It’s a week-long event that local foodies look forward to: Restaurant week!
The three-courses for $30 deal is happening now in Collingswood, N.J. It’s an event that, not only, appeals to the pockets and the taste buds of South Jersey diners, it also boosts business for many locally-owned restaurants.
Denise Pomarici, the general manager of Casona on Haddon Avenue in Collingswood, says Tuesdays and Wednesdays are typically slow for the Cuban-Latin restaurant, but not this week.
Going into Tuesday evening, the restaurant, which sits inside of an historic 107-year-old home, had 35 reservations on the books.
“What I’ve learned is that people actually look forward to [restaurant week],” says Pomarici. “They’ll do it in Philadelphia, they’ll do it in Collingswood, wherever there is a restaurant week people are drawn to it.”
The added sales greatly help the many mom and pop shops that line the trendy, yet cozy, suburban strip.
“We are not a franchise. There is no other Casona,” boasts Pomarici. “We’re personalizing every dish that goes out.”
Pomarici says Chef Jorge Reyes runs the kitchen and whips up his own homemade Cuban recipes. It’s the authentic Latin menu and décor that Pomarici believes attracts customers.
“The only thing we’re missing [in here] is the signature ceiling fans, which I’m looking to install,” she says.
The restaurant can seat as many as 160 people, yet the atmosphere of two-story Victorian home is intimate. It has seating on both floors and on a front porch that is open year-round.
Casona says its restaurant week menu features several unique dishes that are not offered on its regular menu. It’s an opportunity to attract and impress new customers.
Casona is also working to spice things up for its “regulars”. Chef Reyes is preparing to unveil a brand new menu this spring. It will debut after Easter.
Collingswood Restaurant Week runs through Friday. Here is a link for more details:
www.collingswood.com/entertainment/restaurant-week
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