Restaurant Week Saw Temporary Spike in Downtown Diners

Westfield's first annual Restaurant Week wrapped last Friday.  The event was created by the Downtown Westfield Corporation to bring in new business and display the eclectic dining life of Westfield.

During the two week time span, participating restaurants collectively lowered prices and offered prix fixe menus.  The announcement of a restaurant week originally brought great expectations throughout the dining community, however the turnout and quality of consumer was given to mixed reviews by the restaurants themselves.

The results of Restaurant Week varied venue to venue.  "I compared our sales from last September to this one, there wasn't much of a difference," said Aurelio Cardoso, manager of The Brick Oven. 

Meanwhile Chris Boyle of 16 Prospect said he observed a positive difference in sales.  However, his compliments were tempered due to a lack of business since the week ended. 

"My question is, where are they now?" said Boyle, noting that one of the overall goals of restaurant week was to create a new customer base.  The event was scheduled for early September to combat the lull in business restaurants often face during this time of year.  While there was turnout for the two weeks, restaurants believe the customers were looking for a bargain meal than a long term dining experience.

When asked what the DWC could do to improve Restaurant Week, "advertising" was the answer given by Charles Murray of Ferraro's, which was echoed by others.

"I feel it was a good attempt," Cardoso said. "But it didn't get out there enough.  I don't think enough people knew about it."

Sherry Cronin, director of the DWC, said "I think it was successful.  I know it was mixed for some people."

This was the first Restaurant Week event in town history and the DWC is looking to learn from the experience in planning future dining events. Cronin said that her agency continues to look for creative ideas to bolster the local economy. While no official announcement is planned, the DWC is talking about conducting another Restaurant Week in February 2010.