Meal deals offered during inaugural Greater Latrobe Restaurant Week

Officials with the Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce hope to provide a delicious week in the neighborhoods for those who visit Latrobe and surrounding communities this week.

The chamber kicked off the inaugural Greater Latrobe Restaurant Week on Monday, modeling it after similar promotions in Greensburg and Pittsburgh. The event, which continues through Saturday, provides diners multi-course meal options for a special fixed price while giving participating restaurants an opportunity to grow their customer base.

The timing of the event couldn’t be better, as statewide restrictions related to the covid-19 pandemic recently were lifted, allowing restaurants to serve customers indoors at full capacity. The restaurant promotion also coincides with downtown Latrobe’s Mister Rogers Family Days, an annual activity-filled celebration of the legacy of town native and iconic children’s television host Fred Rogers.

“We hope that some of the families who come to the area for Mister Rogers Family Days will have dinner at one of our Restaurant Week participants,” chamber President and CEO Briana Tomack said. “As our restaurants are able to seat larger capacities, the chamber wanted to help bring them more customers by offering an opportunity to showcase their delicious food.”

Seven restaurants signed on for the initial chamber promotion. Tomack hopes to repeat it in November and make it an ongoing, semiannual event that would not overlap with those in Greensburg and Pittsburgh.

The fixed meal price might vary from restaurant to restaurant, depending on the chosen selections. “We set the price cap at $35,” Tomack said. “We wanted to keep it reasonable for people.”

Tax and gratuity aren’t included.

The idea for Greater Latrobe Restaurant Week grew from a conversation between Tomack and Kara Kurz, owner of Chef Dato’s Table in Derry Township. Kurz said she has gained new customers by participating in Greensburg Restaurant Week and thought Latrobe area restaurants should have a similar joint effort.

“We need to get the word out to try restaurants out our way,” Kurz said. “I feel it brings in some new people to try us out, and it allows my regular guests to get a perk as well.”

Chef Dato’s is offering four courses plus an alcoholic beverage for $35. Multiple entree choices include Korean-style ribs, chicken and smoked Gouda ravioli, and limoncello cedar plank salmon. Reservations are recommended at 724-739-0228.

Other participating establishments include: Palombo’s Bar and Restaurant (724-539-3441) and Ianni’s (724-539-3441), both in Derry Township; Carol and Dave’s Roadhouse (724-238-2296), Ligonier Borough; The Touchdown Club II (724-539-3310) and Valley Dairy Restaurant (724-539-0901), both in Unity; and Vallozzi’s (724-836-7663), Hempfield.

Visit latrobelaurelvalley.org/menus for meal selections at the restaurants.