Breaking the Chain
by Caitlin Peekstok
Restaurant Week encourages diners to eschew big-box restaurants for locally owned eateries
Western New Yorkers with discerning palates and an eye toward budget will be happy to learn that Local Restaurant Week returns this fall for its 10th run of outstanding dining deals at select independently owned eateries across the region. From October 21 to 27, participating restaurants will offer prix fixe meals starting at just $20.13 (tax and gratuity excluded) in hopes of enticing diners to forgo chain restaurants in favor of trying something new and supporting local businesses. Local Restaurant Week has an estimated economic impact of $4 million.
Local Restaurant Week launched in 2009 with 60 participating restaurants after Mike Andrzejewski, owner of SeaBar, Cantina Loco, and Mike A at Hotel Lafayette, together with Peter Longo of the WNY Chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association and Daniel Garvey, treasurer of the New York State Restaurant Association, decided to bring the promotional event to Buffalo. The restaurant week concept has been popular in New York City since 1992, when restaurateurs there elected to offer three-course lunch menus for $19.92 to attract visitors in town for the Democratic National Convention. Since then, many other large cities have adopted the program.
Since its inception, Local Restaurant Week Western New York has continued to grow in popularity with patrons looking for an affordable dining experience and local businesses looking to increase exposure and grow their customer base. Before this season’s Local Restaurant Week kicks off October 21, organizers expect 200 restaurants to register to participate.
Each participating restaurant is required to offer at least one dining feature for $20.13. At Amaretto Bistro in Williamsville, for example, that price, charged per person, will include a salad; maple salmon with grilled sweet potatoes, sirloin with truffled polenta and foie gras butter, chicken breast with butternut squash velouté, or gnocchi with a ragout of beans and sausage; and an autumn dessert trio. At more casual restaurants like Buffalo Roadhouse Grill and Chester’s Cajun Grill, $20.13 will get you lunch or dinner for two; other restaurants will offer additional dining deals for $30.13 and $40.13, which will presumably feature more bells and whistles and higher-end ingredients.
Participating Restaurants
| Amaretto Bistro 7170 Transit Road, Williamsville Bijou Grille 643 Main Street, Buffalo Black & Blue Steak and Crab 5493 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville Buffalo Brewpub 6861 Main Street, Williamsville Buffalo Roadhouse Grill 1980 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst Buffalo’s Best Grill 3700 Southwestern Boulevard, Orchard Park Cantina Loco 191 Allen Street, Buffalo Cecelia’s Ristorante & Martini Bar 716 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo Chester’s Cajun Grill 9416 Transit Road, East Amherst Chocolate Bar 114 West Chippewa Street, Buffalo Curly’s Grill & Banquet Center 647 Ridge Road, Lackawanna Dao Sushi & Grill 3200 Orchard Park Road, Orchard Park David’s Grille 4247 North Buffalo Road, Orchard Park Dick & Jenny’s 1270 Baseline Road, Grand Island Encore 492 Pearl Street, Buffalo Fortuna’s Restaurant & Banquets 827 19th Street, Niagara Falls Frank’s Grille 5820 Broadway Street, Lancaster Grille 620 620 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo Ilio DiPaolo’s 3785 South Park Avenue, Blasdell jojo Bistro & Wine Bar 5493 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville Jovi’s Italian Grille & Bistro 2795 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore Kabab & Curry 5185 Transit Road, Williamsville Kennedy’s Cove 9800 Main Street, Clarence Lenox Grill 140 North Street, Buffalo Lombardo Ristorante 1198 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo Mangia Ristorante & Caffe 4264 North Buffalo Road, Orchard Park Marotto’s Restaurant 3365 Delaware Avenue, Kenmore Max’s Classic American Grill 4600 Genesee Street, Cheektowaga | Merge 439 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo Mike A at Hotel Lafayette 391 Washington Street, Buffalo Mooney’s Sports Bar & Grill 4628 Broadway, Depew Mr. Bill’s Restaurant & Bar 1500 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga Ohlson’s Bakery & Cafe 8500 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville Oliver’s Restaurant 2095 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo Orazio’s Restaurant 9415 Main Street, Clarence Orchid Asian Bistro 2756 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore Osteria 166 166 Franklin Street, Buffalo Page’s Grille & Bar 4725 Transit Road, Depew Papaya 118 West Chippewa Street, Buffalo Rick’s on Main 687 Main Street, East Aurora Scharf’s Schiller Park Restaurant 34 South Crossman Street, Buffalo Seabar 475 Ellicott Street, Buffalo Shogun Hibachi Steak & Seafood 7590 Transit Road, Williamsville Sun Restaurant 1989 Niagara Street, Buffalo Tappo Restaurant 338 Ellicott Street, Buffalo The Cove Seafood & Banquets 4701 Transit Road, Depew The Eagle House Restaurant 5578 Main, Street Williamsville The Grapevine Restaurant & Catering 2545 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Amherst The Hideaway Grille 399 Division Street, North Tonawanda The Lodge Bar + Grill 79 West Chippewa Street, Buffalo The Place 229 Lexington Avenue, Buffalo The Roycroft Inn 40 South Grove Street, East Aurora Viking Lobster Co. 366 Tonawanda Street, Buffalo Webster’s Bistro & Bar 102 Webster Street North Tonawanda Windows on the Green 772 North Forest Road, Williamsville |
Visit www.localrestaurantweek.com to check on new restaurants joining in.
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