Albany's Restaurant Week Offers Fine Dining at a Great Price

ALBANY, NY (04/01/2011)(readMedia)-- The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announced its Spring 2011 Restaurant Week will begin Sunday, April 10th and run through Saturday, April 16th.

Seventeen independently-owned restaurants will offer fixed-price, three course meals, normally valued at $35, for the price of $20.11: Albany Pump Station, Bayou Cafe, Brown Derby, Café Capriccio, Figure10, Franklin's Tower, Hudson Harbor Steak & Seafood, Jack's Oyster House, Jillian's, Katrinella's Bistro, Kelsey's at the Crowne Plaza, La Serre, Marche at 74 State, Savannah's, Taste, V & R Italian Ristorante, and Victory Café. A complete list of Restaurant Week menus is available at downtownalbany.org.

"Even after six years, Restaurant Week remains one of the most highly anticipated events hosted by our organization," said Georgette Steffens, the Downtown Albany BID's Executive Director. "With each event we add new elements to interest diners but ultimately the allure of the culinary menu choices is what draws them to Restaurant Week – fabulous food at great prices!" New this year are post Restaurant Week "come-back" offers from many of the participating restaurants as well as offers from several other Downtown Albany Businesses: Albany Aqua Ducks, Blue 82, Broadway Joe's, McGeary's, Palace Theatre, and Salon 109. Details will be posted at DowntownAlbany.org.

In addition to the dining promotion, Restaurant Week patrons can enter to win hundreds of dollars in downtown dining gift certificates by filling out a brief survey about their dining experience. Winners will be chosen at random from all completed surveys. Participating restaurants have each donated $50 certificates toward the drawing. Prizes include: 3 winners - $200 (4 gift certificates), 2 winners - $100 (2 gift certificates), 1 winner - $50 (1 gift certificate).

Since its inception in 2004, Downtown Albany's Restaurant Weeks have had a combined economic impact of over $3 million.

During Restaurant Week, reservations are strongly suggested and can be made by calling individual restaurants outside the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Full details, including sample fixed-price menus, hours of operation, restaurant contact information and other details are available at downtownalbany.org.

In addition to street parking (meters are free after 6pm and on weekends), the Hudson-Greene, Columbia & Quackenbush parking garages will also offer $2 flat rate parking throughout Restaurant Week after 6pm. (NOTE: Hudson-Greene & Quackenbush garages are not open on weekends, however the Quackenbush garage will be open on April 16th due to a special event at The Palace Theatre but will charge $5 that night.)

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The Downtown Albany BID, incorporated in 1996, is a private, not-for profit 501 (c) (3) organization that works to restore, promote and maintain the character and viability of downtown Albany and to improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for all those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City. For information about the Downtown Albany BID, call (518) 465-2143, visit www.downtownalbany.org, become a Fan on Facebook and follow Albany Bid on Twitter.