St. Catharines Downtown Association

Restaurants in the downtown are offering a chance to shake off the winter blahs while filling up with a good meal.

The Downtown Association is presenting its annual Winter O Licious event, which will see at least 10 restaurants in the core offering discounted three-course menus.

The campaign takes place Jan. 15 to 30, a typically slower time for many businesses, a time when they can use the extra boost.

The dining event was first introduced as Spring O Licious in 2007 and coincided with the Downtown Association’s spring restaurant walking tour. In 2008, the event was moved to winter, with another in the summer — times which better suited the participating businesses, said communication and events coordinator Elizabeth Fritshaw.

“The restaurants and the timing, they seem to work a little bit better to be in winter and then in the summer instead of the spring,” she said.

“January, with everybody, is a quiet time,” she added. “People feel, as usual, broke after Christmas, so it’s a good time for a break on a meal.”

The downtown especially needs the boost at this time of year, when the often blistery weather makes people want to cocoon at home, she said.

“It’s a bit of a motivator to get people out again.”

Stephanie Young, a server for La Scala Ristorante, said the campaign brings out people who might not otherwise come out in the winter.

She said during the winter event, the weekends are usually filled, while when it’s run in the summer or spring, every night is filled. As Winter O Licous starts on a Friday this year, it runs over three full weekends.

“It’s pretty good for business,” she said.

So far, 10 businesses have signed on. Fritshaw said the campaign has been simplified this year with restaurants being suggested to offer lunches at $10-$15 and dinners at $20 or $25.

People must call the restaurant directly and quote Winter O Licous to receive the fixed three-course menu.

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