By Ivan Pereira
Starting this Monday, hungry New Yorkers will be able to get a sampling and more of the borough’s best restaurants at a real bargain.
Queens’ Economic Development Corp. is set to launch its eighth-annual Discover Queens Restaurant Week, when 100 eateries will be offering a three-course prix fixe menu with a choice of appetizers, entrees and desserts for $25.
Borough President Helen Marshall said the 100 restaurants represent the diversity of the borough in the variety of ethnic dishes offered.
“No matter where your hometown is you can find it in a restaurant in Queens,” she said at a kick-off celebration outside Queens Borough Hall Tuesday.
A dozen of the restaurants participating in the event were at the celebration and offered free samples of their cuisines. The tables at the news conference gave sponsors and media representatives treats including crab cakes, sushi, garlic bread and barbecue chicken.
The special $25 menus will be available for lunch and dinner Monday through Thursday from Sept. 20 through Sept. 30. Weekends are not part of the promotion.
Among the Queens restaurants offering the special menus are Aruro’s. Dante, Ducale, Dazies, Ethos, La Nora, La Baraka, Magna, Mythos, Pynthouse 808 at the Ravel Hotel, Piccola Italia, Saffron, the original Ben’s Best, Trattoria Neo, Tuscan Hills and Vetro, Vesuvio, Papazzio and Bourbon Street. For a full list of all the restaurants, go to discoverqueens.info.
Some of the restaurants signed up for the event are offering a Kids Eat Free special for diners who purchase one adult meal.
Queens’ restaurant week has grown over the years, according to the borough president, and it prompted the Queens EDC to expand the number of days it is offered.
“Initially we had it for one [week], but restaurant owners saw how good it was and extended it to two weeks,” she said.
Seth Bornstein, executive director of the Queens EDC, said the event goes a long way toward helping the borough’s restaurants during the tough economic times.
“Restaurants are more than just good dinner. It’s good jobs,” he said.
Reach reporter Ivan Pereira by e-mail at ipereira@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4546.
