By Erin Walsh
Queens foodies can feast on global cuisine at some of the borough’s top eateries for less than the price of two movie tickets and popcorn, with the arrival of that tasty time of year known as Queens Restaurant Week.
From Oct. 5 through Oct. 15, roughly 75 restaurants will offer special $25 prix fixe menus. Some participating establishments, including Aegean Cove in Astoria and Bourbon Street in Bayside, are offering diners two-for-one lunch specials for a cool $25. A select number of restaurants, such as Ice Fire Land in Flushing, are even offering $25 twofers for dinner. Visit the Web site discoverqueens.info for more information and to view a list of participating restaurants.
A new feature of the Discover Queens Web site this year allows diners to search by cuisine type, said Michelle Stoddart, director of marketing and tourism for the Queens Economic Development Corporation. So, if you’re jonesing for some Eastern European eats, click on the Czech/Slovak tab to view participating restaurants. In the mood for North African? The site takes you to La Baraka in Little Neck, which is billed as serving up French cuisine with a touch of North Africa.
Diners can sample fare at such fine dining establishments as Water’s Edge in Long Island City for a fraction of the cost of a typical meal, said Stoddart.
Although restaurant week is always popular for diners looking to score a bargain (and who doesn’t like a bargain?), this year saving dinero on dinner has become even more crucial.
“It’s essential to try to give diners deals, because times are so trying,” said Stoddart. “It’s essential [for restaurants] to let diners know that they are still there and to encourage them to visit the restaurant.”
Despite the soft economy, Stoddart says that the Queens Economic Development Corporation is seeing new restaurants open, particularly in Astoria and Long Island City, and that Flushing is “booming.”
“The restaurant business has always had a high turnover,” she said. “In Queens, we have some longstanding restaurants that have weathered this and other storms. The goal of this event is to promote Queens restaurants and the diversity that we have here. Also, for those who are thinking of joining this industry, to see Queens as an option.”
Alexandra Loh, marketing coordinator for the Flushing Business Improvement District, said that like most other businesses, the restaurant business has been slower than usual.
“Hopefully, Queens Restaurant Week will again help showcase the diverse, authentic and affordable cuisine options right here in the heart of downtown Flushing, and reinforce why Flushing is the destination of choice for people to come back to, week after week, time and again,” she said.
Stoddart encourages diners to call restaurants in advance for reservations or for more information about special menu offerings for Queens Restaurant Week. Reservations can be booked online for select establishments on the Discover Queens Web site. For more information about participating restaurants and general information, call the Queens Economic Development Corporation at (718) 263-0546.
