Restaurant week growing strong

Don’t be surprised that Restaurant Week, the promotion which is a tasty part of the “Discover Queens” campaign, keeps having opening announcements. The 2007 campaign, during which participating dining locations will offer a three course, prix fixe lunch and/or dinner at $20.07, is growing by leaps and bounds.
At a recent announcement at upscale Shiro of Japan, located in The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Avenue in Glendale, organizers said the response has been so good that printed material is out-of-date before it can be distributed.
Restaurants continue to sign up in advance of the event, which runs from Monday-Thursday for the next two weeks, September 17-20 and September 24-27, according to Melva Miller, director of business and workforce development for Borough President Helen Marshall. “They can sign-up right through the week,” she said.
At the event on Thursday, September 6, Spencer Ferdinand, executive director of the Queens Economic Development Corporation, welcomed Shiro’s CEO, Peter Faccibene and President Hiro Ishikawa to the campaign.
“This location is just a great spot for our second restaurant,” Faccibene said, as he gestured toward the plaza of Atlas Park, one floor below. “We hope to exceed expectations with our food and service.” The expansive restaurant includes a sushi bar, hibachi and party rooms and a terrace. “We even opened our own fish wholesaler, to make sure we get the freshest,” Ishikawa said.
As the first day of Restaurant Week approaches, the number of participating eateries has risen to 88 at last count on the website, www.discoverqueens.info.
Thus far, Astoria and Flushing are vying for the neighborhood with the most participants, with 14 each.
The first night of Restaurant Week will be marked by yet another “kick-off” at the highly-regarded “Deluge” restaurant in the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel, 135-20 39th Avenue in Flushing. The restaurant, which features an indoor waterfall, promises a “globally inspired” menu.
For more information, call 718-263-0546 or visit www.discoverqueens.info