Dining out in Burnaby this weekend could be gentler on the wallet.
Tourism Burnaby is launching Taste of Burnaby on Sept. 25, with three-course meals available at a set price at 13 of the city’s popular eating spots.
The organization decided to create the event after noticing how many Burnaby restaurants participated in Dine Out Vancouver last year, Nancy Small, Tourism Burnaby’s executive director, told the NOW.
“We were surprised, actually, at how many Burnaby restaurants were taking part in it,” she said. “So I thought, well, they’ve obviously got an appetite – pun intended – to do it, so why not create our own?”
The big draw for the event is the lower price point, allowing people to try out restaurants they may not have previously, she said.
“It’s similar to what we’ve seen in other markets, trying to give an extra push to our dining scene at times when, you know, people may not traditionally be looking to head out to dinner on a regular basis,” Small explained. “I wouldn’t say it’s off-peak, but it’s certainly not peak period in terms of restaurant dining in this market.”
Since patio season is wrapping up, Tourism Burnaby thought this would be an ideal time to showcase the culinary arts in the city.
“As people’s habits change, and as people move from outside to inside, we want to build awareness of Burnaby’s dining scene but also give people a reason to go, and that reason to go is often price-related,” Small said. “Any time you give people a really strong price point, it’s a good option anyway – a low risk option, too.”
The event is the third in a series of culinary initiatives put on by Tourism Burnaby, after this summer’s Small Plates by the Lake and Passport to Food.
Taste of Burnaby runs from Sept. 25 to Oct. 4, with menus set at price points of $17, $27 and $37, depending on the restaurant and the three-course menu.
The participating restaurants are Abyssinia, Golden Pita, Great Bear Pub, Amorosa Pasta House, Baci Ristorante, Burnaby Mountain Clubhouse, Cristos Greek Taverna, Little Billy’s Steakhouse, Riverway Clubhouse, Trattoria, Club Ilia, Hart House Restaurant and Reflect Social Dining + Lounge.
For details, go to www.tourismburnaby.com/tasteofburnaby.
