About 30 restaurants are expected to participate (maplewoodvillagealliance.wordpress.com) in this year’s event, from March 21 to March 27, including these notables:
Verjus: Chef Charles Tutino is offering a $39 prix-fixe menu that his wife, co-owner Jane Witkin, says will return for most of the summer. Witkin says the menu will be similar to one they offered last year and represents savings of more than $15 from the à la carte menu. Last year included choice of soup, salad or paupiette of house-cured salmon; entrée choices included salmon en croute, chicken breast stuffed with honey-glazed carrots and savory mushroom sauce, fillet of salmon and salmon mousse in puff pastry, or beef bourgignon with garlic mashed potatoes, salsify and mushroom sauce; desserts included caramelized apple crepes with whipped cream, chocolate mousse with whipped cream and berries, or ice cream terrine. 1790 Springfield Ave, 973-378-8990, verjusrestaurant.com
Lorena’s: À la carte entrées at this tiny, elegant BYO range from $34 to $42. During restaurant week, chef/co-owner Humberto Campos Jr. will be offering a three-course prix-fixe menu priced even less than last year’s $32. “I might do a $27 or $28 menu, because people are trying to cut back,” he says. Last year’s included an appetizer choice of duck confit rillettes or salmon tartare; short ribs or fish for entrées; and panna cotta or chocolate cake. 168 Maplewood Ave, 973-763-4460; restaurantlorena.com