Written by Kelsey Vickers, intern with The Messenger

Six restaurants in Pike County will be participating in the annual Alabama Restaurant Week this August, hosted by the Alabama Tourism Department.

Alabama Restaurant Week is a 10-day event that highlights the restaurants of Alabama. Participating restaurants will be offering pre-fixed two and three-course lunches and dinners during this week at reasonable prices.

Kathleen Sauer, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said Alabama Restaurant Week is a great event for locally-owned restaurants to be involved in.

“The goal is to give a diverse range of cuisine to the citizens who participate,” she said. “We encourage everyone to get involved.”

Grey Brennan, marketing director at the Alabama Tourism Department, said this week is a great opportunity for Alabamians to try something new.

“Participants can either choose to visit their favorite restaurant, or perhaps visit a new place they’ve never been before,” he said. “The restaurants will either choose to showcase a specialty meal, or they will prepare an entirely new meal for the event.”

Brennan also said it is beneficial for restaurants to participate because it helps give them exposure.

Sauer said in order to see which restaurants are participating, food lovers can visit the website alabamarestaurantweek.com. From there, county and city selections may be made.

Sauer said the restaurant week will include only locally-owned eateries, not chain restaurants.

Participating restaurants in Pike County include Milky Moo’s, Sips on the Square, Sister’s, The BBQ House, The Brick Sports Grill, and The Party Pad.

Sheila Jackson, director of PR and tourism, said they are still encouraging restaurants to participate, with the deadline for registration being July 15.

“This is the second year of the restaurant week, and this year we’ve got more involved than last year,” she said, “but we would love to have even more restaurants involved.”

Jackson said this is a great thing for the county and that Troy might even look into something other cities are trying

“Birmingham is having its own restaurant week … that would definitely be a great idea for Troy possibly in the future,” she said.

Alabama Restaurant Week will take place from Aug. 16 to Aug. 25.

Sauer said for restaurants to register, business owners can visit the website at www.alabamarestaurantweek.com.