Three days into the Westerly-Pawcatuck area Chamber of Commerce's first annual "Restaurant Week," Prime Time Café owner Wendy Carr in Pawcatuck said she's glad she opted in.

"It's going great," Carr said. "It just started Sunday, but customers are actually coming because of 'Restaurant Week.' Something like this brings them in and it's nice."

Customers come in asking for the Restaurant Week menu, she added, noting that it was too soon to say exactly how many new customers the initiative may have attracted.

Aimed at boosting local restaurants and offering value to consumers during a protracted tough economy, Restaurant Week runs through next Monday, and includes 20 eateries providing their own, unique three-course, price-fixed menus of $15 for lunch and $25 for dinner.

"We're excited about it, and obviously the chamber is behind it," said Chamber Executive Director Lisa Konicki. "We know we have a phenomenal eclectic mix of eateries in our area, so I think this will grow in size, because the publicity is generating a lot of buzz."

Connecticut is also marking its 3rd annual Connecticut Restaurant Week from Monday through this coming Sunday. Sponsored by the Connecticut Restaurant Association and Sysco Connecticut, the state is celebrating its 375th anniversary with specials at more than 75 Connecticut restaurants.

In the Westerly/Pawcatuck Chamber, restaurants paid $125 each to participate to the chamber, which has coordinated advertising, Konicki said. The Chamber also is spending $2,500 to underwrite the program, she added.

Many of the restaurants have added a musical component as well, and some of those musicians have donated their performances. For instance, on Thursday, Prime Time Café hosts jazz musicians Sam Slater and Andy Kawabata from 6 to 8 p.m. The Stonington High School seniors both plan to pursue a degree in music.

"We thought it was a nice complement because Westerly does have a lot of talent locally," said Konicki.

Konicki came up with the idea of running a Westerly-Pawcatuck area Restaurant Week after a night out at a similar event in Providence. She then brought the idea to her board of directors at their February retreat, where they brainstorm for new ways to enhance business in the region.

"I attended one of them in Providence with a group of Westerly business people and we really enjoyed ourselves," Konicki recalled. "We recognized the value we received for the promotion, and it basically was a good excuse to go try something different."

Westerly participants include the Andrea Hotel, Bruna's Table, Casa Della Luce, Cooked Goose, Dylans Seafood & Steakhouse, Guytanno's Café, 84 High Street Café, Senor Flaco's, Shelter Harbor Inn, Steven Patrick Tavern, Venice Restaurant, Vetrano's, WB Cody's and FRA's Italian Gourmet.

Other participants include Basil's in Narragansett, R.I.; Lucky House Restaurant in Ashaway, R.I.; Old Wilcox Tavern in Charlestown, R.I., The Fisherman in Noank and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Uncasville.

"It's a great initiative," said Carr. "Hopefully, they'll do it again and again."

p.daddona@theday.com