken Yolk Café, 28621 Marguerite Pkwy.
•Café Nordstrom, The Shops at Mission Viejo
•California Pizza Kitchen, 25513 Marguerite Pkwy.
•Coco’s, 28502 Marguerite Pkwy.
•Costello’s, 27567 Puerta Real
•Delizie Ristorante & Bar, 25380 Marguerite Pkwy.
•Dublin 4 Gastropub, 26342 Oso Pkwy.
•High Park Tap House, 23641 Via Linda
•Maya Inn, 25571 Jeronimo Rd. Suite 8
•Mulleady’s Sports Pub & Grill, 27695 Santa Margarita Pkwy.
•Old Camp Bar and Grill, 28951 Los Alisos Blvd.
•O’Neill’s Bar & Grill, 26772 Avery Pkwy.
•Patsy’s Irish Pub, 25571 Jeronimo Rd.
•Paul’s Pantry, 27409 Bellogente
•Peppino’s, 27782 Vista Del Lago #26
•PF Changs, 800 The Shops at Mission Viejo
•Picoolino Ristorante, 28719 Los Alisos Blvd.
•Pub 32, 23692 Alicia Pkwy.
•Riptide Rockin’ Sushi, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy. No. 325
•Wineworks for Everyone, 26342 Oso Pkwy.