Expand and Entice Your Palate with Black Restaurant Week

In recent times, it has become increasingly essential to support minority-owned eateries, as they not only provide distinct culinary experiences but also are crucial for local economies and cultural variety. Black Restaurant Week LLC is helping you discover the flavors of African American, African, and Caribbean cuisine with a series of regional cultural events and aims to support Black-owned culinary businesses with substantial programming outside of their 10 or 14-day, multi-city tour across the United States.

The organization is hosting its “More Than Just a Week” campaign for its eighth year in service. The objective is to restimulate local economies within the Black community by promoting Black-owned culinary businesses and professionals who cannot afford to implement costly and independent advertising/marketing efforts, especially during the nation’s indeterminate financial status.

The campaign provides an exclusive opportunity for tourists to explore local establishments that serve distinctive cuisine which they may not have encountered before.

Discover the diverse and flavorful culinary traditions of African American, African, and Caribbean cultures.

Black Restaurant Week was founded in 2016 by three friends who shared a unified voice for their community: founder Warren Luckett and managing partners Falayn Ferrell and Derek Robinson. It began as a one-city food experience in Houston where participants can dine in or order from a litany of Black-owned restaurants in their city.

The mission is to provide brand awareness about small food businesses, educate consumers on the abundance of cultural cuisines within their neighborhood, and share the disparities faced by minority-owned businesses. Since 2016, the organization has supported more than 3,000 restauranteurs, bartenders, chefs, caterers, and food trucks.

Impact on Local Communities

Economic growth: Promoting local businesses helps stimulate economic growth within black communities. Last year, the organization supported 1,700 Black-owned culinary businesses across the United States – including Toronto and Vancouver
Cultural awareness: The community is introduced to diverse cuisines from African American, African, and Caribbean-inspired backgrounds, fostering cultural understanding.
Inspiring future generations: Showcasing successful black business owners serves as inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs in the community.

What is the Black Restaurant Week Experience?

Throughout the year, Black Restaurant Week hosts restaurant week events in various regions of the country to highlight a diverse range of cuisines for patrons to enjoy. Participating restaurants will offer exclusive menus at reasonable prices, tickets aren’t needed to join in the delicious fun. Don’t forget to visit the Black Restaurant Week directory when you’re traveling throughout North America to experience great local dining options.

The campaign offers an array of diverse culinary experiences that guests can enjoy, including:

African American Cuisine: From southern, barbecue, and other American classics to modern fusion dishes that blend traditional ingredients with contemporary techniques.
African Cuisine: Featuring bold flavors from across the continent such as Ethiopian injera bread or Nigerian jollof rice.
Caribbean Cuisine: Highlighting island favorites like Jamaican jerk chicken or Trinidadian roti wraps.

2023 Black Restaurant Week Calendar

Come together with Black Restaurant Week to embrace diversity and solidarity by indulging in mouth-watering cuisine during your travels. Check out the schedule below for upcoming dates:

New York Tri-State – June 19 – July 2, 2023: featuring New York & New Jersey townships
Toronto – July 7 – July 16, 2023: featuring the greater Toronto Canada metro area
Greater Washington DC – July 16 – July 30, 2023: Featuring Baltimore, Washington DC, Surrounding Maryland & Virginia counties
Atlanta – August 6 – August 20, 2023: Featuring the greater Atlanta metro area
Los Angeles – August 25 – September 3, 2023: Featuring Los Angeles and greater Southern California
Midwest – September 10 – September 24, 2023: Featuring Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Columbus, St. Louis, Minneapolis Indianapolis, and more
Southeast – September 28 – October 8, 2023: Featuring Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville, Louisville, and more
Gulf Coast – October 20 – October 29, 2023: Featuring New Orleans, Jackson, Birmingham, and more
Florida – November 10 – November 19, 2023: Featuring Tampa, Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and more

Raise Awareness, Promote Diversity, and Learn

Since 2016, Black Restaurant Week has been a powerful advocate for minority-owned restaurants. Its mission is to showcase diverse cuisines and bring attention to underrepresented communities through immersive culinary experiences and cultural celebrations.

By promoting diversity within the food industry, Black Restaurant Week continues to make a positive impact on local communities. It’s important to note that this event isn’t just limited to one week; there are many ways you can support the Black culinary community throughout the year. Here are six suggestions:

VISIT: Visit the Black Restaurant Week website to find black-owned culinary businesses near you.
REVIEW: Leave a positive review on the Tripadvisor or Black Restaurant Week directory listings.
DINE: Once or twice a month dine at a Black-owned restaurant with your family or friends.
FOLLOW: Follow Black-owned restaurant’s social media accounts(s). Post a pic of your favorite dish and tag the restaurant and be sure to tag your friends.
PURCHASE: Purchase a gift card, merchandise, or culinary products from restaurants.
DONATE: Donate to Feed the Soul Foundation, which supports minority-owned restaurants with business development, emergency relief, and scholarships.

Author: Falayn Ferrell

Managing Partner - Operations of Black Restaurant Week