Pawtucket and Central Falls promote restaurant scene - by Donald Grebien

The cities of Pawtucket and Central Falls team up to host joint Restaurant Weeks from August 27^th to Sept. 19^th. Our annual event, tied to the upcoming Pawtucket Arts Festival, supports each city’s restaurants and celebrates the diversity of the restaurants by highlighting the amazing cuisine that can be found in both communities. Pawtucket and Central Falls are communities with some of the most authentic Latin American and Caribbean cuisine in New England, and we would like to continue to celebrate those restaurants as well as the larger local restaurant community. It is also a great opportunity to assist dining establishments that were shuttered due to the pandemic and are still struggling amidst its ongoing impacts.

We always look for every opportunity to support our local businesses and with so many new and exciting ways to celebrate, we encourage New England Real Estate Journal readers to take advantage of everything that Pawtucket and Central Falls have to offer. I want to thank Navigant Credit Union for always sponsoring the event and the hard work of the Pawtucket Central Falls Restaurant Weeks committee and our partners for making this event happen.

Customers who visit any local Pawtucket or Central Falls restaurant between August 27^th and Sept. 19^th and post a picture of their meal on social media using #PCFLocalEats will be entered for the raffle to win local restaurant gift cards. The more local restaurants you visit and more you post, the greater the chances your name will be drawn in the raffle. Prizes are bundles of $50 and $25 PCF restaurant gift cards. First prize is $250 in gift cards (one winner), second prize is $100 in gift cards (three winners), and third prize is $25 in gift cards (five winners).

Pawtucket also celebrates its growing brewery and distillery sector by hosting Drink Pawtucket as a part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival, a celebration of craft beer and spirits, scheduled on Friday, Sept. 17^th from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at The Guild, 461 Main St. in Pawtucket. Participating vendors at this festival-style tasting include Rhode Island Spirits, White Dog Distilling, Crooked Current Brewery, Smug Brewing and Foolproof Brewing Co. and The Guild. You will also find food trucks, music and games in the outdoor beer garden. In the event of rain, festivities will be moved inside. Tickets for the event can be purchased through https://www.pawtucketartsfestival.org/2021-festival-events.  

Also, during the joint Restaurant Weeks, Pawtucket will be hosting Empanada-Fest on Sept. 18^th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Slater Park in Pawtucket, which will feature 10 local Pawtucket and Central Falls restaurants in a friendly competition between local empanada-makers. Each restaurant will bring a signature empanada/patty for participants to try; this year’s event features Colombian empanadas and their cultural equivalents from Argentina, Jamaica, Venezuela, and Cape Verde. Participants will rank their top three favorites and submit their judging card. At the end of the event, scores will be tallied and winning restaurant announced.

For more information on Restaurant Weeks a list of local restaurant, please visit http://www.pawtucketri.com/2021-calendar/restaurant-weeks-2021.

If you are interested in opening up an eating establishment, brewery or distillery in Pawtucket, contact commerce director Jeanne Boyle at jboyle@pawtucketri.com.

Donald Grebien is the mayor of city of Pawtucket, R.I.