Event showcases local eateries

GRANGER — Just as with any other activity, restaurant patrons can get into a rut, and it may seem like the only option is the “same old, same old.”

To help them break out of that habit and try something new, the restaurants in Granger have joined together with Epicureans Unite to present Granger Restaurant Week, which features nine days of special offers at 17 different eateries as well as special promotions at a number of other food-related businesses.

“We’re trying to attract people and educate people on the fine dining and other restaurant options available in the Granger area. We have everything from sports bars to upscale dining,” said Michele Scherpenberg, who founded Epicureans Unite in 2010. “We have Japanese, barbeque, and family restaurants.

We really have a lot of options for our community.”

From March 28 through April 5, many of Granger’s restaurants will be offering specially-priced menu options so as to entice restaurant patrons to try their fare. Most of the restaurant specials will follow a $15/$30 pricing structure.

Patrons can order either a multi-course dinner or two meals for the special price of $30. Breakfast, lunch and dinner menus will be available at some of the restaurants at $15 for two complete meals. In addition, restaurants will provide drink specials and the opportunity to learn more about Granger Restaurant Week sponsors, including the Granger Business Association.

“We’re very thankful for our sponsor, the Granger Business Association,” Scherpenberg said. “They’re an intricate part of our community, and they’ve been very helpful in setting up the event this year.”

Participating restaurants include Uptown Kitchen, Soho Japanese Bistro, Tony Sacco’s Coal Oven Pizza, Villa Macri Ristorante, The Eatery Reads & Things, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, Temper Grille, BHG Chinese Bistro, Copper Creek Cafe, Eddie’s Steak Shed, Yesterday’s Fine Food & Spirits and Beef O’ Brady’s. New restaurants for 2014 include Grill 23 Food & Spirits, Siam Fresh Asian Cuisine, Cheri’s Rib Shack, Knollwood Country Club and The Pitt Stop.

Details on the various specials can be found by visiting www.grangerrestaurantweek.com. Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook. In addition, Epicureans Unite has developed Michiana’s first dining app for both Android and iphones, and it can be used to look up restaurant locations.

Beyond the 17 restaurants, Epicureans Unite has invited several other culinary establishments to take part in the nine-day event.

“Another thing were doing that’s different from all of the other restaurant weeks is that we have extra special deals that are listed on the website. There are a lot of other food and drink businesses in Granger as well, and we have five of them that are participating,” Scherpen-berg said.

For example, Bare Hands Brewery will be brewing an exclusive beer that will only be available during those nine days. Also, Down to Earth, a health food store, will be offering discounts, and The Wine Gallery at Villa Macri is also doing a special.

“I’d like for Granger to eventually become a culinary destination—from breweries to wine shops to olive oil shops and candy stores like Wakarusa,” Scherpenberg said.

Scherpenberg and the owners of the various restaurants are hoping that visitors from around the region will visit Granger and discover what all of them have known for some time: that’s there’s a lot of great food choices in Granger.

“I love Granger!” Scherpenberg said. “I love Granger food!”