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December 23, 2020

‘Eat New Haven’ campaign aims to sustain city eateries

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED Brazi's Italian Restaurant in New Haven.

When you are planning your holiday feasts, city restaurant owners hope you’ll sit back and let them do the cooking.

This week, New Haven officials launched the “Eat New Haven” campaign. It aims to celebrate and support local eateries, as many are struggling due to fewer customers and reduced income due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Mayor Justin Elicker said these businesses have made New Haven a dining destination and fuel its economy.

“This initiative is our opportunity, as a community, to both celebrate that and to give back,” Elicker said. “By participating, we can all help these vital businesses weather these challenging times and bring back jobs.”

The Eat New Haven initiative, which has a slogan of “Let us cook for you,” has a designated web page at visitnewhaven.com/dining.

Through the effort, restaurants hope to get more customers. Organizers plan to use social media to entice guests and highlight local cuisine. The website has links to details for takeout, delivery and gift card options. 

Economic Development Administrator Michael Piscitelli said restaurants are offering deals for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and throughout the holiday season.

“We can all agree that this [local restaurant scene] is part of what makes the New Haven area very special, and it is important that we support them through the winter season,” Piscitelli said. 

The website encourages people to buy gift cards too, and makes it easy by allowing for “one-click” purchasing.

The initiative is part of the latest effort through the Together New Haven economic partnership to bolster New Haven small businesses. In late November, the “Shop Local, Shop Small” campaign promoted safe and socially-distant shopping options

Attilio Marini, chef and owner of the Cast Iron Chop House and Oyster Bar, said feeding customers is what the restaurant community lives for.

“While the pandemic has changed the way we can do business, we are ready and able to continue serving you at this time,” Marini said. “What better way to enjoy the holidays than with a special take-out meal from any one of the many amazing restaurants we have here in New Haven.”

Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com.

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