Boston’s beloved culinary event, Dine Out Boston, is making a grand return this summer from August 4-17. This highly anticipated two-week event, presented by Meet Boston in partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, features more than 175 participating restaurants from across the Greater Boston area. With specially priced prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner, diners have the unique opportunity to explore Boston’s vibrant and diverse culinary scene at an affordable price.
Originally known as Restaurant Week Boston®, Dine Out Boston has been a staple in the city’s culinary calendar for more than two decades. The program has evolved significantly since its inception, expanding its reach and refining its offerings to include a broader range of cuisines and dining experiences. The goal of Dine Out Boston has always been to make fine dining more accessible to the public while supporting local restaurants by attracting new patrons.
Martha J. Sheridan, president and CEO of Meet Boston, highlights the diversity of this year’s event, noting, “Summer is the perfect time to enjoy Dine Out Boston, our signature culinary program, featuring specially priced menus all across Greater Boston. Our growing list of restaurants offers something for everyone. From Asian or Latin fare to French, Italian, seafood, tapas and sushi, Boston brings a lot to the table.”
Chala Harris-Garcia, event planner and executive assistant at Park 54 in Hyde Park, said, “We are thrilled to be part of Dine Out Boston. We were chosen to participate last year, and it was definitely a good experience for us in terms of our exposure and getting our restaurant out there. With that, we decided to do it a second time, and now we are going to continue to do it because it does bring business to our restaurant.”
A Park 54 shrimp dish PHOTO: COURTESY OF PARK 54
Dine Out Boston also encourages diners to extend their culinary adventures by pairing meals with other local activities. Whether it’s catching a concert, visiting a museum or enjoying a baseball game, the event aims to showcase not just the city’s culinary talent but also its rich cultural scene.
The increased foot traffic during the event week helps boost visibility and sales, while the prix fixe menu structure allows diners to explore more of what these restaurants have to offer without the usual price barrier. This exposure is particularly beneficial for new and lesser-known establishments, offering them a chance to shine in Boston’s competitive culinary landscape.
Many restaurants report that customers who discover their establishment during Dine Out Boston return for future visits, making it a win-win for both diners and businesses.
Harris-Garcia of Park 54 adds, “We do our most popular dishes, but we also try to take feedback from customers year-round on what they want to see on the menu. That’s our demographic and who we’re looking to cater to.”
Owners Tasha Hull and Andre Walker opened Park 54 in 2021.
“Tasha is a Hyde Park native. Andre is from Chicago. Andre wanted to open a restaurant in Boston for a while, they talked about it for a while,” Harris-Garcia explained about the restaurant’s inception. “Of course, because we’re in Hyde Park, they wanted to include that in the name somehow. Andre is a history buff and wanted to include the 54th regiment, which was a black infantry group that was based out of Hyde Park.”
Dine Out Boston serves as a stage for local restaurants to not only present their best dishes but also share their unique histories and connect with the community. For places like Park 54, with its rich historical significance and innovative cuisine, this event is an opportunity to make a lasting impression on both new and returning diners. As Harris-Garcia puts it, participating in Dine Out Boston is about more than just business; it’s about celebrating and sharing their story with the community they love.
Looking ahead, Dine Out Boston shows no signs of slowing down. The event continues to grow in popularity, drawing more restaurants and diners each year. For new restaurants considering participation, the advice from veterans is clear: Embrace the opportunity, prepare thoroughly, and use the event as a platform to showcase what makes your restaurant unique.
