There are going to be some very excited taste buds and happy stomachs in Carefree. Carefree’s restaurants are made up of independent, family-owned businesses. You don’t find chain restaurants. That gives all of Carefree’s dining establishments their own individual flair and menu, not décor and food dictated from some corporate office. While they are all unique, they all share some common issues. Thus a number of restaurant owners have come together to form the Carefree Restaurant Association (CRA).
Last fall, Jo Gemmill, owner of the English Rose Tea Room, was going around to other restaurants to solicit donations for a fundraiser for Desert Foothills Library. She got the idea to create a way for local restaurant owners to meet other owners in Carefree. The first meeting was in October 2017. Since then the CRA has met monthly to discuss a variety of issues that affect all the owners and their establishments. Subjects such as legislation, regulations, staffing are common topics. They are also beginning to look into the possibility of developing a relationship with the Cactus Shadows Culinary Arts program.
It also provides an opportunity for the group to market collectively. One example was the CRA organized a tour and sampling of Carefree restaurants by concierges from 35 resorts across the valley. That tour led to several bookings of reservations.
The CRA will be holding the first ever Carefree Restaurant Week May 4 – 13. Participating restaurants will be showcasing their menus and discounting their prices. There will be special two course lunch menus for $18, as well as two and three course special dinner menus for $35 and $45 respectively. The special pricing is per person and does not include alcohol.
Participating restaurants in Restaurant Week include; Venues Café, Black Mountain Café, Sundial Garden Café, Bácan Restobar, Alberto Ristorante, Café Bink, English Rose Tea Room, Corrado’s Cucina Italiana, and Giordano’s Trattoria Romana.
Diners will have the opportunity partake in new, different, and exciting menu options and support their local restaurants. For a complete list of all Carefree restaurants and more details on Carefree Restaurant Week, including menus and other participating restaurants visit www.carefreerestaurants.com.
