The 2010 Winter Restaurant Week marketing promotion runs from Jan. 22-Feb.7, just one week long originally, the event has stretched out into two weeks).   It’s a powerful marketing gimmick that offers a three course meal for a supposedly bargain price. It’s designed to drum up business at the two times of year when the dining industry is typically at a low point from the impact of the winter cold and darkness or the  summer vacation season. (And you thought it was just coincidence that it ends the weekend before Valentine’s Day? <Wink!>).   Ok, ok!  I admit that Restaurant Week brings out the curmudgeon in me.  Maybe it’s just a reaction to the kind of over-the-top hype and fervor that surrounds this event, but there are some good reasons to be a tad skeptical about all of this effort to manipulate us into eating out during this particular period.

A bargain should involve buying something that you want for less than you would normally pay. The bargain price for this three course dinner promotion is now up to $35.10.  That’s a 17 percent increase over last year and that’s just for food.  It doesn’t include tip or tax or drinks.   Let’s be real…add on just one glass of wine, which at many places can cost $8 or more, and a 20 percent tip and six percent sales tax.  And that restaurant week bargain is going to quickly cost you $55 a person.   Some bargain dinner,uh?  (I hope you’re not one of those folks who gets all in a tizzy over the thought of buying a bargain sport shirt marked down from $225 to $140 at one of Nordstrom’s rare sales?)   

Most participating restaurants offer very limited special Restaurant  Week menus typically with just three or four choices from each of the three  courses.  If you’re a Restaurant Week newbie, it can be a real downer when you discover that most of the items on the regular menu are not available as part of the limited Restaurant Week promotion.  Picking from three starters or three entrées that you’re not very excited about doesn’t make for the most satisfying bargain dinner!   (By comparison, Elkridge Furnace Inn has a $34 regular “fixed price” menu – available all the time - where I can choose which three out of five courses (starter, soup, salad, entrée or dessert) that I want and then pick out which item that I want from each course.

I think my doctor would be happier if Restaurant Week allowed me to have an extra starter instead of deciding pushing me into having dessert!

Over the past couple of years, I’ve been intrigued as much by what restaurants don’t sign up to participate in Restaurant Week as much as I am by the ones that do.  My presumption has been that some places opt out because they have so much business that they don’t need Restaurant Week to drum up more business. Why give a discount if you’ve got people lined up willing to pay full price?

In 2010, it’s intriguing to see that a few expensive, “expense account” type Inner Harbor restaurants(e.g., Oceanaire, Fogo De Chao, and Capital Grill) have signed up to participate for the very first time.    I guess these upscale places could use more customers. But don’t overlook that Woodberry Kitchen, Milton Inn or Charleston, for example, are not on the list of Restaurant Week participating restaurants!)

If you do decide to take advantage of Restaurant Week, make reservations ahead of time .  The sooner, the better! Do your homework and take time to check out the web page, www.baltimorerestaurantweek.com, where you’ll find a full listing of all participating restaurants (click on the restaurant name and you can check out the special menus ahead so you’ll know that they offer something that you’d really want to order).  Also note that a dozen or so (and some of the most popular) restaurants don’t offer the Restaurant Week special deal on Friday and Saturday!   If you’re stil in the mood for a $55-plus a person “bargain” dinner, my personalrecommendations for a Restaurant Week splurge include Oceanaire, Fogo De Chao, Capital Grill, Brewer’s Art, The Wine Market, Roy’s, and Lebanese Taverna.   And if you do choose to chase after an erstwhile bargain, I hope you enjoy your Restaurant Week adventure!

For feedback, email us at diningout@baltimoregaylife.com.