Biddeford + Saco Restaurant Week, celebrating the culinary scene of the two cities, runs March 10 to March 17.

The annual event is sponsored by the Heart of Biddeford, Saco Main Street, and the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce + Industry.

Throughout the week, participating establishments will offer special menu items and discounts. Restaurants will have QR code flyers in-house, linking diners to a short feedback survey where they will be entered to win a $100 gift card to a location of their choosing. Two winners will be drawn from those who filled out the survey. Another $100 gift card will be given to a winner who uploads a photo of their food to the Biddeford & Saco Restaurant Week Facebook Event.

Restaurant Week kicks off on March 10 with the Community Soup-er, at First Parish Congregational Church in Saco. Local restaurants are donating pots of soup, bread, desserts and more. All ticket proceeds and food drive donations collected at the event will go to the Biddeford and Saco food pantries. Tickets are available to purchase online through Eventbrite. Other special events during Restaurant Week include Local Libations night on Wednesday, March 13, highlighting local drink specials, as well as Restaurant Trivia on Sunday, March 17 from 5-6:15 p.m. at Portland Pie in Biddeford.

For a complete list of participating restaurants and special offers, visit bit.ly/eatbiddsaco24 or follow Heart of Biddeford, Saco Main Street, or the Biddeford + Saco Chamber of Commerce on social media.

Sanford

I know Sanford is not in the Saco Bay Coverage area, but the café at the Sanford Regional Technical Center is such a good deal I had to give it a mention.

The student-run café is open for breakfast and lunch on Wednesday and Thursday through May 16. Reservations must be made in advance at https://tableagent.com/portland-maine/srtc-cafe/  Meals must be paid by cash or check.

A friend and I met there for lunch recently, and we were not disappointed. For $12.95, diners get a choice of appetizer, entrée and dessert, plus a dinner roll with butter, and coffee or water. Our student waitress was super-sweet and very attentive.

 

The ratatouille at the SRTC Cafe is a good choice. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

We both had the ratatouille for the appetizer, a mixture of roasted eggplant, squash, tomatoes and bell peppers, and both agreed it was so delicious we could have eaten it as a main course.

 

Steak au Poivre is one of the menu options at the SRTC Cafe. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

For the main dish, we both chose Steak au Poivre, broiled sirloin steak with spicy au poivre sauce, served with rice and a side of vegetables. I ordered mine medium rare, she ordered hers medium well and they were both cooked as requested. The sauce was nicely seasoned without being obnoxiously spicy, and the meat was a generous portion.

 

Chocolate mousse made a sweet ending to lunch at the SRTC cafe. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

For dessert I had the chocolate mousse and she had the mini blueberry tart. Neither of us had any complaints, but thought we might order bananas foster if we ever came back after we saw it prepared table-side over a flame.

Lunch at the SRTC cafe was definitely a win/win – we got a great meal for a good deal and we supported the future leaders of the hospitality industry.

Liz Gotthelf is the publisher of Saco Bay News. She also loves to eat – and support local businesses. If you have any local restaurant or food news, she’d love to hear from you. Send her an email at [email protected].