Main Street restaurant week starts this Friday

Local restaurants take center stage Friday to Sept. 23 during Main Street Iowa's Restaurant Week.

Twenty-eight Main Street districts across Iowa are participating, including several in Eastern Iowa. Over 10 days, events and specials will tempt diners to eat out, with many offering Taste for $20, two meals for $20.

Here's what's cooking.

Cedar Rapids

The Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District has several events highlighting food and drink in the district. They are international beer and food festival Brewnost, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday at the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library, 1400 Inspiration Place SW, Cedar Rapids; tour of urban living Room With A Brew, 5 to 8 p.m. Sept. 21, check-in at Lion Bridge Brewing Co., 59 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids; family-friendly Czech Fest, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept 23, 16th Avenue SW, Cedar Rapids; and celebration of Czech food Goulash Days, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 23, St. Wenceslaus Church, 1224 Fifth St. SE, Cedar Rapids.

Central City

Participating Taste for $20 eateries include Hometown Market, Montana's Family Restaurant, Stove House Family Dining, and Wapsi River Bar & Grill.

Marion

Along with Taste for $20 specials, pick up a Restaurant Week punch card and use it each time you eat out; eight punches equal a chance to win gift cards to Uptown Marion businesses. Participating restaurants include Bistro 3 Nineteen, Brick Alley Pub & Sports Bar, Cafe by CK, Kettel House Bakery & Cafe, Louie's Scoreboard, MJ's Restaurant, Ramsey's Wine Bistro, Uptown Snug, Urban Pie and Zio Johno's.

Mount Vernon and Lisbon

Get your Restaurant Week passport signed by at least five participating businesses for a chance at winning dollars to spend at local restaurants. Restaurants will be offering Taste for $20 specials. Participating eateries are Addy's Public House, Alger's Pizza Palace, Big's BBQ Brew Pub, Bon Appetit at Cornell College, Chameleon's Pub & Grub, Fuel Art & Espresso, Gwen's, Java Hut, Lincoln Wine Bar, Mount Vernon Confections, Mount Vernon Creates, Palisades Cafe, The Perfect Blend Shortbread Co., Scorz, Skillet Cafe, Sing-A-Long Bar & Grill, Whitey's, and Yock's Landing.

Washington

Participating Taste for $20 restaurants are Cafe Dodici, Dodici's Shop and JP's 207.

West Branch

Participating restaurants will punch cards; diners with completed cards will have a chance to win $50 in community bucks. Participating businesses are Brick Arch Winery, Herb 'n Lou's, Main Street Sweets and Mexico Lindo Grill & Cantina.

Source: Travel Iowa; area Main Street districts