It’s the most wonderful time of the year … for foodies! This up-coming week marks the start of Hudson Valley Restaurant week. Restaurant week, which occurs each year in many major cities, is a collaboration among participating restaurant to provide prix fixe menus for either lunch or dinner – or most of the time both.
For Hudson Valley, restaurant week will be from March 14-March 27 with many of the restaurants right here in White Plains (Loop accessible if you don’t have a car!). What is especially unique about restaurant week is how cheap it is! The three-course prix fixe dinner is $28 while lunch is only $20 (excluding tax and gratuity).
According to The Valley Table, there are a few things to keep in mind when dining during restaurant week, for example:
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Making reservations – reservations are always “highly recommended”
- If you can’t honor your reservation – “do so with as much notice as possible so the restaurant can rebook…”
- If you have any dietary restrictions – make you sure call beforehand to “ensure that one of the selections works for you.”
- And most importantly – “show appreciation for good service by tipping generously.”
Also note that some restaurants have restrictions; some rmay only offer their prix fixe menu Sunday-Thursday or only during certain times.
As a self-proclaimed foodie, I am so excited to sample all of the restaurants around the area that I normally cannot afford. Not only does restaurant week give you the opportunity to experience award-winning cuisine at a modest price, it gives you an excuse to dress up, get off campus and try something new! Never had French food? Asian-fusion? Latin? Always wanted to try oysters? Now’s the perfect time to do it!
However, as someone who works in a restaurant, I can completely empathize with those dreading restaurant week … keep in mind a typical 3-course meal can cost well over fifty dollars a person (+drinks) so please, please tip your servers generously. As a rule-of-thumb, I usually tip based on what the meal would have cost.
Oh. And don’t be fooled by the name … restaurant week is actually two weeks.
Full list of the participating restaurants and offers here: http://www.hudsonvalleyrestaurantweek.com/home.php
Happy Ventures!