Greensburg Restaurant Week returns with special dishes, deals

Jan. 21—General manager Lynn Hepple likes to give diners at Bar Nine "something completely new" when Greensburg Restaurant Week rolls around.

This time, special dishes at the Greensburg gastropub will include short rib pierogies, served with garlic gravy, sour cream and scallions. The pierogies are one of two appetizer options for a three-course meal including a choice of three entrees and three desserts.

Presented by Greensburg Community Development Corp., also known as Think Greensburg, restaurant week will begin Monday and run through Jan. 29.

The twice-yearly event provides area restaurants an opportunity to showcase their regular menus or to highlight new creations.

Participants have the option of offering a three-course, fixed price meal or another special of their choosing, said John Stafford, executive director of Think Greensburg.

"We want to provide flexibility for both restaurants and diners," he said.

El Diablo Brewing Co. & Wood-Fired Kitchen in Greensburg is running with that flexibility theme, said Rachel Flowers, who operates the restaurant with her husband, chef Ray Flowers.

"We chose not to do just a fixed-price menu but to do more a la carte items," she said. "It allows us more creativity, and everybody doesn't want a high-end entree."

One of El Diablo's appetizers will be a pizza baked in a cast-iron skillet. They'll also have a cornmeal-based savory cake.

"For the entrees, we be bringing back some items from past menus," Flowers said, including a saffron rice-based Buddha Bowl with avocado, arugula, herbs and roasted sweet potatoes.

Bar Nine's main courses will include a Chimichurri Sous Vide Ribeye, a Korean Shrimp Bowl and a Southwest Brisket Sandwich. Dinner for two is $49.90 to eat in, or $54.90 for takeout.

Bar Nine likes to do a spin on something trendy, Hepple said. She developed recipes for their specials along with owner Jamey Henry.

"We like to have both dinner options and a sandwich, if someone wants something that's not as fancy," Hepple said. "We have nice, hearty portions."

Other participating Greensburg restaurants include The Boulevard, The Headkeeper, J. Corks and Little E's Pizzeria.

Hempfield locations are Marino's American Eatery and Tapped Brick Oven & Pour House, along with Guy Fieri's American Kitchen and Bar and Sports and Social Steel City at Live Casino Pittsburgh.

Also on the list are Moreland at Waterworks and The Olde Spitfire Grille, both in South Greensburg, and Chef Dato's Table in Derry Township.

Stafford said this is the eighth iteration of restaurant week, which is scheduled for January and August. It is timed to occur during traditionally down times for the restaurant business.

"We definitely have more traffic during restaurant week, especially when it's quiet in January," Flowers said. "It's a lot of extra work, but it's good. I love it."

Organizers are contemplating moving the August event to September this year, because restaurant traffic tends to slow down, after summer vacation time as students return to school, Stafford said.

Restaurant menus, along with pricing and reservation information, are available at greensburgrestaurantweek.com.

Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .