Long Island Restaurant Week Starts Sunday

Local restaurants, hoping to get a boost in business, are participating in Long Island Restaurant Week, during which more than 220 eateries across the island will offer special prix fixe menus for eight days beginning today.

From Sunday to Sunday, diners can pay $24.95 for a three-course meal all night at restaurants participating in the the fifth annual Long Island Restaurant Week, except for Saturday when the promotion is only good until 7 p.m.

In East Hampton, there are 10 restaurants to chose from: , , , , , at , , , , and East Hampton. Two eateries in Montauk are taking part; and .

During last year's Restaurant Week, 233 Long Island restaurants served about 182,400 meals, according to Steve Haweeli, president of WordHampton Public Relations, which founded the event.He said restaurants took in over $7 million in revenue and New York State received about $386,825 in taxes from the event. It was so successful, he said, that some places even extended the special through the rest of the month of November last year.

"The core reason it's successful is this: any restauranteur will tell you that if they can just get people in the door to try their food, experience their good service and be surrounded by the right atmosphere or decor, that those people will be back," Haweeli said. "Long Island Restaurant Week gets them in the door."

The inspiration came out of the successful Hamptons Restaurant Week, which runs annually on the East End every spring.

Elsewhere on the South Fork, LT Burger in the Harbor and Phao in Sag Harbor are participating. Also, Oasis Waterfront Restaurant in Noyac, Almond and Copa Wine Bar and Tapas Restaurant in Bridgehampton, MUSE Restaurant & Aquatic Lounge in Water Mill, and The Coast Grill, The Plaza Cafe, Red Bar Brasserie, and the Tuscan House in Southampton.

If you feel like taking a trip to the North Fork, there are several restaurants participating in Southold, Jamesport, and Mattituck areas.