Local Restaurant Week Returns to WNY

As part of Western New York’s Local Restaurant Week, local restaurants are offering dining specials for $20.12 through October, 21.

The fall edition of the semi-annual event started yesterday with nearly 200 participating restaurants, allowing customers who may want to try new foods the opportunity to dine at an affordable cost.

“Our goal every time we run Local Restaurant Week is to promote the local independent restaurants of Western New York,” said event coordinator Christa Hobart. “It’s a great reason to go out and try something new at a great price.”

Acropolis,Pano’s on Elmwood and Acqua are three of the restaurants participating this year. The restaurants use Local Restaurant Week as an opportunity to introduce new dishes to customers, and to earn new customers.

Acropolis has been a participant of Local Restaurant Week since it started four years ago. Owner and chef Paul Tsouflidis said Acropolis has transformed itself into a healthy Greek alternative to most restaurants in the area. This year, he hopes the event will attract first-time customers.

“Restaurant week is a great way to introduce people to Acropolis OPA for the first time,” said Tsouflidis. “It is a showcase week for restaurants because there are a lot of people who usually wouldn’t go out to restaurants because it is too expensive.”

For Local Restaurant Week, Acropolis is offering an all-day special, which includes the option of an appetizer, an entrée, and a daily selection of Greek wines. Tsouflidis said the menu items for Local Restaurant Week were chosen based on popularity among frequent customers.

“The lamb shank is our featured item on the menu. It is only right to feature it during a week where potential new loyal customers can be won over,” said Tsouflidis. “The baked haddock and pomegranate baked chicken are two of the many healthy entrees we serve at Acropolis OPA, something we are also known for.”

Pano’s on Elmwood has been an on and off participant of Local Restaurant Week. The restaurant wasn’t a participant last year, but chose to participate this year to attract new customers and boost business.

“A lot of people look at the roster list during restaurant week,” said assistant manager, Kevin Sampsom. “If you’re not on that list, a lot of people don’t come.”

This year, Pano’s on Elmwood is offering a dine-in special from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. The special includes the option of one of three selected dinner entrees, a glass of house wine or draught beer, and dessert.

“We’re running a salmon and chicken special that customers can choose from, and great bottles of wine,” said Sampson. “Our bar manager has wines all set up for the holiday season that we’re going to be running for restaurant week too.” 

Acqua, a contemporary American restaurant on Niagara Street is in its second year as a participant of Local Restaurant Week. Owner Molly Koessler said Local Restaurant Week has been a good advertising tool and a great way to introduce new products and customers to Acqua. 

“Opening night this year had a good turnout,” said Koessler. “Every day usually gets stronger and stronger. We get a lot of advertising during Restaurant Week, which leads to new customers.”

This year, Acqua is offering customers the choice of three food courses. For their first course, customers can choose butternut squash soup, beet and carrot salad, tomato nicoise olive and feta tartlet, or pan-seared sea scallops. For their second course, customers can choose grilled peppercorn citrus salmon, roasted citrus chicken, braised short ribs, fettuccini bolognese, beef tenderloin, or surf and turf. The third course is a choice of homemade apple crisp or cinnamon ice-cream. 

Local Restaurant Week not only celebrates the local independently owned restaurants in Western New York, but also promotes the area’s unique cultural scene, according to Hobart.

“These restaurants are a part of our culture and are one of the things that make Western New York so unique,” said Hobart. “Supporting local independent restaurants supports our community.”

For more information on Local Restaurant Week and the list of participating restaurants, visit www.localrestaurantweek.com