By Don't care for it

November 4, 2010 10:22 PM | Link to this

I went two years ago. Paid $20.08 for a $13 meal. Maybe I picked the wrong place. Anyway, I won’t be back.

By Sandy

November 4, 2010 7:01 PM | Link to this

Come on folks, RW isn’t really focused on you youngsters looking for a bargain; its targeted towards wealthy, middle aged, fancy people, like myself. If you can’t handle the increase might I suggest something more along the lines of take out pizza or drive thru cuisine.

By Like Rest. Wk.

November 4, 2010 6:43 PM | Link to this

We try to hit at least 1-2 during RW. So what if they are raising the prices? Some places have meals for 2 at that price. It pays off.

By gary h.

November 4, 2010 5:27 PM | Link to this

One of the things they point out in culinary school is,if you don’t take care of the customer-they will not take care of you. Meaning keep on raising those prices and not taking care of the general public and see how long you maintain your business!

By Big Ern McCracken

November 4, 2010 4:12 PM | Link to this

Good points have been made by both sides. I use RW to go to a restaurant I might not normally consider. I don’t have a problem with the price increase as long as the portions remain the same as the rest of the year. I just don’t want to spend the same amount during RW as I would any other time of year for the same meal.

By wake up

November 4, 2010 3:53 PM | Link to this

when was the last time anyone got a 20% wage increase. and I will drink where and when I want

By RW fan

November 4, 2010 3:20 PM | Link to this

I thought RW was an incredible bargain before (mostly because I’d go to the nicest places). Now, it is still a good bargain. The pro-increase commenters should remember, though, that you do get much smaller portions and you can’t get the best items (like the lava cake at Flemings), so it really should be an incredible bargain to make you want to go.

By La Piazza

November 4, 2010 3:03 PM | Link to this

Interesting comments from many of you. It should be noted that those of us who regularly participate in RW don’t set the RW price. The price point is set by the MVRA and each individual establishment makes participation decisions that are best for them. For us, RW is a way to provide a glimpse of what we do on a daily basis to some who may not have visited us before while supporting some worthy organizations along the way.

By Paul

November 4, 2010 2:28 PM | Link to this

Leave it to someone (an angry man) to attempt to make this political when that is not the cause whatsoever. Get a grip.

By SIMPLE

November 4, 2010 1:13 PM | Link to this

It is now too popular. Just like everything,if it sells,raise the price. It is now not about charity is is about popularity.

By an angry man

November 4, 2010 1:12 PM | Link to this

did you vote “yes” on the tax levies? did you vote for a big government tax spend and tax some more politician? when you raise taxes then the cost of business goes up. when the cost of business goes up the cost of goods and services goes up (ie. the customer pays more). this is called an “enbedded tax” and it happens to us everytime taxes go up. more taxes=higher prices for everyone.

By melody

November 4, 2010 1:11 PM | Link to this

This is a bargain IF you go to a FINE DINING restaurant — one that normally has entrees for $25-30 each. During Restaurant Week, you get a 3-course meal for $25! It isn’t a deal is at taverns or restaurants that don’t normally have $25-30 entrees on their menu. Enjoy the nice places you don’t usually frequent during the promotion.

By jim

November 4, 2010 12:56 PM | Link to this

Under the price hike, restaurant week will cost a couple roughly $13 more for a meal, when including base price, tax and a 20% tip. while that’s still a good value I fear this will scare off a lot of people.

By Mike R

November 4, 2010 12:39 PM | Link to this

@wallyp, Me and my girlfriend tried Coco’s Bistro last year during restaurant week and really liked it. We’ve been back…The fried Spinach is great!! All that being said, as I wrote earlier, I don’t plan on doing my 3-4 visits this winter. We had always gone to one or two places we like and try another new 1 or 2. If we like them we go back during “normal” operations.

By wallyp

November 4, 2010 12:25 PM | Link to this

Funny, the restaurants are greedy for charging more but the customers are not greedy for wanting to pay less. Also funny that the customers seem to know more about how to make a profit than the owners. Funny how to some if we cannot afford $25 for a meal we should resign ourselves to fast food. If the purpose of RW is to get me in with the idea of getting me to come back, it failed. I wonder how many used RW as a way to try a new place and actually went back there?

By Cheffie

November 4, 2010 12:18 PM | Link to this

Personally, being not only in the business, but having struggled as an owner, I realize the “Catch-22” situation most operators feel. But it truly is poor judgement on part of the MVRA to succumb to the higher amounts. I would have let those other restaurants leave. Honestly, a little creativity and cost knowledge in the kitchen should have no problems with the lesser amount. (Think about all the establishments who offer salad with an entree at less than $20 price points - every day!) There are no advertising costs. And the place is rocking with folks who are probably purchasing drinks which should generate profits, be it alcohol or sodas….It’s another example of taking a successful idea and numbing it down because there are operations without the ability or desire to be competitive or challenged from a costing/recipe point of view…..At a time when most businesses are cutting and doing more with less, it seems ignorant at best to up the pricing of a successful event now when there are consumers who are still struggling and an area unemployment rate over ten percent.Poor PR. Really.

By George W.

November 4, 2010 12:16 PM | Link to this

I know this increase is my fault somehow. Would one of you nice people please explain it to me? Eat at home the food is better and it would do the family good!

By George W.

November 4, 2010 12:14 PM | Link to this

I know this increase is my fault somehow. Would one of you nice people please explain it to me? Eat at home the food is better and it would do the family good!

By patsy

November 4, 2010 11:56 AM | Link to this

I don’t mind paying $5 more if the quality and quantity are improved. Seems like the portions get smaller every restaurant week. Very few of the menus impressed me last summer. After eating at Ruedumaine we had to stop elsewhere for additional food.

By Hungry

November 4, 2010 11:32 AM | Link to this

I have also noticed that in recent years the options and portions have gotten smaller. Some of the options are actually less then $20 on the normal menu. I will still participate, but give me a decent size portion that doesn’t leave me hungry. I also agree with the happy hour drink prices that would be nice!

By its5dollarsgetreal

November 4, 2010 11:19 AM | Link to this

What a bunch of cheap cranks some of you are. I bet alot of you that are complaining have never gone out to these restaraunts anyway. It’s a miracle that any decent place can stay open and profitable in Dayton. From 20.04 to 25.11 in 6 years is not “greedy”.

By Snojob

November 4, 2010 11:15 AM | Link to this

First they scream greed next thing you know they will start calling business owners trying to survive “Fat Cats”. Haha

By TFOL61

November 4, 2010 10:43 AM | Link to this

It is still a deal. A three course meal at a non-chain restaurant with wonderful atomsphere.

By Stuned Consumer

November 4, 2010 10:22 AM | Link to this

This is a great opportunity to get people in their stores! Raising the prices will lower their volume and potential new customer base. These businesses should be counting this towards their marketing! They do not lose money on this, they just don’t make as much! I am a restaurant owner, this is great marketing going bad!

By Don

November 4, 2010 10:20 AM | Link to this

$25.00pp is way too high. I make a better meal at home and I know what in the hell I’m eating for much cheaper. Instead of tipping someone, my wife tips me :0)

By DOLLAR MENU

November 4, 2010 10:19 AM | Link to this

You could go buy 25 Mcdoubles cheeseburgers and feed your family for a week! Or you could go to the grocery and get three days worth of food for $25. People should donate a dollar to the Salvation army and forget going out all of the time !

By AK

November 4, 2010 10:03 AM | Link to this

I agree with DanD. It is a great suggestion that, with the price increase to offer better deals on alcohol. For instance, on restaurant week, offer 10-20% off a bottle of wine or offer happy hour prices on drinks all week long. It is not a huge savings, but for Restaurant Week consumers like myself, it is very enticing. Happy Eating!!!

By Fan of RR

November 4, 2010 9:59 AM | Link to this

I agree $25 pp is steep. But, this is due to the fact, we can eat a steak out for less than that during non-rr week. We are always too full for desert. Maybe if they could make that an option it could make it more affordable without raising the cost so much.

By Beth

November 4, 2010 9:58 AM | Link to this

$25 is still a bargain for a good meal in a fine restaurant. It is not about greed, it is about trying to stay afloat in hard times. If you don’t overdrink, you can easily keep it affordable. Buy a bottle of wine on the way home & enjoy it there…safer for everyone on the road, too. If this is too much for you to spend for a nice meal, you need to stick to fast food.

By Kathy

November 4, 2010 9:56 AM | Link to this

still a great deal at most the participating restaurants. Won’t affect my decisions! Cincy was at $26.22 for their restaurant week this year I think…

By UrbanDweller

November 4, 2010 9:53 AM | Link to this

For starters, it’s only a week and most restaurants get more people in that week than any other time. They make their money on the repeat business. Plus, they could sustain the lower price if they pushed appetizers and drinks more. If they pushed getting a glass or bottle of wine with each meal, that would easily make up the difference. You can’t believe the upcharge on wine at restaurants, it’s almost 100%.

By J. Boehner

November 4, 2010 9:52 AM | Link to this

Does this include White Castle?

By Diane

November 4, 2010 9:50 AM | Link to this

It’s cheaper than going out in a big city.

By Bob R

November 4, 2010 9:49 AM | Link to this

No biggie. I go to Cincy or Columbus for a good restaurant.

By mikedayton

November 4, 2010 9:46 AM | Link to this

very sad to see them do this, the idea was to get people to try dayton restraunts (not box retail type chains like red lobster etc..) sometimes you have to give away more than you’d like, but if I had to give you $5.00 to get you to spend $500.00 with me over a year, I think I’d do it. very dumb move to raise the prices in hard economic times, this will either revert or this “week” will go away before the end of next year

By moose

November 4, 2010 9:24 AM | Link to this

well, that ends that!! what is the point now of even having a restaurant week when prices are the same as any other time. its all about the dollars

By Mike R

November 4, 2010 9:18 AM | Link to this

My girlfriend and I have gone out several times (usually 3 - 4)to different restaurants each week and enjoyed our visits. We always go to 1 or 2 places we like (Melting Pot, Coco’s, Flemming’s, Jay’s) and then we try a couple of places we’ve never been to before. However, raising the price nearly 25% is unacceptable to me. I might go out once this winter, but that’ll be it. Like the other Mike who posted, with our pre and post dinner drinks (usually a bottle of wine) our bill was always $70+.

By jvp

November 4, 2010 9:17 AM | Link to this

20% increase seems a little steep, the increased business during the week and the smaller portions seems to be enough, maybe just a $1 would have been enough of an increase????

By Brandon

November 4, 2010 9:17 AM | Link to this

5 dollars is a fair increase. Any of the places worth going would have a hard time showcasing their style of food in 3 course style for less money. And after all, the point is to showcase what they can do! In the end they are a business and they have people to pay. If $5 is going to make it too expensive for you, perhaps you should try McD’s.

By DanD

November 4, 2010 9:10 AM | Link to this

Food prices may have risen, but wine prices have not. Why don’t they raise the price of the meal by $5.00 but reduce the price of a bottle of wine by $5.00 for the week? They will still make a profit on the wine given the typical markup.

By null

November 4, 2010 9:09 AM | Link to this

Once again, something ruined by greed. It is for a week, they couldn’t give someone a bargain for a week? This will be a thing of the past just like everything else, very, very soon.

By Dr Zap

November 4, 2010 9:04 AM | Link to this

Anymore, what you pay for and what you get at a restaurant are entirely different. Atmosphere is over-rated as is ‘presentation’. Heck, even Chinese food isn’t cheap anymore. By and large, it’s all about value. If you don’t provide it, I’m not going.

By mike

November 4, 2010 8:58 AM | Link to this

We use to eat at five of the restaurants during the week, twice annualy. With drinks our bills still averaged over $65 for two. With gas prices rising, food prices rising,new levies and now restaurant week prices rising but wages are not,looks like we will not do restaurant week anymore.Most of the restaurants were packed during the week.Portions were smaller so do not tell me they did not make money.Greed takes over again.

By Jim

November 4, 2010 8:40 AM | Link to this

With the levies that passed we have no choice but to cut back on our entertainment budget. Sorry restaurants!

By Dave

November 4, 2010 8:26 AM | Link to this

Ms. Zahora needs to look up the word ‘little’ in the dictionary. That increase is over 20%!!

By Michael

November 4, 2010 8:26 AM | Link to this

I enjoy the fine restaurants of the Oregon District for Restaurant Week. I think they are wonderful! Raising the meals $5 seems very fair to me…they do a great job.

By Mr. Magoo

November 4, 2010 7:50 AM | Link to this

I think it is fine as long as they offer some good and unique food. It’s still a bargain.