Restaurant Week 2011

www.restaurantweekboston.com

There are lots of great things about going to college in Boston. I like to argue that one of the best reasons is that we have access to some of the nation’s best restaurants. Unfortunately for the college budget, the high quality of food is usually matched with high price tags– which is why I’m so glad Boston has its own Restaurant Week, offering everyone the chance to wine and dine like a gourmand. This year Restaurant Week runs from Sunday, March 6 through Friday, March 18, excluding Saturday. You can enjoy a 2-course lunch for $15.11, a 3-course lunch for $20.11, and a 3-course dinner for $33.11 at participating restaurants.

Restaurant Week’s website offers the entire list of restaurants taking part in the 2-week special, divided by neighborhood. It is a great place to start your search for a delicious deal to make your mouth water. Many of the restaurants also have an OpenTable button, so you can make a reservation right away online. But if you want to take full advantage of this opportunity, there are more steps to take.

Step One: Narrow down your choices by neighborhood. Keep it simple and find a restaurant that’s easy to get to either on foot or public transportation. Step Two: Go through the menus of restaurants that appeal to you. Venture out of your safety zone and try something you have never had before. Look for menus that express creativity and originality. For example, I was interested in both Top of the Hub and Taranta. Top of the Hub is offering dishes such as a Wedge Salad, Pan Seared Salmon and Chocolate Panna Cotta. At Taranta, dishes such as Duck Confit Tamalito, House Made Sweet Potato Ravioli with Sage Cream and Lucuma Dust, and their House Made version of Tiramisu are on the menu. While I am sure both meals are absolutely delicious, Taranta’s menu is more appealing to me because its dishes are unique and something I would never make in my own kitchen. Top of the Hub’s dishes are more commonly found on menus and are easier to recreate on your own.

Step Three: Compare the menus being offered for Restaurant Week to the menus the restaurants offer daily. Restaurant Week is a great way to feel like you are splurging while actually staying within your budget. To take full advantage of this, make sure to build a meal that you could not build for the same price on your own during a regular meal. Look at Asana, for example. For $33.11, I can start my dinner with Crispy Fried Baby Artichokes with Truffle Aioli, move on to an entrée of House Made Gnocchi with Braised Oxtail and Morel Mushroom Jus and then end on a sweet note with Blueberry Clafoutis with Mascarpone, Honey Ice Cream and Candied Meyer Lemon. On a regular evening, a 3-course meal similar to this would leave me with about a $60 bill. At $33.11, this is definitely a steal. For an extra bonus, look for restaurants that are advertising a complimentary glass of wine that pairs well with your meal. Some of the participating restaurants do not post their prices on their websites. Use the MenuPages website to explore menu prices.

Finally, remember that this isn’t history class. You can’t procrastinate by doing your research the night before. Restaurant Week’s reservations go quickly and are on a first-come first-serve basis. Start planning your week of designer-discounted meals now.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *