A growing number of chefs and restaurant operators are getting as excited about creating specials for the 2018 Newtown/Sandy Hook Restaurant Week as foodies and hungry patrons are to sample them.

The annual event, celebrating the dozens of local food service establishments, is happening October 8-14.

According to Deputy Director of Economic & Community Development Christal Preszler, the week-long activity highlights more than 50 local businesses and is designed to attract residents and visitors from out of town to sample as many dishes, appetizers, desserts, and beverages as they can.

“Even if people are only able to visit one or a few of the local restaurants, delis, and other food service establishments during the week, we know that the promotion serves as a reminder to all the culinary selections, cuisines, and gathering places we have here in town,” Ms Preszler said.

Ms Preszler said many patrons who come to visit the community’s eateries from in and outside of town are looking for unique specials and price fixed meal selections that may not otherwise be offered, or offered more rarely.

Take Franco’s Pizza & Pasta in the Sand Hill Plaza, for instance.

Its owners Elizabeth Siemon and Marcio Dos Santos — who are also celebrating 15 years in business — have a full meal planned as a Restaurant Week special for just $20, tax included.

Visitors will enjoy an appetizer basket of mozzarella sticks with sauce for dipping, a mini green salad, a choice of any pasta dish from the “Pasta Specialties” menu, a glass of wine (or Pepsi brand fountain drink), and a cannoli for dessert.

Other participating locations offering specific Restaurant Week specials and menu items include Alicante Bar De Tapas, Barnwood Restaurant, Cafe Xpresso, Fusion 25, Market Place Kitchen & Bar, and Panificio Navona.

Ms Preszler expects the list of locations creating specials will grow in the coming days leading up to the October 8 opening day.

In some cases, like Franco’s, the location is creating a single Restaurant Week offering, while other eateries are creating a selection of special lunch and/or dinner specials — or simply discounting the entire check.

By highlighting local eateries, Ms Preszler said she expects the increased traffic will benefit other local businesses as well.

Newtown/Sandy Hook Restaurant Week is being sponsored by a number of those neighboring businesses, including Dental Associates, Educational Playcare, Newtown Savings Bank, RE/MAX Real Estate, Associated Refuse Haulers, and TR Paul Inc.

Restaurants that contact Economic Development Assistant Kimberly Chiappetta can get significant exposure benefits from added marketing programs, like being listed on a special interactive website created for the event, [naviga:u]newtownsandyhookeats.com/specials[/naviga:u].

They will also get specifically mentioned as participants on a Connecticut Restaurant Week site, [naviga:u]connecticutrestaurantweek.com[/naviga:u].

To take advantage of these listings, local owners, managers, and proprietors are advised to e-mail their interest to [naviga:u]kimberly.chiappetta@newtown-ct.gov[/naviga:u].