Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Restaurant Week for the Win
Posted by Josh in Deals, Dining Out, Restaurant Week, Saving Money, Urban Life
The Bon Appetit blog just pointed out that New York’s restaurant week started this past Monday. A growing phenomenon, restaurant weeks have been spreading to cities all over the country. In order to promote eating out, groups of restaurants offer limited 3-course dinner menus for around $40. That is an appetizer, main course, and a dessert at the best restaurants in town for less than $50. Often, restaurants will offer even better deals on lunch menus (I have seen 2-course lunch menus for $20). During certain times of the year, people are far less likely to eat out and restaurants can go empty. Restaurant weeks are organized by local tourism board to combat these sluggish seasons. Most restaurant weeks occur some time between January and March. However, the practice has been so successful that some cities have started a second restaurant week during the summer. My ex-roommate once even planned a vacation based around restaurant week.
If your city has a restaurant week coming up, there is no reason you shouldn’t take full advantage of it. This is a chance have a night on the town with the fellas at an expensive steakhouse, or to take your ladyfriend out to make up for whatever it is you did, or to meet up with an old friend for a 3-martini lunch downtown (All of which I did during Boston’s restaurant week last summer). With a little planning, you can have an astounding meal that won’t leave you eating ramen for a month to make up for it.
After the jump, links restaurant week pages.