Could we see it next year? What Columbus foodies would change about Restaurant Week
Columbus Restaurant Week expanded their taste palettes and introduced new restaurants, but local foodies also saw some shortcomings.
A trio of local foodies pointed first to the lack of variety. More on that later.
Claudia Negron, Walter Raynor and Carla Bounds, who are all active on the Columbus, GA Foodies Facebook Group, met for a roundtable discussion with the Ledger-Enquirer at B. Merrell’s on Friday to discuss the weeklong event.
Restaurant Week ran from July 17 through July 23 and featured more than 20 restaurants in the Chattahoochee Valley area.
Meet the Foodies
The trio didn’t declare themselves foodies, but their friends and family believed differently.
Raynor and his pregnant wife love to eat out and try different restaurants, he told the Ledger-Enquirer. He also enjoys exposing his three kids to different dining experiences.
“(My daughters) are not going to be surprised by nothing somebody’s son thinks they can show them,” he quipped. “They’re not going to be impressed by anything.”
Bounds owns the store Bluebelle Local Mercantile. Becoming a foodie and being drawn into the Facebook page was a natural progression because the store has a lot of food events, she said.
The business owner enjoys the group because it’s active, but avoids leaving any reviews that are too negative.
“If it’s good, I want people to know, right?,” Bounds said.
The third member of the foodie trio, Negron, is a registered nurse.
She’s posted reviews on restaurants in the Foodies Facebook group that included descriptions of her experiences, the pros and cons of each establishment and her overall impression.
Both Negron and Bounds are considered “Top Contributors” in the Columbus, GA Foodies Facebook group.
Here is what the group of foodies thought went well during Restaurant Week and what they think could be done differently in the future.
Best of Columbus Restaurant Week 2023
Some of their favorite restaurants continued to provide good consistency.
I feel like even if Mabella’s tried to mess up a dish, they couldn’t mess it up with me. — Raynor
(Charred Oak’s) cobbler is phenomenal. — Negron.
Hudson’s did pretty well. — Raynor.
My highlight was going to Trevioli’s and having a great experience. — Negron
Restaurant Week was a chance to try something new.
I’m not complaining about (the fixed menu) because it made you get out of your comfort zone. — Raynor
I like that there was diversity in the food. — Negron
(The owner) is the reason I even decided to (go to Frank’s Alley). I see him on social media all the time. He’s funny, and I’m like, ‘you know what, I’m gonna try there. — Bounds
Bounds took the opportunity to try a new place that was not on the Restaurant Week list.
The Mixed Market has really good pizza. It’s not my kind of pizza, but the dough was delicious. —Bounds
Negron had a bad experience turn into a positive when the owner reached out to make things right after she posted a negative review.
The owner reached out to me, being very sweet and accommodating...She kind of validated it and said, ‘Oh, I agree, that’s not what it should have been for us. — Negron
The foodie says she will be giving the restaurant another chance.
What the foodies would like to see in the future
They would like to see more variety in the participating restaurants, with more Hispanic, Caribbean and cuisines from other ethnicities.
There was no diversity. It was all like American continental restaurants. — Negron
I would like to see more, I don’t want to use the word unknown, but restaurants that just don’t have the popularity. — Raynor
There’s tons of new restaurants this year. I feel like none of them were really on there. — Bounds
The group had some trouble finding information about Restaurant Week.
I had a problem finding the list. I had to keep looking for it. — Bounds
“I did a search for it. I got tagged in the (Facebook) comments, and that’s how I found it. — Raynor
Making the event longer or having it more often was a popular idea among the foodies, along with making events like “Wing Week.”
I don’t know if a month is too long. Maybe (hosting Restaurant Week) twice a year might help. You can spread out some of those events. — Bounds
Ultimately, foodie’s are looking to find something new during Restaurant Week.
I feel like if you’re a true foodie then you will want to get out and explore those restaurants. A lot of people claim to be a foodie but eat chicken tenders every day. — Raynor
