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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Starting Monday, an annual culinary tradition returns to New York City.
But as CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez reported, this year’s Restaurant Week will feature plenty of take-out containers.
More than 570 restaurants across the five boroughs are taking part in NYC & Company‘s weeklong event.
It’s an effort to stimulate local restaurant business during the coronavirus pandemic, but even more so now due to indoor dining being closed and cold weather slowing outdoor dining as well.
From fine dining to casual, restaurants will be offering great deals for take-out or delivery, showcasing a wide variety of cuisines for a bargain price of $20.21, commemorating the new year.
FLASHBACK: Harlem Restaurant Week Highlights Great Dining In Upper Manhattan
Delivery platforms like Seamless and GrubHub are showing support by discounting their commissions this week.
“This year we waived all participation fees for a Restaurant Week, because it’s really important to us just to support these restaurants. The message is simple. Restaurants need us. Do your part. Order often and be generous with gratuities,” NYC & Company’s Alyssa Schmid said.
Participating restaurant owners, like Melba Wilson, owner of Melba’s in Harlem, and Domenico and Anthony Sacramone, owners of Sac’s Place in Astoria, say they desperately need customers support.
“We need people to come in, show your support and to give us that lifeline. That truly may be the difference and mean the difference between life and death to so many businesses here in the city,” Wilson said.
“This is going to be a huge boost for us if the whole community, all of Queens, can come and help us out,” Anthony Sacramone said.
Sac’s Place is a household name. It has been around for more than 30 years.
But the Sacramones said their long-running success, and a new home at Kaufman studios, hasn’t made them immune to financial struggles during the pandemic.
“The truth is we have 5,000 square feet and we’re only using maybe 200 square feet, and that just doesn’t cut it,” Domenico Sacramone said.
Restaurant owners are hoping the support they get this week will extend past Restaurant Week to-go. Eateries are also being given the option to extend their dining week for a second week from Feb. 1-7.
For more information on Restaurant Week to-go, please click here.
CBS2’s Hazel Sanchez contributed to this report
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