craigdonove: Making the Most of Restaurant Week

When it comes to dining out, two little words evoke a wide range of responses from restaurant patrons everywhere: Restaurant Week. Some cities call it Dine Around, Wine & Dine, or any number of other catchphrases, but they all operate under the same basic premise: a prix fixe menu somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 courses for $30. They take place throughout the year during different weeks in different cities.

For some, restaurant week is a highly anticipated time of year; a chance to try new places or visit favorites that are normally out of budget. I know people who plot their restaurant week schedule with more care and attention than they plan their vacations. For others, restaurant week inspires dread. Favorite restaurants are filled with "rookie diners" and it becomes impossible to get a table at your regular favorites; sometimes the restaurant teams seem tired or grumpy. Talk to people in the business and you'll get an equally wide range of responses.

I admit I tend to favor non-participating restaurants during my local restaurant week. I've been one of those people standing in the entry way of a favorite place, glowering at tables of 3-for-$30-ers who are keeping me from my own meal, irritated that I forgot it was restaurant week in the first place. I've also been absolutely delighted to sit down at a table in a restaurant I love and find that everything I was already planning to order is on the restaurant week menu, or to see something exciting that wasn't there before. After a few years of participating in (and sometimes avoiding) restaurant weeks, I've learned a few things about how to maximize the experience.

Make reservations. Don't expect it to be easy to get a table in popular restaurant week locations. Plan ahead. Most cities give you plenty of advanced notice. Be willing to go with your second choice if you can't get into your first option.

Do the math. I recently chatted with a bartender at one of my favorite restaurants that participates in restaurant week. He laughingly admitted that he thinks it's funny when people stick to the restaurant week offerings because they think it's the only way to get a great deal. If they took a few minutes to look, they'd find they could assemble a 3 for $30 deal on their own while choosing from the majority of the regular menu. Of course, there are restaurants on the list where you could never eat for $30 per person. I choose to concentrate my restaurant week choices there.

Tip generously. You're getting a great deal, not only on wonderful food, but on the service that comes with it. Remember that the servers are your friends. Treat them accordingly. I'm a big believer in tipping well for good service. If you can afford a little extra, showing appreciation for your servers goes a long way toward building good will on your next visit. Besides, it feels good to be nice.

Consider eating at off-peak times. Flexibility is a beautiful thing. Even if you can snag a reservation during prime dinner time, choosing to eat very early or much later in the evening when they aren't slammed can really make for a better experience. Even if you wouldn't normally dine with the happy hour crowd or prefer to be in bed before the 11:00 news, restaurant week is a great time to try a new dinner hour on for size.

Be considerate of your fellow diners and the staff. The atmosphere in restaurants during restaurant week can be a little different. It depends on the location, of course, but the event definitely brings out not only more people, but a lot of people who may not be familiar with the restaurant. Take the time to enjoy your meal, but as it comes to a close, remember that there may be a waiting area full of diners just like you, eager to get to the table.

Be patient. Remember, the crowds are larger; the pattern of operations is a little bit different. Take a deep breath, order a cocktail or two with a little of that money you're saving on dinner and just enjoy yourself.

Be adventurous. I've found that restaurant week meals in places I already love aren't my favorites. It's a great time to try out something you might be a little hesitant about. Whether it's a cuisine you wouldn't normally be brave enough to try or a pricey spot you'd like to sample before going all out, use restaurant week as a reason to try something new with less risk.

Silverware In the U.S., during September & October, there are at least 8 city restaurant weeks taking place. Chances are high that there's one near you. If not, there are ten more months to catch one. While there is no shortage of opinions about restaurant weeks and why they're great or why they're the worst thing to happen to dining out since happy hour, it's always best to decide for yourself. If you haven't done it before or maybe just haven't done it in a while, give it a shot. One of the biggest benefits of a restaurant week visit gone well is finding a new favorite neighborhood hang-out, and who doesn't want that?