An Argument For Savoring Fort Wayne

The end of January has an energy all its own. People are waking from the haze of the holidays. The glimmer of a new year is starting to wane. We’re slowly inching back into our usual routines, all while fighting the remaining cold months of winter. We could all use something to look forward to. 

Enter, Savor Fort Wayne—every local foodie’s favorite time of the year. If you’re not familiar, Savor Fort Wayne is the brainchild of Visit Fort Wayne and the local food scene. It was brought about to get people out of their post-holiday hibernation and into restaurants, which typically see a dip in sales this time of year. The incentive for you? Restaurants offer special deals and tasting menus, so patrons can try something new (or return to a personal favorite) without breaking their new year’s budgets. 

The Benefits For The Local Food Community

The benefit may be obvious to diners (good food, good experiences, good deals), but for restaurants, Savor provides so much more than a good time. The increased traffic can help keep a restaurant afloat during the slow season. 

The food and beverage industry is notorious for having tight margins, and they have to get resourceful during this lull every year—not to mention do it all on a shoestring budget. But with Savor, the burden of marketing is offloaded onto the good folks at Visit Fort Wayne (who, by the way, deserve a crown for working so tirelessly on this event year after year). Thus, the partnership allows restaurants to concentrate on what they do best: cooking and hosting. And many chefs take full advantage, crafting intentional tasting menus that highlight their métier.  

The Benefit For Diners

It’s important to note that the Savor deals are dine-in only. That’s intentional. Sure, Savor Fort Wayne is designed to have an economic impact on Fort Wayne’s food and hospitality industry, but it’s also designed to spark community and inspire social gathering. According to the National Restaurant Association, in 2023, 74 percent of all restaurant traffic came from “off premises,” like takeout and delivery—a trend that rose in popularity during the COVID pandemic, and keeps on rising (takeout is up 13% since COVID days). 

While we can all appreciate a relaxing night in on the couch, equipped with pizza and pajamas, the rise in eating at home is a problem for any community that aspires to flourish. And truth be told, it can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. According to a 2023 advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General, “the mortality impact of being socially disconnected is similar to that caused by smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.” As appealing as takeout might be on a cold winter night, dining out is worth the venture—for our sense of community and our well-being. 

Savor DTFW

Savor Fort Wayne showcases the city’s best and brightest, with this year’s event spanning across over 100 participating restaurants—many of which are right here in Downtown Fort Wayne’s 99 blocks (click links below to see each restaurant’s special Savor menu):

• Arbor
• Bistro Nota
• BRU Burger
• Copper Spoon
• Dana’s
• Don Hall’s Old Gas House
• Don Hall’s Takaoaka of Japan
• The Hoppy Gnome
• Kanela
• Kilwins Fort Wayne
• Marquee at the Landing
• Mercado on the Landing
• Nawa
• Night Train
• Papi’s Pizza
• Penny Drip
• Powers Hamburgers
• Proximo
• Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Tolon

Savor Fort Wayne is a special offering to the community. It provides an opportunity to gather, when we might otherwise be inclined to hide away. It inspires us to finally try that new restaurant. It gives us a reason to bundle up and get out of the house. After all, comforting food and conversation are among the best things in life. And we can all feel good knowing that we’re supporting our beloved local food community in the process.