Downtown Dining Week is back, but it’ll be a bit different this year. It started out with a handful of restaurants and three-course dinners, priced to the year: $20.08, $20.09 and so on.

But like Deni Reilly of The Majestic Grille and Cocozza American Italian said: “Who wants anything to be $20.20?”

More importantly, Downtown Dining Week has always been a way to attract people to Downtown during a week when not much else was going on, a way to get folks interested in visiting and coming back. It’s been wildly successful — tables book quickly — and we’ll just have to wait to find out what COVID does to it.

One thing it can’t do, though, is make strapped restaurants put out a three-course meal for $20 or a lunch for two for $20, or whatever version of the deal we’ve most enjoyed in years past. This year, participating restaurants can do their own thing, but there are plenty of deals to be had.

With cold weather coming, weary restaurateurs’ worries increase

And plenty of restaurants that need your support.

You’ll find the list by clicking here, and keep checking back as restaurants always tend to get it together in the final days leading up to Downtown Dining Week, which is Nov. 1- 7 this year.

Here are some of the specials you’ll find: Grecian Gourmet offers lunch, dinner or a takeout meal for $20.21 and options include a mezze snack box for two, a half rack of lamb with vegetables, or an entrée with side, soft drink and cheesecake. Terrace at River Inn is doing three courses, with choices in each, for $29.95; downstairs at Paulette’s, you’ll also get three courses for the same price.

More than 50 restaurants are participating, so check the website, pick your place, and if the special deal isn’t listed (most aren’t yet), call the restaurant to get more information and to make your reservation.

My colleague and friend was distraught to hear that the buffet at Pho Binh is gone, never to return. I tried to find out, but only recently got an answer and come on, isn’t it a little sweet they took their time to care about her hurt feelings?

I’m so sorry to hear she was so upset about the news. We’re facing very high increase in supply costs and the buffet has never been a profit for our operations. Momma hung on to it for years because she always remember(ed) the times when we struggled just to get a full meal. She wants to make sure anyone she cooks for will never leave hungry. Unfortunately, during these times the food waste and health risks of having a buffet is too much to overcome.

I’m just saying: That doesn’t say never. It says “during these times.” Let’s wait and see before we say this is forever gone. 

Future’s bleak for Puck, but we have 2 dining events this week

This, sadly, is, though it should come as no surprise as I told you a few weeks ago that food service had ended at Puck Food Hall short of dessert and drinks. It was a plucky little place, nimbly changing to try to bring a very good idea to some success and who knows? It might’ve all worked out if it hadn’t been for COVID. 

Whatever the case, Puck’s last remaining vendors — Sweet Magnolia Gelato, Bar 409, Lulu’s and Dr. Bean’s Coffee — will have to find new digs before the end of the year as the food hall will close retail operations Dec. 31. It will be available to rent for special events and again, who knows? Someday someone might give it another go and perhaps the third time will be the charm. A tip, should that day come: Operate under the same hours, please. It was confusing.

People, people: Which is it? You don’t like to carve pumpkins or you don’t want to show ’em to me? I’ve tried this for years and never gotten much of a bite, so here’s my last appeal. It’s now or never: Do you have the gift for carving a fancy pumpkin? Email me your photos by 5 p.m. Oct. 28 and if I’m able to scare up a respectable number of entries, I’ll call you, get pointers, run your photos and put together a story. If you don’t, I’ll never bother you with this again. You have my word. 

From funnel cakes to cask-strength Scotch, there’s something for you

In the take-and-bake category, add another local business to well, another local business. Cocozza American Italian’s line of items ready for the oven launches Oct. 29 at Miss Cordelia’s. The local grocers such as Superlo, High Point Grocery and of course, Miss Cordelia’s, generously support local restaurants and food entrepreneurs, and why not? We all win.