PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Center City District Restaurant Week begins Monday, but the May 17-28 dates aren't the only thing different about this event this year.
Michelle Shannon with the Center City District expressed that participating restaurants can use all the help they can get.
"As everyone knows, the pandemic has been really, really difficult for the restaurant industry and they have pivoted in ways that I'm sure they never imagined possible to survive," she said.
"We have lost some restaurants and yes, some restaurants have opened or changed or changed concepts."
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The event takes place twice every year, but Shannon said it's unusual for the first event of the year to be held in the spring or summer, as this edition was postponed from winter.
Restaurant Week planners have made some changes to how they're informing the public about the event. Shannon said they did not put a flyer out with a list of participating restaurants because of the advance notice needed.
"We did a postcard and we're driving everybody to the website so literally, we could add a restaurant into the participant list the day restaurant week starts," she said.
Shannon also said that if you don't see your favorite restaurant on the list, be patient.
"There are restaurants that are still building back their staffs and may not feel that they have the capacity to handle Restaurant Eeek," said Shannon.
This year, organizers have also added a Restaurant Week option to take your food home with you.
"This is the second time," said Shannon. "When we did it in September, we also offered take-out and cocktails to go."
The second Center City District Restaurant Week takes place this fall.
Click here for the May 17-28 Center City District Restaurant Week listings and information.