Don't Miss Smithfield Restaurant Week

Smithfield Restaurant Week is happening October 12th–25th; it’s a two-week celebration of the area’s dining scene and features restaurants both downtown and in the greater Smithfield area. The event is designed to shine a spotlight on these local businesses. By dining out during the week, residents and visitors can enjoy creative menus, discover new favorite spots, and—most importantly—support the neighbors and families behind the food.

“Opening a restaurant takes months of permits, inspections, and marketing before the first meal is served. Once open, owners face challenges like chain competition, rising costs, and low foot traffic. Yet more than half of Smithfield’s restaurants are locally owned—built on family recipes, personal connections, and a commitment to community,” says restaurant week organizer Krystee Vernet.  

The list of participating restaurants so far includes: Capital Seafood & Noodle Bar, Dylan’s Cafe & Deli, El Patron 323, Friday 4:45 Grill, Gotham’s Deli, Massimo Pizzeria, Raleigh Brewing JoCo, Ramallah Food Mart Cafe, San Marcos, T House, The Bar Association, and The Kitchen of Ahhz. 



Krystee has put a lot of her own time and money into getting this restaurant week off the ground for a few reasons. One, because she believes in the importance of supporting local businesses and local hospitality workers; Krystee is not charging food and drink establishments to be a part of this event. Two, because she hopes to grow participation in future years and increase the scope of the event to include the entire county. Three, because she wants JoCo residents and visitors to explore the diverse food and fun local spots the area has to offer. 

So, how do you participate in the event over the two-week run? It’s simple: go to the website and select from the list of participating restaurants, go to the restaurant, enjoy the experience, share with your friends, repeat. Many of the restaurants are offering menu specials, discounts, chef demos, nutrition displays, featured drinks, and prizes. In addition, participants are pairing on-site events with Restaurant Week at their location like brunch, live music, movie night, and even a car show! Again, all info can be found on the dedicated website: smithfieldrestaurantweek.com. 



Many cities and regions across the state hold restaurant week events as a way to boost sales during slow times of the year, like right before or right after the holiday season. Krystee points out that with around 100 active restaurants, Smithfield makes up nearly a quarter of Johnston County’s dining establishments, proving itself a hub for food and flavor.

“Every meal during restaurant week is more than just dining—it’s an investment in Smithfield’s future as a thriving food destination. Please mark your calendars for October 12th–25th and experience the best of Smithfield dining, one plate at a time.”