Restaurant Week sales surge the year after flood

BINGHAMTON — Bingham-ton’s sixth Restaurant Week, held Sept. 18-27, was back with a vengeance, with sales up 82 percent over last fall’s flood-delayed event.

Sales for the week were also 28 percent higher than in the spring Restaurant Week, event organizers said in a news release. During the week, participating restaurants sold more than 16,990 meals and helped raise just over $7,000 for Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW), Broome County’s network of 30 food pantries and more than 30 soup kitchens and meal programs.

The 10-day event (www.binghamtonrestaurantweek.com) offered diners three-course meals at lunch for $10 and at dinner for $25 or less from participating restaurants. The goal was to get people out and sampling the offerings at Binghamton’s eateries. This fall, 20 restaurants participated in the event, giving diners choices between burgers, Thai food, Italian cuisine, crêpes, and more.

Restaurant Week has generated growth from one event to the next each time, with the exception of last year’s Restaurant Week, which was delayed by the flooding across Broome County, says Co-Organizer Piero Lisio, vice president at Little Venice Restaurant.

“I think the biggest factor is the positive word of mouth this event has received,” he says. “I think each iteration of Restaurant Week creates more and more awareness. People tell their friends and family about the event and what a great value the restaurants are giving people.”

Over the years, Restaurant Week organizers have also increased the advertising they do for the event to help generate more buzz, Lisio adds.

Little Venice Restaurant sold 18 percent more Restaurant Week meals this fall than it did in the spring, Lisio says. In particular, the eatery generated increased business from Binghamton University students during the week. “We see new faces from the community as well, but the increased number of 18- to 25-year-olds dining out that week is most noticeable,” he says.

The overall verdict from diners, Lisio says, is that they “love” Restaurant Week. Along with being a great value, the event has allowed diners to discover new restaurants, he says. “People tend to have a given number of ‘go-to’ restaurants,” he says. “Most people like to stick to a routine and not try new places. I think an event like Restaurant Week is a success because it affords a great opportunity to discover new places.”

Restaurants participating in this fall’s event were Binghamton Hots; Burger Monday; Café 46 West; Cortese Restaurant; Crepe Heaven, Inc.; Cyber Café West; Gallagher’s Irish Pub; House of Reardons; Little Venice Restaurant; Loft at 99; Lost Dog Café; Number 5 Restaurant; Remlik’s Grille & Oyster Bar; River Bistro; Saké-Tumi; Taste of Europe; Thai Time; Tranquil Bar & Bistro; Water Street Brewing Company; and Whole in the Wall Restaurant.

“Since Restaurant Week began in March 2010, over the six iterations, we’ve sold 58,697 meals, donated $24,626 and had revenues over $1 million in Restaurant Weeks’ sales alone,” Marie McKenna, co-owner of Lost Dog Café and co-organizer of the event, said in a news release.

Work is already under way planning the spring 2013 Restaurant Week, set for March 12-21.

Binghamton Restaurant Week organizers work with the economic-development office in Binghamton and BingSpot to put on the event. Sponsors for the fall 2012 event included M&T Bank, Maine’s Paper & Food Service, Sysco, AT&T, American Express, and the Binghamton University Student Association.       

Contact DeLore at tdelore@tgbbj.com