Restaurant Week Returns With 20 Participating Eateries

Downtown Restaurant Week is back after a nearly decade-long absence, giving locals a chance to sample special menus and exclusive deals at 20 participating restaurants over nine days, from March 28 through April 5.

The Riverside Downtown Partnership is reviving the event, which ran from 2013 to 2016. Executive Director Janice Penner told the Gazette the event lost appeal in its later years after eligibility was expanded citywide and the specials became less distinctive. This time, she said, the focus is staying on downtown restaurants with offerings designed to be genuinely exclusive. Prices range from a $7.50 pistachio coffee or pastry at Copper Goat Coffee to a $65 three-course dinner at ProAbition.

Diners looking for a full sit-down meal have plenty to choose from. Gram's BBQ is offering a choice of brisket, ribs, or chicken with two sides, a dessert, and a drink for $29. El Pollo Taco, a Peruvian restaurant, is serving fried yucca, Stromboli saltado, and tiramisu for $24.99. Palenque by Mezcal has a Caesar salad, enchiladas, and choco flan for $39.99.

On the higher end, Estrella is featuring tuna ceviche, fettuccine with a choice of chicken, shrimp, or ribeye, and wine sorbet for $45. Mario's Place is offering a purple haze salad, tortellini filled with asparagus and ricotta, and lemon sorbet for $49.

The Mission Inn Restaurant is participating with two separate offerings: duo veal medallions marsala glace with mushroom confit, truffle mashed potatoes, and green beans for $44, and a strawberry panna cotta with mochi ice cream for $14.

Duane's Steak House is featuring a 16-ounce grilled pork chop with mango chutney for $42. The Lobby is offering a salad, twister fries, ravioli or chicken alfredo, and a choice of old fashioned or espresso martini for $40. Bella Trattoria's special is pan-seared barramundi with herb-roasted potatoes, lemon broccolini, and salsa verde for $39.

Los Campanas is serving queso birria tacos for $29, while Maki Sushi and Cocktails is offering edamame, nigiri, and a sushi roll with a Japanese whiskey smoking old fashioned for $18, or the cocktail on its own for $16. Lake Alice has orange chicken on rice for $17. Killer Queens Social House is featuring an avocado bacon melt sandwich for $16.

Smashed Papas rounds out the savory options with a Flamin' Cheetos Burger, fries, and a drink for $20.

For drinks, Brass Monkey Bar is pouring a tango margarita for $15, Cheba Hut has a Pineapple Express Punch for $11, and Molino's Coffee is offering a 16-ounce strawberry cloud iced latte for $8.40.

More information about Downtown Riverside Restaurant Week, including full menus, is available at riversidedowntown.org. Updates are also posted on the Riverside Downtown Partnership's Facebook page.