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Queens restaurant week enters 11th year

By Sarina Trangle

Dozens gathered in Atlas Park’s lawn Monday to sample dishes from participants in Queens Restaurant Week.

Close to 200 eateries have joined the 2-1/2-weeklong promotion, which offers diners three-course prix fixe meals for $28 at most restaurants and $14 lunch specials on weekdays, weekends or both, according to Queens Economic Development Corp. spokesman Robert McKay.

The event runs from Oct. 13 through Oct. 31.

McKay said the borough’s annual promotion is in its 11th year and the leadership of the Economic Development Corp. board was inspired by the Manhattan-centric New York City Restaurant Week that features meals far pricier than those in Queens.

“Their prixe fix is $38 for a dinner and only one Queens restaurant participated and that’s Water’s Edge,” McKay said of the Long Island City American restaurant. “It’s really taken off here in Queens. This is my fourth year doing it. We had 100 back then and now we’re at about 200.”

For a $100 fee, Queens Restaurant Week participants get marketing and promotion ahead of event through the EDC and many see a roughly 20 percent uptick in customers, according to McKay.

This year’s roster of eateries ranges from family ventures such as the Bayside Italian restaurant Flamma 41 to chains such as California Pizza Kitchen and Chili’s.

Cuisines from a number of countries will be dished out, including Greece, Italy. Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, India, Pakistan, China, Tibet, France, Columbia, El Salvador, Korea and Japan. A full list of participating venues can be found at www.itsin‌queen‌s.com/‌dq/‌Resta‌urant‌Week/‌parti‌cipan‌ts.

Borough President Melinda Katz and state Sen. Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) hailed the event as a tribute to Queens’ diversity.

“We are excited to show off. We consider it our gift to the rest of the city of New York and that is why we call ourselves the world’s borough,” Katz said.

Most of the restaurants that set up booths and handed out samples outside the mall said they were new and opted into restaurant week as a way to introduce themselves to diners.

“We’re new so we wanted to get more known,” said Lesley Tinishanay, whose father is the chef and owner of Il Falco, a fine Italian restaurant in Long Island City. “It’s hard, but little by little we’re getting there.”

Similarly Loycent Gordon, a firefighter who purchased Neir’s last year to prevent the storied Woodhaven tavern from closing, said he was trying new tactics to draw new customers to the 1829-era bar and restaurant.

Colleen LaRusso, manager of Austin’s Steak and Ale House, said restaurant week, which was previously held in September, helped revive the Kew Gardens business during the slow season.

Reach reporter Sarina Trangle at 718-260-4546 or by e-mail at stran‌gle@c‌ngloc‌al.com.