Restaurant Week perk

As if enjoying specialty-priced dining in Charleston Restaurant Week weren’t treat enough, the Indigo Road Restaurant Group has given you another incentive.

Receive a $5 specialty cocktail at The Cocktail Club during Restaurant Week if you present your dining receipt from Oak, The Macintosh or O-Ku.

To view other Charleston Restaurant Week participants and their menus, go to www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com.

Making history

The BB&T Charleston Wine + Food Festival, together with the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, revealed last week that the James Beard Foundation Award finalists will be announced live in Charleston on March 18.

The finalist announcements will take place at historic Lowndes Grove Plantation. Winners will be announced at the James Beard Foundation Awards on May 6 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York.

As part of the event here, the two organizations that made the announcement will host a fundraiser for the foundation at Fort Moultrie, a national park site.

The fundraiser will be one of the first private events held at Fort Moultrie and will feature Charleston chefs who have received a James Beard award, received a nomination or recently cooked at the James Beard House. Other Charlestonians with ties to the foundation, such as the authors of award-winning cookbooks, will also participate.

The fundraiser will begin with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, allowing guests to tour the structure and listen to historians. Guests then will move to the beachside lawn for dinner and views of Fort Sumter, the Sullivan’s Island lighthouse and downtown Charleston. The menu will reflect the era when the fort was originally in use, and will spotlight traditional Lowcountry cuisine. Tickets for the benefit will be available later this month at charlestonwineandfood.com.

Gluten-free night

Starting Wednesday, The Grill on the Edge will launch a gluten-free night, to take place every Wednesday. It will start by cleaning all the fryers and serving seafood baskets tossed in gluten-free breading along with fries, burgers, sandwiches, as well as pasta, buns and breads certified gluten-free. The Grill is at 41 Center St. on Folly Beach. Call 633-0143 or go to www.follygrill.com.

Local special

Rosebank Farms Cafe has started offering daily dinner specials, including half-price bottles of wine, discounted dinner plates and half-price appetizers at the bar. The specials offer a chance to enjoy Southern fare with a local flair at a discount. Rosebank Farms Cafe is open daily for lunch 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; dinner 5-9:30 p.m.

Celebrating ‘grands’

Burtons Grill at 1875 U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant is celebrating Grandparents Day on Sunday, offering 50 percent off all food, all day for all “grands.” Go to www.burtonsgrill.com or call 606-2590.

Coming this week

Pal Joey’s Martini Lounge is set to open this week at 1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Run by Joe Pisasale of Club Trio fame, the bar will offer an all-tapas menu by chef Gary Langevin, martinis and classic cocktails, and live entertainment, including salsa and swing music, comedy and Joe Clarke on piano.

Back to beginnings

Cuoca Pazzo has returned to its original location at 1035 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant and continues to serve authentic Italian cuisine. Call 971-9034.

Still going strong

The La Fontana group of restaurants, at 1759 Savannah Highway in West Ashley and 7648 Northwoods Blvd. in North Charleston, are still serving up authentic Italian and pizza. To contact the West Ashely location, call 556-1111, for North Charleston, call 225-4786.

Opening set

Mi Xao is scheduled to open on Monday at Station 41, 1055 Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant. Call 388-5733 or go to facebook.com/mixaocafe.

Shelter from storm

Shelter Kitchen + Bar has opened at 202 Coleman Blvd. Open daily 11 a.m.-2 a.m., it serves lunch, dinner and Saturday-Sunday brunch. Call 388-3817.

On the move

Olympik Restaurant and Bakery is moving after a 27-year run in their current location. Look for them at 1662 Savannah Highway in the Indigo Village Shopping Center. A late September move is planned; construction is under way.

New on James Island

Salty Waters Rawbar & Grill has opened at 520 Folly Road on James Island. Call 762-9252.

New in Park Circle

Fratellos Italian Tavern has opened in the former Aunt Bea’s location at 1050 East Montague Ave. in North Charleston. Owner Richard Tuorto is also the proprietor of three O’Brion’s Pub & Grilles. Call 554-5021 for more info on Fratellos.

New lease on taco life

La Hacienda will open a 4,000-square-foot Mexican restaurant in the space of the former Gringo’s location at the Market at Oakland in Mount Pleasant. It is set to open by the end of the year.