One of Queens’ most diverse neighborhoods is hosting a weeklong dining event to showcase the multicultural identities of its residents.
Sunnyside Restaurant Week, hosted by Sunnyside Shines, will run from Sept. 19 to Sept. 25. This is the first time the event will run for seven days instead of five. Diners will receive deals from 30 local restaurants — each restaurant will serve a three-course meal for $25 and others will also include lunch specials and $25 dinner menu for two people.
According to a 2013 City Planning report, Sunnyside has one of the largest immigrant populations in the borough. The Hunters Point-Sunnyside-Maspeth area has a large number of Ecuadorian, Colombian, Chinese Korean, Bangladeshi, Mexican and Nepalese immigrants and many of these cultures are represented in the event.
Participants can expect to try Italian, Japanese, Peruvian, Mexican, Irish, Thai, Colombian, Tibetan, French and other dishes. The event will also include newer restaurants like Lowery Bar and Kitchen, Thai Diva Cuisine and Boon by Maldova, which serves Romanian cuisine.
A new contest aims to reward those who dine out at a restaurant multiple times during the week. Each time a customer orders the Restaurant Week deal at a participating restaurant, they will receive a sticker on their Restaurant Week card. If a customer collects three stickers, he or she can return the card to any participating restaurant and be entered to win dinner for four to a participating restaurant of their choice.
According to Rachel Thieme, executive director of Sunnyside Shines, restaurants reported seeing an 85 percent uptick in business as a result of Restaurant Week last year and asked the organization to extend the event to a full week.
“Sunnyside Restaurant Week is a great reason to try a new local restaurant or make your first visit to Sunnyside,” Thieme said. “We hope people get excited about the contest and dine out multiple times during the week. Restaurant Week keeps getting bigger and better, and we’re thrilled to highlight so many delicious restaurants that really reflect the diverse communities in Queens.”
For a full list of participating restaurants, visit the Sunnyside Shines website.
