“Since we’re a restaurant we thought it would be good to get the customers involved in the giving too,” says Reitzer’s marketing director, Allie Compton, “and we thought it would be great to support a charity that feeds so many people.” Reitzer put a call out to local restaurants;16 responded with dishes such as surry sausage stuffed trout served over vidalia onion bisque and silver queen succotash (Millie’s); braised pork, apple risotto, melted leeks and mission fig sauce (Sweetwater); tuna seared rare with wasabi mashed potatoes in miso broth (Helen’s); and filet mignon served with lobster mashed potatoes (Bookbinders). Lemaire changed things up a bit by creating a six-course chef’s choice tasting menu for $65 a person. Reitzer and company hope to make Restaurant Week an annual event, and hope to add more restaurants in future years, Compton says. — Carrie Nieman

The restaurants participating in Richmond Restaurant Week are Acacia, Amici Ristorante, Bacchus, Bottega, Buckhead’s, The Dining Room at the Berkeley Hotel, Franco’s Ristorante, Helen’s, Indian Fields Tavern, Kuba Kuba, La Grotta, Lemaire, Millie’s, The Old Original Bookbinders, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Sweetwater. Call to reserve a table.