Long Island Kicks Off Restaurant Week

During the fall, Long Island eateries take part in Restaurant Week, a week in which patrons are offered a $24.95 price fixe menu at a smattering of local joints.

Now, by the demand of restaurant chefs, Long Island will be able to enjoy restaurant week as they kick off an inaugural spring promotions week.

From April 3 to April 10, restaurants all around Long Island will have the price fixe menu available for diners. The $24.95 menu will offer a choice of three appetizers, three main courses and three desserts.

“Everyone loves a deal,” said Steve Haweeli, president of WordHamption Public Relations, which organizes Restaurant Week. “With Restaurant Week, people go out two or three times and it doesn’t hurt the pocketbook as much as it wood regularly,” he said.

Haweeli told Patch that Restaurant Week is instrumental to community commerce because it allows people to try a new, local place they have been meaning to try or head out on the town to an eatery that is usually reserved for special occasions.

Four Food Studio & Cocktail Salon in Melville is taking part in Restaurant Week and its director of marketing, Anthony Gentile, said the promotional menu gives Four Food an opportunity to draw in new customers. 

And keep them.

"Once Restaurant Week gets you in the door, we are good at killing you with kindness," Gentile said. 

The number of customers at Four Food goes up dramatically during Restaurant Week, especially between Monday and Wednesday, Gentile said. 

"It's a sign of the times," he said, adding of the clientele: "It's not that they don't have the money. They are just looking for an excuse not to spend it."

For a full list of participating restaurants, visit longislandrestaurantweek.com.

Ryan Bonner contributed to this article.