Atlanta food and culture journalist on the good, bad and delicious facts around Restaurant Weeks

August 2nd, 2023

Mike Jordan is the new senior editor for AJC’s Black culture team. (Southern Kitchen)

People love to go out to eat — always have, and always will. But that doesn’t mean life is easy for restaurant owners. The industry is always facing challenges, including how to cope with changing trends, weather, pandemics and recessions, and keeping new customers coming through the door.

In 1992, New York restaurateurs started the first Restaurant Week, a citywide promotional season that’s now expanded across the entire industry; some cities even do it twice a year. Now, a new evolution of Restaurant Week has taken Atlanta by storm — it’s the celebration of Black Restaurant Week, and it begins on Aug. 5.

“City Lights” senior producer Kim Drobes spoke with food and culture journalist and WABE contributor Mike Jordan about the tradition of Restaurant Weeks in general, as well as what Atlanta diners can look forward to from Black Restaurant Week.

“Go in with the idea of trying a new restaurant and make sure you’re actually stepping out of your comfort zone and going into places you wouldn’t normally go,” said Jordan.