Dive Into Dining Deals

Long Island Restaurant Week is back. From Sunday, November 3, through Sunday, November 10, restaurants across Long Island will serve a $29.95 three-course prix-fixe menu. It’s the perfect time to try out new restaurants, revisit a favorite, or grab a deal somewhere that would be otherwise out of budget.

Long Island Restaurant Week began in 2006, and has continued as an annual event every November, but was actually an expansion off of Hamptons Restaurant Week, which began five years prior. In its inaugural year, LIRW estimated total restaurant revenue to be over $2.8 million, with restaurants stating a 200 percent increase in sales and reservations from the promotion. With nearly 250 participants each fall, islanders were hungry for more. Thus, the blossoming of spring restaurant week in April 2011, with 150 participants.

“We’re averaging about 190 participating restaurants for fall Long Island Restaurant Week,” said Steve Haweeli, president of Long Island Restaurant & Hospitality Group, which is the business-to-consumer promotions division of WordHampton Public Relations. “We’re proud to say it’s the most successful restaurant promotion on Long Island. It’s a win-win for Long Island restaurants and Long Island diners.”

Thus, we gear up for another season of dining deals. New this year across the East End are On the Docks in Aquebogue and Bel Mare in Springs.

Other participants in the North Fork/Riverhead area will be Stonewalls at the Woods and The Preston House in Riverhead; Cooperage Inn in Baiting Hollow; aMano in Mattituck; Legends in New Suffolk; Jamesport Manor in Jamesport; and A Lure in Southold. Along the South Fork, head to Stone Creek Inn in East Quogue; Centro in Hampton Bays; Le Charlot and Shippy’s Pumpernickels in Southampton; Baron’s Cove, Lulu Kitchen, and Page at 63 Main in Sag Harbor; Bistro Ete and Calissa in Water Mill; Elaia Estiatorio in Bridgehampton; The 1770 House and The Maidstone in East Hampton; and Scarpetta Beach in Montauk.

In other areas, new to the lineup is A&A Sushi House in Hauppauge, Besito Mexican in West Islip, Noco in St. James, Small Batch in Garden City, Craft 387 in Plainview, Bar Agave in Massapequa Park, EGP Oceanside, and EGP Land & Sea in Island Park.

The prix-fixe menu is served every night while the restaurant is open, with the exception of Saturday, where the menu may stop after 7 PM. Reservations can be made through the restaurants directly. Tip and beverages are not included in the promotion.

Head to www.longislandrestaurantweek.com to see the full list of participating restaurants. You can see specific restaurant menus on individual websites as well.

nicole@indyeastend.com