Article originally published in JNOW magazine's annual JoCo Dining Guide.
You may have heard the term “‘Restaurant Week” used to describe a promotional event intended to celebrate an area’s dining scene and support local businesses.
They usually include special offers and menu items and sometimes, they take place over the course of a week but can last for a month or more with lots of entertainment and activities. The idea is to give diners an incentive to try restaurants they might not normally visit, while helping restaurants bring in new customers during slower time periods.
Major events around the nation include NYC Restaurant Week, Chicago Restaurant Week, Miami Spice, and many more that feature a range of eateries from upscale to down-home. Triangle Restaurant Week has become wildly popular in the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas with more than 200 participating restaurants each year and drawing attendance from across the Southeast.
With all the unique food options and the rapid growth in Johnston County, Smithfield resident Krystee Vernet thought, “Why can’t we do that here?” The answer is “we can,” and she did.
In the fall of 2025, Vernet launched Smithfield Restaurant Week, where a dozen locally owned restaurants offered exclusive deals, menu items, drinks and experiences for diners to enjoy.
She launched a website and a Facebook page to promote the event, and, teaming up with the Town of Smithfield, gave awards to participating restaurants.
Building upon its success, she decided to take the program countywide in 2026 and paired up with Smithfield’s Felicia Baxter to make it happen.
“Johnston County is growing rapidly, with new residents, businesses, and development happening across the area,” Vernet said. “With that growth, we saw an opportunity to create something that highlights and supports our local restaurant community while also giving residents a reason to explore different parts of the county. Restaurant Week felt like a natural way to bring visibility, energy, and connection to the local dining scene.”
JoCo Restaurant Week is designed to promote the local small and family-owned restaurants that give our area its unique flavor. It’s a win-win for diners and restaurateurs alike.
“For restaurants, it provides increased exposure, the ability to attract new customers, and a chance to showcase their menus in a creative way,” Vernet said. “For the community, it helps drive local traffic, encourages people to support small businesses, and creates a shared experience across the county. It also contributes to the overall economic activity and helps position Johnston County as a destination for dining and experiences.”
She and Baxter hope to establish JoCo Restaurant Week as a unique event and build upon it over time, adding more weeks and more special events as they go.
“We’re looking forward to building something that continues to grow and support the local food and business community for years to come,” she said.
JoCo Restaurant Week takes place this year from Oct. 25 – Nov. 7. Follow along for updates or find out how to get involved by visiting jocorestaurantweek.com.
