Hidden But Not Dry

I first wrote this post in 2013, and repeat today with some updates.

Thursday concludes Restaurant Week in Binghamton, New York.

Since I first wrote this, Restaurant Week has spread into a lot of cities, both large and small.

For us, this started out in 2010 as a once a year promotion, and is now twice a year, in the spring and in the late summer.  It is a win-win for both restaurants and their patrons.

It works like this:

Participating restaurants offer either lunch or dinner, or both.  These are prix fixe meals.
 
Lunch is three courses for $10/$12 or $15 - an appetizer, a main course and a dessert. (some restaurants offer a wine or beer in exchange for the appetizer).  Dinner is $20 or $25 with a couple of $30 rsestaurants.  Most restaurants chose to charge either $20 or $25, and the dinner prix fixe menu consists of three or four courses.  For lunch it's usual to offer a choice of two appetizers, three main dishes, and two desserts, but this can vary.

They can, at their option, also offer their regular menu.

This is the caring part - a portion of the proceeds go to charity.  In 2013 the charity was CHOW, our Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.  Our Binghamton community suffers from higher than average unemployment and underemployment, and an important thing to remember (this was related to me by a person who volunteers at a local food pantry) that a high percentage of those who use those food pantries are working poor.

This summer the proceeds are going to LUMA, the light festival I blogged about a week or so ago.

I work in downtown Binghamton, and I can testify that the restaurants are packed during Restaurant Week.  It's a good time for chefs to highlight their creations and gain new customers.  It's a good time for people (who can afford to eat out) to try new restaurants out and eat out for a good cause.  And, a good time for both businesses and customers to reflect on their good fortune in being able to participate.
 

This is where I went this year.  A bookstore?

Not exactly.  Let's open the door.

More books?  Yes, but let's look up before we do something with that bookcase.

Now, if you know how to swing open that bookcase (and I couldn't figure it out - my spouse finally did) you will find yourself in a speakeasy.   Well, let me rephrase that.  Something that looks like a speakeasy.

It's a restaurant called 205 Dry (it's located at 205 State Street, downtown) and it has a Roaring 20's theme - waitstaff are dressed in appropriate dress and you are asked to keep the noise level down so the "coppers can't hear us". 

What do they serve?  Lots of craft cocktails.  Fried chicken sandwiches.  Salmon served on farro.  Burgers.  Food I'm not sure a true speakeasy would have had but who cares?

Nice theme.  Nice cause.

Does your area have a similar restaurant program or a special business event in your area that raises money for local charities?