LEWISTON – At DaVinci’s Eatery, owner Jules Patry will offer special, three-course dinners for $25 this week.

His restaurant is one of many celebrating Maine Restaurant Week, March 1-12.

“It’s a week a lot of people look forward to, a good opportunity to try things that are different,” Patry said.

Other local restaurants offering restaurant week deals are Fuel, Rails, Fish Bones American Grill, all in Lewiston, and Mac’s Grill in Auburn, according to the Maine Restaurant Week Web page.

Greg Dugal of the Maine Restaurant Association said good restaurants help fuel economic development with more foodies looking for creative, interesting places to dine.

“There’s no question that the restaurant industry has been the boom industry in the state,” especially in Portland, which has become a foodie destination, but also in Lewiston-Auburn, Dugal said.

The growth of restaurants in L-A “has been absolutely fantastic with some wonderful restaurants,” Dugal said. Chef Dan Caron of The Green Ladle, the culinary school at the Lewiston Regional Technical Center, has produced more skilled chefs in recent years, Dugal said.

Maine is highly prized for seafood “and our restaurants reflect that.”

Also, the recent development of the farm-to-table movement popular with many customers is offered by several restaurants, including Fuel and Rails.

“The fact that we have the capability of producing our own food, we can really create incredibly, local and fantastic fare.”

One of the newer restaurants in town, Rails opened one year ago in the historic Grand Trunk Station on Lincoln Street, where thousands of immigrants came to Lewiston by rail. The restaurant calls the station-turned-restaurant the Ellis Island of Maine.

Interesting, historic pictures and artifacts of Franco and Irish immigrants make up the interior, which patrons appreciate, said Rails director of operations Ileshea Stowe.

Rails menu includes dishes like poutine, Irish mashed potatoes and meat pies, foods that pay homage to the community’s roots.

Participating in Restaurant Week helps promote the restaurant and Lewiston, Stowe said.

“We have a lot of great things here, great art, good local music, good food,” Stowe said. Sometimes people “need a little push to come here and see.”

DaVinci’s also incorporates local history in the restaurant’s interior. It was among the first business to locate in the renovated Bates Mill complex, and one restaurant credited with helping launch a downtown revival.

“We opened in 1996, this is our 20th year,” Patry said. “Business is great.” He employs 65 people.

During the years Patry said he’s pleased with how the restaurant has become part of Lewiston-Auburn.

He’s seen patrons who’ve become engaged and return to celebrate their union. Birthdays and special family events happen there, Patry said.

“It’s all part of connecting with people.”

What is a restaurant week?

It’s a celebration of the culinary talents of restaurants, which offer specially priced three-course meals. Chefs go above and beyond. The first restaurant week originated in New York City and caught on in Maine in 2009.

What are the special menu prices?
Depending on the restaurant, three-course dinners are $25, $35, $45 or $55.

Is every Maine restaurant participating?
No. For a list and more information: http://www.mainerestaurantweek.com/