Devour Indy Winterfest hopes to bring more business to restaurants

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The post-holiday stretch is the slow season for most restaurants, so the two-week Devour Indy Winterfest is hoping to drive business across the city.

It starts Monday and runs through Feb. 5 featuring everything from pizzerias to steakhouses.

Colleen Rose, director of communication and events for the Indiana Restaurant and Lodging Association, said, “We have every price point, every price range. One of the cool things on our website this time is you’re able to search by price range, so you are able to pick what your budget is and find the restaurants that fit best for you.”

Participants can get a specially priced, three-course value meal.

“They’re able to set their price, so you’re able to get a lot of food for what’s a great deal for that specific restaurant,” Rose said.

Jeff Stoller, executive chef at Harry and Izzy’s, said, “Devour menu — we’re keeping a lot of our traditional favorites on it. We have the 6-ounce, 8-ounce, filet. It is a center cut filet. Then, we also have our blackened cod and Smoking Goose pork chops.”

The goal of the event is to bring in business during the slow months, especially after three years of working during the pandemic and managing the fallout. “There just seems to always be something,” Rose said. “So right now, there is a lot of inflation going on. Price margins are tighter. So, this is just a great way to support the people who own these restaurants, who work in these restaurants.”

Asked what January would look like without this initiative, Stoller said, “Outside of conventions, we’d probably have a lot of bored cooks and servers, so it’s nice to just keep everybody in the flow of business.”

Coupons and passes are not required to participate, but reservations are encouraged where they are accepted.

Devour Indy also hosts a Summerfest at the end of the summer to increase business during the slowest time of the summer.