Restaurant Week is quickly approaching (September 12-17 and 19-24), and we just wanted to offer you Phoodies a few words of advice. A few tips and tricks if you will…..

No reservations available? Try to eat at the bar! While few places will actually let you make reservations to eat the bar, this is your best bet for walk-ins without reservations. Always be sure to ask if the special offers for restaurant week extend to the bar.

Remember that tax, tip and drinks are not included. $30 for a thee course meal sounds like a great deal, until you realize the wine you want to drink is $12 dollar a glass. Places that allow you to BYOB are always your best option for keeping your meal cost down. Also, look into the happy hour specials wherever you are eating. If there is a great happy hour at the bar till 6, hang out there and make your reservation right after happy hour ends. Or hit your favorite dive before your fancy schmancy dinner.

Remember: Most participating restaurants now offer lunch. Most places that offer the original 3-course dinner for $30 are now also offering a 3 course lunch for $20. Check out the Restaurant Week’s official website to find places that offer lunch as well as dinner.

Check to see if they are offering their full menu. Many places scale down their menu for Restaurant Week so make sure if you are dying to try something, that it is on the menu that night.

Obviously, try places you would not normally go. This is why Restaurant Week is so much fun. You get to eat at places you could not normally afford: Le Bec-Fin (listed on the RW site, but soon to close) and R2L jump out at this broke intern…

Restaurant Week may not be for everyone. Personally, I’d rather have a drink then dessert, so Restaurant Week does not work out to be a better deal for me. There are some great places, like Village Whiskey, Osteria, and Oyster House, that do not participate in Restaurant Week. If you have been meaning to try one of these places, go during this time to avoid the crowds.

Happy Eating, Phoodies!