I first had the idea for a statewide Eat Local New York Restaurant Week about five years ago.
At the time, I had already been fortunate enough to work closely with Jeff Rogers — owner of Angry Garlic and Angry Smokehouse in Baldwinsville — helping promote Baldwinsville Dining Weeks for several years.
Through that experience, I learned what makes a dining week successful. I saw firsthand how much customers enjoy exploring special menus across different restaurants. And more importantly, I saw the measurable impact those weeks can have on the restaurants themselves.
Dining weeks aren’t just fun promotions. They move the needle.
As I started looking around, I realized that while there were plenty of city-based restaurant weeks, no one — at least not to my knowledge — had attempted to connect independent restaurants across the entire state of New York under one unified promotion.
So I held onto the idea.
And last year, I finally decided to do it.
Connecting Independent Restaurants Across New York State
2025 was our inaugural Eat Local New York Restaurant Week, and we had restaurants participating from all across the state. Just like this year, many were concentrated in West-Central New York — but I’m proud to say we’ve expanded even further this year, bringing in more restaurants from the Southern Tier and the North Country.
That growth matters.
Because to me, this isn’t just about offering a two-week window of discounted meals.
It’s about connection.
There’s something powerful about knowing that during the same two-week stretch, a customer in Buffalo can walk into Southern Junction and participate in the same statewide event as someone dining at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in New York City. Different communities. Different cuisines. Same shared moment.
That’s what excites me.
Connecting independent restaurants across the entire state under one banner. Creating a feeling of unity in an industry that often operates city by city.
Supporting Local Restaurants in a Measurable Way
This year wouldn’t be possible without the support of our friends at The Summit Federal Credit Union.
And I know — when people hear “event sponsor,” they sometimes tune out. They assume it’s just another logo attached to a promotion.
But that’s not what this is.
The Summit’s support allows us to expand our reach. It allows us to promote participating restaurants more aggressively. It helps us travel, create content, and shine a spotlight on the chefs and owners putting everything they have into their businesses.
Restaurant Week only works if the restaurants see increased traffic. If seats get filled. If new customers discover places they didn’t even know existed.
That’s the mission.
It’s not about discounts for the sake of discounts. It’s about driving real business to independent restaurants across New York State.
And that simply wouldn’t be possible without partners who believe in that mission.
I’m incredibly proud to bring Eat Local New York Restaurant Week back for a second year. Proud of the growth. Proud of the restaurants participating. Proud of the community rallying around it.
Now it’s your turn.
Head to the Restaurant Week page here on the website. Explore the map of participating restaurants. Make a plan. Visit a few you’ve never been to before.
Support local. Support independent.
And be part of something bigger than just a meal.
