Want a taste of York County? A popular restaurant week returns with new deals, menus

A live cooking competition kickoff and new restaurants highlight the second YoCo Taste Trail Week this summer.

Visit York County announced the taste trail week will return Aug. 6-13. Some of York County’s most popular eateries will offer specials and prix fixe menu deals. The second-year taste trail is modeled after similar, popular events in the area like Queen’s Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week and Restaurant Week South Carolina.

It also borrows from the popular YoCo Brew Trail of area breweries and the YoCo Taste Trail that preceded the full week event.

“York County is home to award winning culinary experts who continue to put this region on the map as a destination for foodies,” said Visit York County president and CEO Andy Clinton.

Restaurants are key to the area economy and to the visitor experience, Clinton said. The summer dates of the taste trail week are strategic, as a way to give back to restaurants.

“YoCo Taste Trail Week brings our restaurants a new level of exposure and puts York County’s culinary scene on the map,” said chef Jon Fortes of the Flipside Restaurant Group. “As a small business, we rely on support from locals and visitors, and this is an opportunity for us to connect with clientele during one of our slower times of the year.”

Fortes will join chef Rob Masone from Kounter and Kre8 Xperiences in a live-action cooking competition in late July at The Power House, to kick off the taste trail week activities.

Full event week menus haven’t been determined. Listed participating restaurants so far include The Flipside Restaurant, Hobo’s, Kounter, Legal Remedy Brewing and Old Town Kitchen & Cocktails in Rock Hill. Fort Mill adds Epic Chophouse, Flipside Cafe, Fortes Mill Eatery, Hobo’s, The Improper Pig and Salmeri’s Italian Kitchen. There’s also Clover Harvest in Clover.

Reservations or call ahead seating are recommended.

Are food staple US Foods, with its distribution site in Fort Mill, returns to sponsor the taste trail week. Area president Todd Hansen with US Foods said the company is proud to continue that support.

“Our local restaurateurs are the lifeblood of this community, and it is exciting to see the growth of the industry as new establishments open their doors and continue to enhance the local culinary scene,” Hansen said.

For more on participating restaurants, and the event as it approaches, check visityorkcounty.com.