Earlier this year, the inaugural dineLA Restaurant Week resulted in three solid lunches at Red Seven, All’ Angelo and Patina. More importantly, the 143 participating restaurants enjoyed a 25% sales increase, on average, and 100,000 diners partook. Given the current state of our economy, this event can’t return quickly enough. For 2009, dineLA, the restaurant-centric arm of LA Inc., already convinced over 100 restaurants to contribute meal deals, and more restaurateurs are signing on by the day. Restaurant Week (actually two weeks) returns on January 25, and it’s shaping up to be even more impactful the second time around.
Last year, Restaurant Week featured three-course meals costing $15 or $22 at lunch and $25 or $34 at dinner. For 2009, dineLA revamped the price structure. Restaurants are charging $16, $22 or $28 at lunch, and $26, $34 or $44 at dinner. This depends on whether the restaurant is classified as Deluxe Dining ($), Premier Dining ($$) or Fine Dining ($$$).
This year, with 12 days to fill, I’ve already formed a plan of attack. After all, some of these restaurants are already in-demand, and given the reduced prices, there’s bound to be a rush on reservations.
My plan is to dine at eight $$ restaurants: Adoro Mexican Grille, Akasha, BLVD 16, Campanile, Catch Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Chaya Brasserie, Dal Rae and Michael’s on Naples. I also plan to visit six $$$ restaurants: Grace, Nine Thirty, Sashi Sushi & Sake Lounge, The Bazaar by José Andrés, Valentino and The Dining Room at The Langham. With three courses per meal, that’s 42 courses in 12 days.
Reservations open to the general public on January 11. If you’re an American Express cardholder, feel free to book any dineLA Restaurant Week table from January 1-10.
Blog Comments
Joshua Lurie
January 16, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Aaron,
My itinerary has changed some.
I made dinner reservations at Dal Rae, BLT Steak and The Bazaar, with plans to visit Campanile, Catch, Wilshire and Chaya for lunch. I’d also like to have dinner at The Dining Room at The Langham, Nine Thirty and Provecho. That’s 10 spots.
Where do you plan to eat during Restaurant Week? If there’s any overlap, we should coordinate.
Aaron
January 16, 2009 at 7:48 AM
Shoot for the moon of course. Did you make your reservations yet?
Joshua Lurie
January 8, 2009 at 11:32 AM
Tony, I’m sure not all of these places will pan out, but I was planning to eat at all these spots eventually anyway. Also, it should lead to some interesting posts.
TonyC
January 8, 2009 at 11:02 AM
good God Josh, is this a good idea? I mean, I did 3 last year, and they were all ho-hum (Il Moro, Valentino, etc.)
btw, Bazaar’s opentable is already accepting open. Getting a table for 8 was REALLY difficult tho.
mattatouille
December 22, 2008 at 8:58 AM
i need to find someone that has an american express card. I know bazaar will be filled up within a few days, at most. nice plan. I want to go to campanile, chaya, dal rae, the bazaar, valentino, and the Dining Room.
Food GPS » Blog Archive » Plan of Attack for Second dineLA … | Sushi Restaurants
December 22, 2008 at 12:08 AM
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptMy plan is to dine at eight $$ restaurants: Adoro Mexican Grille, Akasha, BLVD 16, Campanile, Catch Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Chaya Brasserie, Dal Rae and Michael’s on Naples. I also plan to visit six $$$ restaurants: Grace, Nine Thirty, … […]