Dine Out, Give Back and Possibly Win Big This Week

You may have noticed folks from all over the city flocking to a specific ‘hood seriously concentrated with restaurants for fantastic, affordable meals. Yes, Inman Park Restaurant Week started yesterday (March 28) and is in full swing until April 3. Restaurants like , , and the new Victory Sandwich Bar will all be offering $15, $25 or $35 prix fixe meals, some with limited options and others offering up almost everything from their regular menus. 

The best part (besides the incredible food, of course) is that the special dining week benefits Project Open Hand, the admirable Atlanta nonprofit that prepares and delivers nutritional meals to seniors and those in need and also provides nutritional and wellness coaching in the community. Inman Park Restaurant Week is the only restaurant week (and you know Atlanta has a ton!) that benefits a charity, so you can feel that much better about your night out on the town.

Throughout the week, diners will be asked if they’d like to donate $1 for a raffle ticket, of which the proceeds will benefit Open Hand.  At the end of the week, the winner will be drawn and receive a private party for 30 people on the patio, complete with hors d’oeuvres from all the participating restaurants. 

“It’s so nice that this group of chefs is so community-minded and thinking about how they can support a nonprofit while still driving business to their restaurants,” said Cristal Waldrop, director of development for Project Open Hand. “After we set up the partnership for this year, a few representatives from the restaurants (like , , Rathbun’s and a few others) even came to take a tour at Open Hand and see what we’re all about.”

"We are happy to work with Open Hand,” said Cliff Bramble, co-owner of Rathbun’s, Kevin Rathbun Steak and Krog Bar. “They are a logical fit to the Inman Park restaurants’ philanthropy efforts."

Project Open Hand works all over the city, but much of their work is done in East Atlanta, Inman Park, Downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.

“People are surprised that [folks in need] are right in their backyards,” Waldrop said. “Especially when volunteers are out delivering meals, they really feel like, ‘These are my neighbors and people in my community.’  It gives you that personal connection, even helping in a small way like purchasing a raffle ticket." 

Waldrop informed us that the goal for the proceeds raised is about $7,000. Patrons are encouraged to purchase as many raffle tickets are they like to support the cause and also increase their chances to win the party. 

In the words of Kevin Rathbun, “You get 30 people at Kevin Rathbun Steak, on the patio with all the restaurants that are involved. Everybody brings hors d’oeuvres; everybody brings beer and wine. We’re going to have a blast. We’ll pick the raffle ticket right after Inman Park Restaurant Week, so you better have some!

 Visit the Inman Park Restaurant Week site for more information and call the individual restaurants to make reservations. 

If you miss Restaurant Week or just want to donate more, consider dining out for Project Open Hand again on April 27 for Dining Out for Life.  Several Inman Park Restaurant Week participants (Fritti, Sotto Sotto, The Albert) will be giving to the cause again.