Park City diners will have a new reason to go out this month as the Park City Area Restaurant Association launches the first-ever spring edition of its annual Dine About promotion.
Traditionally held in the fall, Dine About Park City has long been an opportunity for locals and visitors to check out prix-fixe meals at reduced prices. This year, the association decided to extend the concept into the spring shoulder season, a time when business can also slow as the town transitions between winter ski crowds and summer tourism.
The promotion highlights limited-time specials throughout May, with two-course lunches priced at $15, $20 or $25, three-course dinners for $30, $45 or $65, as well as après cocktails with bites for $20.
“As we transition from one peak season to the next, we’re excited to introduce our first spring season Dine About Park City,” said the association’s executive director, Ginger Wicks. “This is a special opportunity for our restaurants to showcase new menu items, and for patrons to relish quieter dining rooms, value pricing and an incredible meal.”
Wicks said the idea of a spring promotion has been discussed for years, but concerns about seasonal closures delayed its debut.
“Typically, the Dine About has always been a fall promotion,” she said. “The board felt strongly that it would be great for the restaurants to offer a spring promotion. We have had some members request it. So we just decided to pull the trigger this year and see how it goes.”
For the first year, participation numbers among members already suggest strong industry support.
“We’re super excited with the engagement that we’ve gotten from our member restaurants,” Wicks said. “We have a really great turnout.”
Twenty-four restaurants are participating, ranging from longtime staples to newer establishments. Among them are 7880 Club at Stein Eriksen Residences, Alpine Distilling Social Aid & Pleasure Club, Old Town Cellars, Café Terigo, Grappa, HANDLE, Hearth and Hill and Twisted Fern.
“There’s a lot of great diversity,” she said. “It’s a great time to get out and take advantage of maybe some locations that you didn’t get to enjoy over the winter or haven’t tried before.”
For participating restaurants, like High West Distillery’s Nelson Cottage, the promotion offers a chance to reach a broader audience with a more accessible format.
This is the first time the prix-fixe restaurant concept on Park Avenue, which usually serves six courses and whiskey pairings, has participated in Dine About.
“Not everyone is looking for a full six-course dinner experience, so this format gives patrons the opportunity to enjoy our hospitality and cuisine with a lower time commitment,” said Steve Walton, the distillery’s head of hospitality.
It’s also a chance to spread the word about the lesser-known restaurant led by the High West team, Walton said.
“It’s a perfect way for guests to discover what makes the Nelson Cottage such a special experience, whether they’re finding the venue for the first time or are longtime supporters,” he said.
Old Town Cellars is another first-time participant, available in the après category.
“We are excited to give our locals and regulars just one more reason to come see us during what is typically a slow month for visitation,” said Xania V. Woodman, the bar’s event sales manager.
With the promotion, visitors in May will have a chance to try new menu options, like a wine and snack pairing for a reasonable price, she explained. For the food, the bar is also highlighting local purveyors.
“You may have enjoyed a glass of Old Town Cellars’ wines before but perhaps you’ve not had the opportunity to pair it with cheese from our friends at Gold Creek Farms or a chocolate truffle from HoneyB Cakes & Pastries,” Woodman said.
The expansion of Dine About into the shoulder seasons and the healthy turnout also reflect a broader shift in Park City’s dining landscape, Wicks said, as fewer restaurants seem to be closing during the shoulder season.
“That’s great for our economy. It’s great for the workforce to keep people employed. It’s great for the community to enjoy some dining specials,” she said. “I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”
While it may seem like this year’s softer winter season — one of Utah’s worst on record — prompted the addition of another Dine About promotion as a boost to the local economy, Wicks said that wasn’t the deciding factor.
“The winter certainly was not the driving factor,” she said. “It’s really about driving business to restaurants so they can maintain their employees and not have to lay people off.”
Last season’s fall version of Dine About drew in just under 8,000 diners last October alone, Wicks said, a turnout organizers hope to see again this spring.
The full list of restaurants and their menus can be found on the Park City Area Restaurants Association website, parkcityrestaurants.com/dine-about/spring.