Santa Maria Restaurant Month serving up big savings for customers

SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- Some big savings are now available at several Santa Maria Valley restaurants, wineries and breweries.

Thursday marked the beginning of Restaurant Month, a three-week annual promotion held by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.

"It is an affordable way to go out and experience great cuisine," said chamber Tourism Coordinator Yarely Corona. "It's 2020, so it's $20.20. It's a lot of lunch specials, some dinner specials, some wine pairings, so they have some pretty good deals out there."

Eighteen different businesses in the area are taking part in the promotion this year, including Straw Hat Pizza in Santa Maria.

"We're offering two large one-topping pizzas for $20.20," said owner Randy Wise. "It's a pretty good deal. It's not quite half off, but it's pretty close."

Wise said Straw Hat has been a Restaurant Month participant since the promotion was created by the Chamber more than 10 years ago.

He believes it's a great way to create more business.

"Absolutely," said Wise. "It gives us a little pop, as far as more people coming in, and you might get someone who has never tried you before, which is a plus."

The idea of the promotion is to bring in more customers during what is typically the slowest period of the year for restaurants.

"After the heavy holiday season, it's trying to get that boost to restaurants during that time period after the holidays, before the Super Bowl and Valentine's Day, so it's trying to get the crowds to go out to the local restaurants," said Corona.

An added benefit for customers is the needed contribution their business provides to the city and county.

"Restaurant month is also helping out the local tax revenue," said Corona. "It's a great way to get people out to the local restaurants that also give money back to the community to help out, so it's a great win-win for everyone."

For the second year in a row, the Chamber is running a Craft Cocktail Contest to go along with Restaurant Month.

Several local restaurants are taking part in the special contest. The public has an opportunity to vote on their favorite drink, as will a special panel of guest judges.

Restaurant Month runs through Jan. 31.

For more information and to find out what restaurants are participating, visit Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Restaurant Month website.