Put down your Ramen, take a much-needed break from dining hall food, and explore the unique restaurants participating in this year's Restaurant Week.
It's easy to find a deal during the week. Especially considering there is over 200 different restaurants in the Western New York area.
The 2011 Fall Restaurant Week started on Monday, Sept. 26 and will continue through Sunday, Oct. 2. For $20.11 patrons get to sample each restaurant's best dishes. The point of Restaurant Week is to get Buffalo residents away from chains, to explore local and unique places to eat, and to celebrate local pride.
"I got involved with Restaurant Week because it's all about local food – bring in people to see what different food Buffalo has to offer," said Kevin Betty, the corporate executive chef at The Chocolate Bar on Chippewa Street.
Those involved in Restaurant Week recognize and appreciate the cherished restaurants around Buffalo, many of which have cult followings. It isn't unusual for a Buffalonian to have a restaurant they're loyal to, and with a weeklong event focusing on local businesses the hope is more Buffalonians will find a new favorite dinner spot.
Restaurant weeks are popular around the country, but Buffalo, a city known for its food, has really gone above and beyond. Mike Andrezjewski, Peter Longo, and Daniel Garvey, of the New York State Restaurant Association's WNY Chapter, founded Restaurant Week in 2009.
These local restaurants are a nice change of pace from the chains in The Commons and in the Student Union. Head to South Campus where many of the local businesses on Main Street are involved with this event. Other streets students frequent, like Elmwood, Pearl Street, and Chippewa have dozens more options. Many of the places students go in the bar district are participating this week, serving more than just drinks.
"You know why I love doing this? Because it gets people in and gets people seeing what's on the menu," Betty said. "Here, for example: people think we're just a martini bar, but we have amazing entrees as well. Restaurant Week gives me a chance to drum up some different specials, and maybe put them on my menu down the road."
One cult favorite of Buffalonians is Pano's, on Elmwood. The number of food vendors involved in Restaurant Week has grown since its start in 2009, according to Alex Georgiadis, co-founder of the restaurant.
"It [has] increased by leaps and bounds," Georgiadis said. "At the beginning there weren't very many people, but now I can't even keep track. I didn't even look at the full list this year."
According to both Betty, and Caitlin Clark, the office manager of Cole's, it isn't just the number of restaurants that is growing; the crowds are too.
"We've had a pretty good turn out this year. There's definitely an increase in the number of people showing up from year to year," Clark said.
The increased crowds are great for business, and great for the community. Restaurant weeks are meant to showcase the food communities of different areas. The $20.11 customers spend this fall goes directly into their community, supporting local business and local jobs.
Though Restaurant Week is coming to a close, it will be going out with a bang. But if you plan on taking advantage of the great deals this weekend, plan on making a reservation. Betty, Georgiadis and Clark all had similar advice for students looking to check out Restaurant Week. Get there early.
"The early bird catches the worm," Georgiadis said.
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