Restaurant week is going statewide.

The dining promotion, which aims to boost business during traditionally slow periods in the summer and winter months, has already become a staple for restaurants in Greater Washington and Baltimore. Locally, Bethesda, Silver Spring-Takoma Park and other jurisdictions have hosted their own restaurant weeks over the years.

There are even a handful of specialized spin-offs around Maryland — vegan restaurant week, for instance, and several weeks devoted to food trucks.

This month, for the first time, restaurants across Maryland will band together for a statewide week of specials in an effort to entice customers back as the COVID-19 outbreak continues to take a financial toll on the dining industry. The Restaurant Association of Maryland, which is spearheading the effort, announced Thursday that the inaugural Maryland Restaurant Week will be held Sept. 18-27.

While September usually marks a return to stronger sales after the summer lull, many restaurants…