Hudson Valley Restaurant Week a Big Boost for Diners and Owners

“Restaurant Week has increased our lunch business tenfold and Saturday night was our busiest night ever,” Blau said.

 

“We are getting lots of new customers,” said Bobby Manzi, chef/owner of River City Grille in Irvington. “And people are traveling to get here. We have had many guests from across the river and from other parts of Westchester.”

 

"We love restaurant week," says Susan and Jerry Crocker, owners and co-chefs of Backyard Bistro in Montgomery. Their intimate 18-seat restaurant was a hot destination. They opened extra days for Restaurant Week to try to accommodate the calls for reservations and are extending Restaurant Week specials another week.

 

"We had our best week ever in terms of sales and numbers served," Susan Crocker says. "People came in for the bargain prices but spent generously on wine and beverages." Backyard Bistro featured a private label Pinot Noir from the region's Millbrook Vineyards and beers from Captain Lawrence. Both became popular choices with Restaurant Week diners.

 

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, the regional dining promotion organized and presented by The Valley Table magazine, had 141 participants in 7 counties this year, a 58% increase over 2009, a sure sign that this event is working for the restaurant community in the Valley.

 

Chris O’Brien, an owner of The Taphouse in Tuckahoe’s Depot Square, said that on Saturday nights about 1/3 of all customers were ordering off the Restaurant Week menu, as were many regular customers. “It’s easier for us operationally because we can use the same special menu for two weeks, instead of changing our specials every day.” 

 

On the tourism front, Mary Kay Vrba, President of Hudson Valley Tourism, Inc. and director of tourism for Dutchess County, observed that reservations were up 70 to 80% at many of the 27 participating restaurants in Dutchess County. “Restaurant Week gives everyone a lift. Coming out of the slower winter season, people look forward to it as a sure sign of spring and restaurateurs are happy because it generates major dollars.”

 

Vrba also shared that the event "absolutely" helps put the entire Hudson Valley on the map as a major culinary destination. By tying their Great Estates conference on food and dining in the Valley to Restaurant Week, the event attracted a younger ‘foodie’ audience.

 

Photographer Ted Spiegel and his wife, Signy, of Fishkill stopped off at Terrapin for dinner. Spiegel said the restaurant, which is located in a former church building in downtown Rhinebeck, had excellent food. “What impressed us most, though, was a very innovative offering of three wine flights of 3 wines each, for a total of 9 wines to sample for a very reasonable price. Restaurant Week encouraged us to scout out a place we had never enjoyed before and we are sure to go back again.”

 

Jason Finkelberg, General Manager for Pamal Broadcasting (WHUD, WLNA, WBNR and The Peak), said their sponsorship of the event paid off for them in many ways because of the intense interest among their listeners. “Hudson Valley Restaurant Week has really taken root. People all over the Valley look forward to it and the restaurants are busy, even at weird times,” he said. “We’ve been impressed by how well organized Restaurant Week is and we are really happy to be a part of it.”   

 

Luciano Savone, who owns both Enzo’s in Mamaroneck and Luciano’s Restaurant in Yonkers, says Restaurant Week has kept his staff busy for lunch and dinner, with heavy crowds on the weekends. “Getting all the exposure that Restaurant Week brings has been very good for us,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of new people and have gotten nothing but compliments.”  

 

The dining room at The Bird & Bottle Inn in Garrison was packed, especially on the weekends, according to owner Elaine Margolies. “We’ve gotten rave reviews on our food and our wine list,” she said. “A lot of our Restaurant Week guests told us how good it was to be back at the Bird & Bottle because they remember it fondly from an earlier time. I guess that’s what you get for having been founded in 1761!”  

 

“This is our first time as part of Restaurant Week,” said Richard Leggio, owner of Zuppa Restaurant in Yonkers. “We’ve seen lots of new faces and so much business I’ve had to wonder what took us so long! The whole thing has been hugely successful for Zuppa and we are already looking forward to next year.”

 

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is presented by The Valley Table magazine. Major sponsors are American Express, WHUD Radio, The Gold Standard, Millbrook Vineyards & Winery, Westfair Business Publications, with additional support from Brooklyn Brewery, Brotherhood Winery, Dutchess County Tourism and Westchester County Tourism.

 

More information is available at www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com.