Foodies + New Friends: Chesapeake at Restaurant of the Week – Chesapeake, VA

40% of Americans are eating out at restaurants less thanks to the rise of food delivery apps and people staying in. How do we support local restaurant businesses AND get people connected?

Our series groups together complete strangers for a fun night out. That's right, you sign up, and we book the restaurant. We know life can get busy. Don't forget to spend time making new friends! This project is to host dinners to combat loneliness while supporting locally owned businesses.

Each outing is held at a different restaurant. These dinners are not directly associated with the restaurants, but are simply based on a table reservation. The pin on the map is not the location but a placeholder on Eventbrite. Locations are discussed with registrants. Feel free to reach out prior to signing up to see about number of signups and proposed restaurant of the week for the date you have in mind.

Our segment on Fox 11 Los Angeles.

Please see here for our coverage in Nashville Fox 17's Growing Nashville segment.

This micro-event is intended to be for 4-6 people maximum. If the evening you signed up for does not hit the minimum number of signups, please be open to joining us on another night with a fuller group. Check out our feature in Eventbrite's 2025 TRNDS report about embracing the micro-event trend.

How does it work?

*After you register, you'll be emailed an introduction message including a quick questionnaire regarding age, hobbies, and interests. We utilize your answers to guide us to a reservation at the restaurant of the week!

*Your registration does not include your individual food and drink purchases. A paid ticket simply makes you more committed to actually showing up.

*If you sign up the day of the gathering and do not get a welcoming message from us in time, simply email ermantourageimpact@gmail.com, request a refund, or please be open to joining us on another evening.

Our vision is simple: we take the no gimmicks approach to networking. No need for yet another app to take up space on your phone - just four walls and a roof and good food for people to connect :) We coordinate with you directly, human-to-human.

If you have any more questions, please contact ermantourageimpact@gmail.com!

Brought to you by event series Ermantourage.

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