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We admit we missed this one. Other food scribes did as well.
In last year's predictions for food and dining trends in 2013, we neglected to mention the rise of the "Restaurant Week," a nifty idea indeed, where for one week a year, restaurants in a given area forget about their competitors and band together for a little culinary kumbaya, simultaneously offering equally-priced meal deals, usually three (or sometimes four) courses for $25. Similar programs have been successful all across the country, a Red Bull for restaurants.
Although the phenomenon began 20 years ago in NYC, St. Louis saw its first incarnation just eight years ago, in the form of Downtown Restaurant Week. Designed to give sales a boost when restaurants need it most, Restaurant Weeks are usually held during traditionally slow weeks of the year. DRW is held during late August, when the "back-to-school blues" trumps "let's go out to dinner." Here's what you missed downtown this year.
But fear not, ye Groupon-and-any-other-deal--loving consumers.
The first annual St. Charles Restaurant Week will be held this coming week, September 10-16, with 13 restaurants participating. (Not that we're superstitious, but had it not been for a little chicanery--the inclusion of Charlie Gitto's in Maryland Heights--the number would have been an even dozen.) The format is the standard three courses for $25 and per usual, reservations are highly recommended. There's always a food-related charitable component to these events and next week participating diners are urged to give a little something back, in this case to the O.A.S.I.S Food Pantry. Participating restaurants and respective menus are here.
Something to keep in mind, though: on the StL side of the river, almost all restaurants are smoke-free. That's not necessarily so in St. Charles County: pending any changes that occur in the November election, O'Fallon and Lake St. Louis are the only cities with a smoking ban. If smoking is a consideration, make that part of your reservation inquiry.
In October, there's the first annual Greater St. Louis Restaurant Week, partly sponsored by the Missouri Restaurant Association and the Greater St. Louis Restaurant Association. This one is broader-based, running for 10 days (October 12-21) and more general, offering multi-course menus at lunch ($15) and dinner ($30), with 10% of the proceeds from those meals going to the Backpack Program at Operation Food Search. The list of participating restaurants is here (and there is still time for restaurants to participate). Considering the sponsors and that this event encompasses four counties-St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County and Montgomery County--expect GSLRW to grow exponentially in the coming years.
In December, look for Central West End Restaurant Week., December 3 - 9. This comes via R&B Productions, the same company responsible for SCRW. Details on this event are forthcoming.
Besides the above, mark your 2013 Drinking Game-a-Day calendar for other returning Restaurant Week events:
Clayton Restaurant Week: (4th annual) Held in the dark, cold month of January (the 2012 players are here).
West County Restaurant Week: (3rd annual) Held in May or June (the resto list for 2012 is here).
And yes, we'll say it now--we're sure there'll be more...
