Restaurant Week is back, but its deals are debatable
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
It's the dead of January, which means the return of 614 Restaurant Week through Jan. 31 — should you be rushing out to try a new spot?
Why it matters: Restaurant Week is a driver of customer traffic that can be a quick boost to an eatery's bottom line, and has become a very popular occasion among Columbus foodies.
How it works: The idea is simple and not unique to Columbus — restaurants offer a special, simplified prix fixe menu with three courses "for a fraction of the cost," enticing you to try something new at a lower price point.
- These special weeks are often held during the slow season — like the end of January — and businesses pay the promoting organization to participate.
- Some restaurants are extending their specials to next week as well.
Between the lines: The promotion makes business sense beyond attracting more guests.
- These customers order from a smaller selection of menu items that can be efficiently pre-prepared with maximized margins and predictable table turnaround times.
Yes, but: Is the Restaurant Week experience any good for the diner, and is it really a deal?
Reality check: These dining experiences don't necessarily reflect the typical experience at any given spot.
- The strategy here is quantity over quality, often using smaller portions or cheaper ingredients while serving larger crowds.
Plus: The "fraction of the cost" tagline is sometimes an exaggeration, depending on what you order.
Case in point: Take The Guild House's special menu for the week, toward the expensive end of the list at $50.
- Choosing the trio of seasonal soup ($10), ricotta gnocchi ($29) and chocolate torte ($11) comes out to exactly $50 if you order each component from the regular menu.
- In fairness, you save a few dollars if you pick the pork ($35) or salmon ($42) entrees.
You can certainly find value if you look hard enough, but remember: These are likely smaller or altered dishes.
💠Andrew's thought bubble: We like The Guild House — our Axios Columbus team once took out-of-town visitors there.
- But what's to gain from the Restaurant Week experience?
💬 What they're saying: I'm not the only one who is no longer a fan.
- Posts on the Columbus subreddit wonder if the event is still a deal and share poor experiences.
- In one 2022 thread, workers and managers commiserated over their contempt for the week.
- Some restaurants elsewhere are coming to the same realization and see a lack of diner satisfaction.
The bottom line: We love restaurants, and we love eating local.
- But we don't necessarily need a promotional menu for an excuse to get a great meal.
📩 What do you think? Email [email protected] and share your Restaurant Week thoughts.