Nationwide Fundraising Series, Where Every Meal is an Act of Change,
Kicks Off October’s Independent Restaurant and Bar Month

Washington, D.C. (October 1, 2025) – The Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC), in partnership with OpenTable, is proud to announce Tables for Change, a nationwide fundraising initiative kicking off Independent Restaurant and Bar Month in October. From New York City to San Francisco, diners attending special Tables for Change dinners at celebrated independent restaurants will not only support these locally-owned small businesses but raise critical funds to help power the IRC’s sustained fight for fair policies and a stronger future for small businesses. 

“Independent restaurants and bars are cornerstones of local communities – places where people celebrate milestones, find their first job and fuel the nation’s economy,” says Erika Polmar, Executive Director, IRC. “Yet too many of these small businesses are struggling to survive, squeezed by rising costs and policies that fail to reflect the realities they face everyday. With OpenTable’s generous partnership, Tables for Change will enable restaurants and their guests to celebrate Independent Restaurant and Bar Month in October and throughout the fall, supporting small businesses while raising critical funds that power the IRC’s fight for lasting change.” 

“Independent restaurants and bars are the heartbeat of local communities, which is why we’re a longtime supporter of the IRC and its mission,” says Amy Wei, Chief Operating Officer at OpenTable. “This initiative gives diners a simple, joyful way to support the restaurants they love while fueling the policy work that ensures independents can thrive for years to come.”

Each Tables for Change event is bookable exclusively through OpenTable and will facilitate a donation to the IRC. These dinners are scheduled throughout October and November 2025. The Tables for Change series includes:

  • Octavia (San Francisco, CA): James Beard Foundation Award (JBFA) nominated chef Melissa Perello and team will host an intimate dinner in celebration of Jeremy Fox’s new book, On Meat (Phaidon). The multi-course meal ($160, including a copy of the book; available from October 8 through October 31) will reflect Jeremy's 'snout-to-tail' approach as executed through Octavia's signature culinary style. 
  • Annette (Aurora, CO): JBFA-winning chef/owner Caroline Glover welcomes Nite Yun of Lunette Cambodia in San Francisco for a collaborative five-course menu featuring dishes from Nite’s forthcoming My Cambodia: A Khmer Cookbook. The prix-fixe menu is $125/person, with beverages available a la carte on Thursday, October 16.
  • a.kitchen+bar (Philadelphia, PA): The High Street Hospitality Group will welcome guest chef Kyle Knall of Milwaukee’s Birch on Monday, October 20, for a collaborative dinner ($110/person).
  • St. Jack (Portland, OR): Chef Aaron Barnett and team will offer a 3-course seasonal menu ($125/person) with optional wine pairings on Wednesday, October 22.
  • Swift & Sons (Chicago, IL): On October 30, enjoy an evening with Armand Mellot, a 16th-generation member of the legendary Mellot family of Sancerre, who will share stories of his family’s 500+ years of Loire Valley winemaking heritage. For $75/person, guests will explore six Joseph Mellot wines and participate in a blind tasting challenge to identify the “true Sancerre.” Winners will be entered into a raffle for dinner for two at Swift & Sons ($300 value). 
  • Rioja (Denver, CO): JBFA-winning chef Jennifer Jasinski will team up with acclaimed chef Max Mackissock of Denver’s Culinary Creative Group for a five-course menu with wine pairings on November 11.  
  • Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar (Denver, CO): Big Red F culinary director and chef Sheila Lucero and team will welcome Nicole Cabrera Mills and Ryan Prewitt, the award-winning chefs from New Orleans’ Peche, for a collaborative and fun seafood-focused menu on November 12.
  • EsterEv (Milwaukee, WI): JBFA nominated chef Dan Jacobs and team will offer a 4-course menu for $125 on November 18.
  • L'Oca d'Oro (Austin, TX): Guests will enjoy a 3-course menu of multiple small plates; November date coming soon.

For more information about Tables for Change, please visit tablesforchange.com or sign up to receive newsletters or become a member of the IRC here.

About Independent Restaurant Coalition
In March 2020, the restaurant and bar community formed the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) to save the independent restaurants and bars from the devastating impacts of the COVID 19 pandemic. We continue to fight to create meaningful change for independent restaurants and bars nationwide by providing strong advocacy centered on making sure that independent businesses are being seen, heard and supported by federal policy makers. For more information or to sign up for newsletters, please visit independentrestaurantcoalition.com.

About OpenTable
OpenTable, a global leader in restaurant tech and part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKNG), helps more than 60,000 restaurants worldwide fill 1.9 billion seats a year.  OpenTable’s world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion.