There are many reasons to dine out in the Tri-Valley, according to Robin Fahr, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Visit Tri-Valley. They include a fabulously diverse culinary scene, from casual gems to Michelin-recognized dining; a flourishing wine, beer, and craft beverage culture; and seasonal celebrations like Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week and multiple food trails that make exploring delicious experiences easy and fun. As it turns out, the benefits of dining out with others go beyond enjoying tasty meals.

“Sharing meals proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective wellbeing–on par with income and unemployment,” according to the World Happiness Report 2025. “Those who share more meals with others report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower levels of negative affect. This is true across ages, genders, countries, cultures, and regions.”

“Sharing meals proves to be an exceptionally strong indicator of subjective wellbeing–on par with income and unemployment,” according to the World Happiness Report 2025. “Those who share more meals with others report significantly higher levels of life satisfaction and positive affect, and lower levels of negative affect. This is true across ages, genders, countries, cultures, and regions.”

Studies suggest that dining with others makes us healthier as well as happier. As journalist Mergim Ozdamar notes in National Geographic, “Eating with others is good for the brain. Research published in Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology shows that social meals stimulate the brain’s endorphin system—the same pathways closely linked to oxytocin and dopamine, the neurochemicals responsible for bonding, trust, and pleasure. Sharing a table, it turns out, is as vital to human connection as conversation itself.”

Ozdamar adds that “research published in Frontiers in Public Health suggests that communal eating experiences may help reduce feelings of loneliness, sadness, and emotional distress among older adults, contributing to improved mental well-being. Similarly, a recent study published in Clinical Nutrition revealed that adolescents who regularly shared meals with others reported fewer symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression than their peers who ate alone.”

Taste Tri-Valley Returns

The first Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week was launched in February 2021 as a 10-day celebration of the local dining scene. The sixth annual Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week returns this year on February 20, 2026 and runs through March 1. Fahr notes that it was originally created as a way to support local restaurants during the ongoing challenges of the pandemic and to spotlight the depth and diversity of the region’s culinary food scene. By offering special menus and deals, it encouraged diners to get out of their houses and explore multiple eateries.

A free digital mobile pass for Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week lists exclusive deals, prix-fixe menus, and participating locations. Participating diners use their passes to check in at venues and earn entries toward a Grand Prize Drawing that includes local restaurant and winery gift cards and unique Tri-Valley experiences. The event also features signature culinary events such as Opening Night at the Pippal Restaurant in Dublin and the Finale Event Cocktail Party at the brand-new Pivot Craft Kitchen and Sports Bar in Hacienda.

“This is more than just a discounted meal week,” says Fahr. “It’s a community celebration. Restaurants and drink spots partner in culinary events, and the digital pass makes it easy for diners to check in, discover new places, and enter prize drawings.”

Businesses Benefit From Promotions

All year around, Visit Tri-Valley encourages culinary experiences by promoting established trails that connect Tri-Valley businesses providing specific products. The Tri-Valley Ice Cream Trail features local ice cream parlors and dessert shops in Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, and Danville. The Tri-Valley Caffeine Trail highlights a unique collection of cafes, coffee houses, and tea rooms in the Tri-Valley, each with its own attractions. The Tri-Valley Beer Trail encourages individuals to explore new breweries and taprooms or rake in points by checking into a favorite stop multiple times. Each check-in to a participating location earns a customer 10 points toward a prize.

“The Tri-Valley Beer Trail started it all with prizes if you got to at least ten stops on the Beer Trail,” explains Fahr. “Then we came up with the Ice Cream Trail, and that’s when the whole trail craze took off in destinations around the country. Food trails are quite popular these days, but we take great pride in our award-winning ice cream trail where we were featured all over social media for having such a novel and delicious idea.”

The purpose of Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week and the Visit Tri-Valley trail promotions are to bring more customers to regional businesses. Visit Tri-Valley officials do their best to make it easy and as painless as possible for business owners to participate. Participation is free, for example. There is no fee to be part of Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week or one of the businesses featured on a trail.

The advantages include marketing and promotion for these events, which means greater visibility for participating companies. Visit Tri-Valley runs public relations, email, social media, and influencer outreach campaigns as well as digital ads to spotlight participants and frame the region’s culinary scene as a destination worth exploring for both local residents and visitors. Participating businesses do need to offer a relevant food or drink experience during Restaurant Week to be a part of it. A special desserts or tasting package would qualify, for example.

“Owners benefit from enhanced visibility and foot traffic, participation in regional marketing, and the feel-good vibe you get when we offer reward incentives for visitors who check in at multiple spots,” Fahr notes.

While Visit Tri-Valley opens participation lead-in for businesses a few months before the annual event, interested businesses can reach out via the Restaurant Week registration links on the Visit Tri-Valley website at any time, up to and during Restaurant Week. Those thinking ahead can email the Visit Tri-Valley team in November or December 2026 for the 2027 event. Fahr says participation is designed to be easy and flexible as there is no cost and Visit Tri-Valley supports the marketing.

“The workload generally involves defining a special menu or deal and onboarding the digital pass system,” Fahr notes. “Plus, we’re just a phone call away if you run into any difficulties.”

In addition to Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week and Tri-Valley food and culture trails, Visit Tri-Valley is preparing to launch its first ever Tri-Valley Twist event, which is scheduled for June 5 to 7. Locals and visitors alike can enjoy a weekend where art, culture, food, wine, and innovation all collide through concerts, pop-ups, culinary adventures, interactive experiences, family fun, and surprises around every corner.

Visit Tri-Valley officials are both excited about the new event and continue to be excited about supporting the annual Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week. After all, it “elevates local food businesses and brings new customers through their doors, highlights the Tri-Valley as a culinary and wine destination, and strengthens community engagement around food, drink, and experiences,” according to Fahr. “From local gems to award-winning wineries, Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week showcases the best of the Tri-Valley. A free mobile pass unlocks deals, events, and prize entries for diners. Restaurants and drink spots get marketing support and exposure to new customers. Special events make the week about more than meals, it’s about shared experiences. This event reinforces the Tri-Valley as an up-and-coming place for food lovers.”

For more information about Taste Tri-Valley Restaurant Week, please visit visittrivalley.com/restaurantweek.

For more information about Visit Tri-Valley and its culinary and other trails, please visit visittrivalley.com.

To contact Visit Tri-Valley officials, please visit visittrivalley.com/about-tri-valley/contact-tri-valley.