Finally, Detroit is poised to compete with other major cities.  With the launch of the first-annual Detroit Restaurant Week, Detroit is really coming into its culinary own.

“We are very pleased to have downtown Detroit’s top tier restaurants involved in this exciting new promotion,” said Sandy Levine, restaurant liaison for Detroit Restaurant Week. “Our roster of participating establishments is a powerhouse.”

2009 Detroit Restaurant Week will offer specially-priced dining at these fine restaurants:

24Grille                                            Andiamo Detroit Riverfront
Atlas Global Bistro                      Coach Insignia
Cuisine Da Edoardo                    Foxtown Grille
Detroit Fish Market                    Forty-Two Degrees North
Iridescence                                    Mosaic Restaurant
Opus One                                         Rattlesnake Club
Roast                                                 Saltwater
Seldom Blues                                 The Whitney
Wolfgang Puck Grille

In addition, Detroit’s Eastern Market will offer special Detroit Restaurant Week culinary demonstrations each Saturday morning from now through September 26.

Each restaurant participating in the 10-evening dinner promotion will offer a minimum three-course dinner for the fixed price of $27 (exclusive of beverage, tax and gratuity). Many restaurants will also elect to offer specially-priced wine and beverage pairings to accompany the meal.

Levine noted that restaurant week promotions are extremely successful in other major U.S. cities and he expects the same will hold true for Detroit. Levine participated in four Center City District Restaurant Week events during his years at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse in Philadelphia. He had been back in Detroit for several years working in the local restaurant industry when the Paxahau Promotions Group tapped him to take the lead on this new event.

A complete list of participating restaurants and reservation options can be found at www.DetroitRestaurantWeek.com. Online visitors can also sign-up to receive the latest news and information. DRW menus for each restaurant will be available online soon.

Be sure to also visit the official blog of Detroit Restaurant Week, Dining in Detroit (www.diningindetroit.net).  There you will find weekly updates on DRW events, as well as previews of several of the participating restaurants.  You can also follow Dining in Detroit on Twitter @DininginDetroit.

Detroit Restaurant Week is sponsored by the Greater Downtown Districts — Downtown, Midtown, New Center, Corktown and Eastern Market — to support downtown’s many fine restaurants. Social Connection and the Metro Times are also proud sponsors of DRW, which is being presented by Paxahau Promotions Group, producers of the MOVEMENT: Electronic Music Festival.

About Paxahau
Paxahau Promotions Group was established in 1998 to promote electronic music. Since then it has grown to become a year round event production company. In addition to producing Detroit’s annual electronic music festival—Movement; Paxahau has been responsible for booking talent or producing several other events including: Comerica Cityfest; Arts, Beats & Eats; North American International Auto Show events; the Book Cadillac Grand Opening Weekend, and BravoBravo! With a network of alliances and resources that span the globe, Paxahau has earned the reputation as a premier promotions group. Visit www.paxahau.com for more information.