1st-ever Queen Creek Restaurant Week to benefit local nonprofit

The fall edition of Arizona Restaurant Week begins Friday, Sept. 21, but Queen Creek is doing its own early version – Queen Creek Restaurant Week – all this week to benefit a local non-profit.

Through Saturday, Sept. 22, eight Queen Creek restaurants are donating a portion of their food sales to TeenLink AZ, a nonprofit that helps local schools address youth issues such as teen suicide, bullying, and cyberbullying.

The promotion was created by Rick Jewett, who created TeenLink AZ earlier this year, and Melissa Holiday, whose family owns and operates Bar Viñedo (both pictured above).

The participating restaurants:

• Bar Viñedo
• BuddyZ, A Chicago Pizzeria
• Casa de Mina Mexican
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Creek Side Taco Shack
• Lucky Lou’s American Grill
• Old Ellsworth Brewing Co.
• Sushi Creek

Many of the restaurants also will offer special dishes during the weeklong event.

“We are excited to participate in Queen Creek Restaurant Week to highlight the local flavors Queen Creek has to offer, says Brian McKean, owner of Old Ellsworth Brewing. ‘‘You no longer have to travel to another ZIP code to enjoy unique, superb food offerings.”

Old Ellsworth is bringing back its Burning Angus Burger for restaurant week. McKean says the fiery burger is typically his most popular special.

In addition to food specials, Bar Viñedo will host two events to help close the week. The first is a performance by Dueling Pianos from 8-11 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21. The second is an End of QC Restaurant Week party, starting at 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22.

The end-of-week party is expected to last past Bar Viñedo’s regular closing time to allow area restaurant employees to attend after they close their own eateries.