Owners Have Mixed Reviews of Restaurant Week

Sunday evening marked the end of the and while it offered patrons some great deals, owners were not convinced it was a success.

The event, in its third year and sponsored by the Smithtown Chamber of Commerce, offers diners a three-course price fixed $25 menu at 30 participating restaurants. A few owners noticed slightly higher traffic and said most were ordering off the regular, not special menu.

“The first Sunday was a little bit better than other Sundays,” said Julio Caro, owner of

This was Caro’s first time participating in the event said that roughly 40 percent of the customers during the week picked from the special menu while about 60 percent of his customers dined off the regular menu.

Hamid Mendoune, owners of Viola! The Bistro said the week brought in more traffic, but was only slightly better than regular weeks and that his customers came in at different times.

“My regular customers all came after 7(p.m.), the people that came before, they want Restaurant Week,” he said.

Ciro’s of Kings Park fared a bit better.

“We did well, we had a good turnout,” said employee Robert Meija.  We got a few new customers,” he said.

While Meija said the restaurant did well, he finds the restaurant benefits more when with Kings Park’s own Restaurant Week.

“The Veal Caprice was a big seller, but we did about the same as last year,” he said.