8 Greencastle eateries offer specials for ‘Chow Week’

Eight downtown restaurants are promoting Greencastle’s growing “foodie” scene by encouraging locals and out-of-town guests to enjoy what the city offers as they Chow Downtown.

“I’ve been calling the idea ‘dinner and a concert,’” Greencastle Mayor Bill Dory said of the partnership, “but Chow Downtown is a great call to action.”

Launched last year, the group expanded to eight restaurants in 2018 and, to encourage guests to try them all, they will offer a special $12 lunch and $25 dinner menu the week of July 28 through Aug. 3.

Year-round, Chow Downtown emphasizes dining and enjoying an event within an easy drive of the city.

“One goal is to inform people who live within an hour of Greencastle about everything going on here,” Dory said. “We have a growing number of unique eateries, and combined with local concerts, performing arts events, sports events and unique shopping, the drive to Greencastle is compelling.”

Chow Downtown Week involves 2 West Bistro, Almost Home Restaurant, Bridges Craft Pizza and Wine Bar, Moore’s Bar and Grill, Tap House 24, The Fluttering Duck, The Putnam Inn Family Restaurant and Wasser Brewing Co.

Year-round, the group also includes Myers’ Market and uses Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to promote events, “packaging” them with meals made from local ingredients, music in the venues, new beers on tap, and other offerings that make a lunch or dinner in Greencastle worth a visit – and repeat visits.

“We’re still welcoming first-time guests from Putnam County,” Bridges Assistant Manager Danita Timmons said, “and this Chow Downtown partnership lets us show our friends and neighbors what a great food and drink culture is developing here. Hosting a week of specials is a way to get the word out more extensively. All of us are doing a great job, and the word of mouth from Putnam County will help confirm to their friends, families and people all around west-central Indiana, what an enjoyable community we have.”

The specials offered during Chow Downtown Week are being promoted regionally, and the year-round promotion, which will be linked with events and programs in and around Greencastle, will encourage visitation all year.

“With the downtown restaurants offering a full week of fixed-price menus, guests can enjoy all the options for great meals at a great price,” Mayor Dory said.

Chow Downtown Week will end Friday, Aug. 3, which adds a special attraction to First Friday, encouraging people to enjoy Greencastle at its best, when the Courthouse Square is alive with activity, when parking is free and easy to find and a full afternoon and evening of fun is easily had, with everything within walking distance.

Chow Downtown Week lunch specials include 2 West Bistro’s artisan-grilled Caesar salad served with choice of grilled shrimp or chicken, followed by brownie bites with ice cream and caramel drizzle. At Moore’s Bar, enjoy the famous breaded tenderloin sandwich, made with locally sourced fresh pork loin hand-breaded daily, along with french fries, dessert and a soft drink.

Dinner specials include two options at Bridge’s Craft Pizza and Wine Bar, The Fluttering Duck and The Putnam Inn Family Restaurant. During Chow Downtown Week, Wasser Brewing Co.’s dinner special will be lamb or vegetable curry served over pistachio coconut basmati rice with Wasser Chocolate Parfait for dessert.

Tap House 24 will offer marinated, spice-rubbed pork ribeye with roasted rosemary potatoes and grilled corn on the cob for dinner, served with a 10-ounce pull from the tap of your choice or soda/tea and a fresh homemade turtle brownie with ice cream for dessert.

Almost Home Restaurant will entice dinner guests with a choice of appetizer – french-fried green beans or spinach and artichoke dip; house garden salad or homemade soup; local honey barbecue smoked chicken with chef’s vegetable and choice of potato; and, of course, strawberry pizza for dessert.

“With Scoops Ice Cream Parlor and Bridges Craft Pizza and Wine Bar opening last year, and with Wasser Brewing Co. and Tap House 24 opening the year before, Greencastle has developed a unique community of food, drink and dessert options,” Almost Home restaurant owner Gail Smith said.

“When you add Completely Nuts and Candy Co. and unique shops like Conspire, Burdge Boots, Bear Threads, Eitel’s, Cricket’s and Eli’s Books, there already are many reasons to spend a couple hours downtown. Pair that with a play at the Putnam County Playhouse, an event at the Fairgrounds or Big Walnut Sports Park, music at M2, or a concert, play or speaker at DePauw, and you have good reasons for a relaxing and enjoyable short trip from Crawfordsville, Terre Haute, Indy or Lafayette,” she said. “Chow Downtown Week is a concerted way to promote the city and county, highlighting what a great place this is to live, work and play.”

The Chow Downtown Greencastle Facebook page includes all menus and details about which restaurants are offering lunch specials and dinner specials, times the restaurants are open and whether reservations are needed.