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 now until 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 would 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.

Among the Syosset restaurants participating are, , , and

"It definitely brings a lot of people out," said Coolfish owner Tom Schaudel. "Because of the economic situation, it makes it affordable - people can go out to eat three, maybe four times in the week and experience the different places they maybe couldn't afford before."

Schaudel, who has owned the Syosset restaurant for 11 years, said the promotion isn't immediately great for business - but helps get the name out. 

"I'm not sure we're making more money," Schaudel said. " But you hope that people will discover you who normally might not have."

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