How To Prepare for NYC’s First Restaurant Week To Go

In case you missed it, New York City has announced its first major 2021 food event: Restaurant Week To Go! Running January 25th - 31st, restaurants across the boroughs will be gearing up to celebrate Restaurant Week in a whole new way: through takeout.
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What will make Restaurant Week To Go different from any other week for the restaurant industry?
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This year’s format departs from previous years to ensure a safe event within the current pandemic with delivery and pick-up options only. Also, nodding to the difficulties the hospitality industry continues to grapple with due to COVID-19, there is no participation fee required from restaurants this year.
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That said, the essential aspects of Restaurant Week remain intact. As always, diners will be introduced to participating restaurants through special offers on iconic lunch or dinner dishes at a set, affordable price.

The goal? To create an influx of fresh customers for restaurants and encourage locals to discover the wonderful dining destinations at the heart of New York City.
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The incentive for diners? Restaurants offer a special meal at a reduced event price, so that exploring fine dining options or even trying out several restaurants in one week is possible for a wider audience.

This year, each restaurant is offering a special Restaurant Week To Go entrée with at least one side for $20.21, to celebrate the New Year.

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If you are participating this year, you’ll want to think about how your restaurant will stand out among the others and what dishes to showcase. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Choose menu items that speak to the heart of your business. If you only have one chance to show a customer the best thing you do - make it count.
  

• Consider offering a meal that appeals to a diverse audience, such as a signature vegetarian option.
  

• Get your online menu current and beautiful, to show potential patrons how unique and enticing your offerings are. We recommend getting started with Views, where you can choose a striking template, add visuals, and update your offerings across ordering platforms.
  

• Promote your offerings on social media, and tag #nycrestaurantweek and #nycrestaurantweektogo. We recommend rolling out your first social mentions a week before the event starts.

After nearly a year of working to overcome the hurdles of a pandemic, Restaurant Week To Go presents a great way to get more business rolling into your restaurant, and an opportunity to celebrate (safely) the resilience of the restaurant community. We look forward to more events like this one!