It’s a week made for good eating

Editor’s note: This version corrects the amount of the “bounce back” promotion in the subhead and story.

From Jan. 21 to 27, people can score a deal on some of the best eateries in the area during the fifth annual Newport Beach Restaurant Week.

From Amelia’s on Balboa Island to the Wine Lab Newport on Mariner’s Mile, there are more than 70 dining options with special prix fixe menus to choose from. Sorted by their location within the city, taking advantage of the weeklong event also allows diners an opportunity to acquaint themselves with different parts of Newport, such as the Balboa Peninsula, the Back Bay and Newport Coast.

“There are so many really unique independent restaurants in our cities and we’re able to give them exposure and attention through the campaign,” said Peggy Fort, director of Restaurant Week.

Generally speaking, January is a slow month for restaurants so it’s not only a campaign that brings attention to the culinary chops of Newport, but it also drives necessary revenue to the city during a hard time, Fort said.

Mayor Mike Henn believes the restaurant industry is crucial to Newport Beach.

“It’s a way for residents to reintroduce themselves to an array of restaurants in town,” Henn said.

Based on the growing number of participating restaurants, Henn suspected that this year’s “choices will be better than ever.”

Sheri Drewry, the owner of Wilma’s Patio on Balboa Island and the daughter of the founder, has participated in Newport Beach Restaurant Week since its inception. She’s also a big supporter of the local restaurant industry as president of the Newport Beach Restaurant Assn.

“For such a great value it allows people to go try restaurants they might not have normally had in their budget,” she said. “It also drives business from other cities because we’re such a great destination.”

Newport Beach Restaurant Week hosted a preview event at The Resort at Pelican Hill on Wednesday night that showcased various participating chefs.

There will be a couple events celebrating the weeklong event before its official start next Friday.

On Saturday, Restaurant Week will host live cooking demonstrations for the public at the Bloomingdale’s at Fashion Island.

From 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Jan. 20, there will be a kick-off party at Port Restaurant/Bar in Corona del Mar. Partygoers are encouraged to make a $10 donation to Newport Beach’s Relay for Life event.

There is a special “bounce back” promotion going on during Restaurant Week. When diners visit any of the participating restaurants, they can get a 20% off card. The “bounce back” card is good for use from Jan. 28 to March 13 and there is no limit on cards accumulated.

The events, Fort said, are hoping to rally the community behind their local establishments. The city urges everyone to book reservations in advance so they do not miss out on trying any of the fare served up by the participating eateries.

For more information about Restaurant Week, visit newportbeachdining.com.