Reader Reviews for KRLD Restaurant Week start next Tuesday!

Dishers! It’s that time of the year: KRLD Restaurant year month Week. The event kicks off on Monday, August 15 and beginning Tuesday, August 16, we will have a daily post dedicated to your reviews of the restaurants you sample during RW. We know a lot of chefs will be cooking their butts off for you and many servers will do double shifts. We ask you to send in the names of servers who treated you to over-the-top service and we will honor them on SideDish. (Take their picture!)

Last year KRLD Restaurant Week raised $605,500 for its supporting partners — the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) in Dallas and Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth — with more than 100,000 prix fixe dinners served in 138 restaurants across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County.

In case you were born yesterday:

KRLD Restaurant Week presented by Central Market, which showcases North Texas’ thriving culinary scene, features tasty three-course prix fixe dinner combinations priced at only $35/person (tax, tip and drinks billed separately). What’s more, consumer patronage helps support local fine dining establishments and two great charity partners. For every prix fixe meal purchased, participating restaurants will make a $7.00 donation to either the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas or Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth. Reservations are required, and diners should specify “KRLD Restaurant Week” when booking.

Book it here.

However, today comes word from the organizers:

Last summer’s popular dining event raised more than $605,500 for its supporting partners — the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) in Dallas and Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth — with more than 100,000 prix fixe dinners served in 138 restaurants across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County.

The 2010 KRLD Restaurant Week tally reflects more than a $100,000 increase over the previous year’s charitable contributions.  As North Texas diners and participating establishments increasingly embrace the campaign message, “Dining Out’s a Good Deed, Helping Families in Need,” KRLD Restaurant Week organizers are honoring those local eateries that donated the most in 2010.

In case you want to get in shape before next summer’s extravaganza, the dates for the main week will be August 15–21, 2011.

Jump for the official press release.

KRLD RESTAURANT WEEK CELEBRATES RECORD $600,000+
IN CHARITY DONATIONS AS IT ANNOUNCES 2011 EVENT DATES

Dallas / Fort Worth Restaurant Stars Honored for Top 2010 Contributions
to North Texas Food Bank and Lena Pope Home

DALLAS (February 24, 2011) – - Whetting appetites with the announcement that August 15–21, 2011*, is the main date for this year’s KRLD Restaurant Week presented by Central Market, organizers are also celebrating an all-time record for charity contributions.  Last summer’s popular dining event raised more than $605,500 for its supporting partners — the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) in Dallas and Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth — with more than 100,000 prix fixe dinners served in 138 restaurants across Collin, Dallas, Denton and Tarrant County.

The 2010 KRLD Restaurant Week tally reflects more than a $100,000 increase over the previous year’s charitable contributions.  As North Texas diners and participating establishments increasingly embrace the campaign message, “Dining Out’s a Good Deed, Helping Families in Need,” KRLD Restaurant Week organizers are honoring those local eateries that donated the most in 2010.

*2011 participants will be revealed on “Reservation Day” in late July when bookings can first be made.

KRLD Restaurant Week – 2010 Star Restaurants

Greater Dallas – Supporting NTFB

1. Pappas Bros. Steakhouse
2. III Forks
3. Al Biernat’s
4. Abacus
5. The Capital Grille
6. Fogo de Chao
7. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
8. craft | DALLAS
9. Nobu
10. Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
11. Jasper’s
12. Charlie Palmer at the Joule
13. Perry’s Steakhouse & Grill
14. Hibiscus
15. Fearing’s – Ritz Carlton
16. The Place at Perry’s
17. Central 214 – Hotel Palomar Dallas
18. Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck
19. The Mansion Restaurant at Rosewood Mansion
20. Bijioux
    

Tarrant Area – Supporting Lena Pope Home

1. Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House
2. Grace Restaurants, Inc.
3. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
4. Bonnell’s Restaurant
5. Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House
6. Kirby’s Steakhouse
7. Bailey’s
8. Brownstone
9. Bistro Louise
10. Eddie V’s Prime Seafood Museum Place
    

KRLD Restaurant Week – 2010 Greatest Annual Increase
Restaurants recognized for showing the greatest year-over-year percentage increase in KRLD Restaurant Week charitable contributions from 2009 to 2010 are:
Dallas – III Forks
Fort Worth – Truluck’s Seafood, Steak & Crab House

KRLD Restaurant Week – 2010 Newbie of the Year
KRLD Restaurant Week and its supported partners have selected the following first-time restaurant participants for demonstrating extraordinary enthusiasm and backing:
Dallas – Fogo de Choa
Fort Worth – Brownstone

KRLD Restaurant Week – 2010 Sponsors
2010 KRLD Restaurant Week sponsors included: KRLD, presenting sponsor Central Market, The Dallas Morning News/GuideLive.com, Texas Beef Council, AIWF, Schepps Dairy, Glazer’s (i.e. Rosenblum Cellars, Geyser Peak Winery, Beringer and Concha Y Toro), 360 West, Cadillac, Sysco, FreshPoint, American Express, Patrón XO Cafe, and Ultimate Vodka.  Support from these companies also contributed to last year’s successful effort.

“We are grateful for the record-breaking support from the community and our amazing restaurants and sponsors,” said Jan Pruitt, NTFB president and CEO.  “KRLD Restaurant Week continues to be one of our largest fundraisers, enabling diners to enjoy the area’s top dining experiences while supporting our mission to put food on the plates of hungry North Texans.”

Added Todd A. Landry, Lena Pope Home executive director, “North Texas, its time to whet our appetites for another successful KRLD Restaurant Week featuring the area’s hottest menus and a good deed served up with every meal. The funds raised annually are not only appreciated, but are crucial in our outreach to help children and families throughout Tarrant County.”

KRLD Restaurant Week presented by Central Market showcases North Texas’ thriving culinary scene, offering tasty three-course prix fixe dinner combinations priced at $35 per person (tax, tip and drinks billed separately).  The August tradition enables diners to acquaint themselves with regional hotspots, though some places opt to extend through early September.  For every meal purchased, participating restaurants made a $7.00 donation to either the North Texas Food Bank in Dallas or Lena Pope Home in Fort Worth. Reservations are required for seating.

Follow the event on Facebook (KRLD Restaurant Week) and Twitter <http://twitter.com/DFWRestaurantWk> (@DFWRestaurantWk) for campaign announcements on Reservation Day coming up in late July and 2011 participating restaurants and sponsor promotions.

About KRLD Restaurant Week
KRLD Restaurant Week presented by Central Market, coming up on its 14th straight year, was founded in Dallas/Fort Worth by NewsRadio 1080 KRLD AM.  Since its creation, the local restaurant community has embraced the concept and it continues to flourish as a popular marketing and giveback opportunity showcasing the area’s great dining scene.  The effort supports the work of the North Texas Food Bank in greater Dallas and Lena Pope Home in Tarrant County.  Stay tuned to KRLD <http://dfw.cbslocal.com/>  for updates on 2011’s efforts and look for the list of participants beginning in late July.

About NewsRadio 1080 KRLD-AM
50,000-watt KRLD is the source for local news, talk and information in Dallas/Fort Worth. The Texas State Networks, serves over 130 radio affiliates in two time zones with news, talk and sports programs.  KRLD and TSN are owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States.

About North Texas Food Bank
The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes donated, purchased and prepared foods through a network of 1,184 feeding programs in 13 North Texas counties. The NTFB supports the nutritional needs of children, families and seniors through education, advocacy and strategic partnerships. Close the Gap is the NTFB’s 3-year initiative to unite the community to narrow the food gap by providing access to 50 million meals annually by 2011.

Founded in 1982, the NTFB is a member of Feeding America (feedingamerica.org). *Last year, the NTFB provided access to almost 45 million meals through its efforts, 7.7 million meals, or 21 percent more, than the previous year. Each month Member Agency pantries distribute food to nearly 25,000 people every day. Every dollar donated to the NTFB provides three meals for the hungry.  Visit ntfb.org for additional information on how to donate, volunteer or get involved.

Some of the results surprised me. During August, when the event was taking place, I heard a lot of negative chatter from the restaurant industry. I thought responses would reflect “Restaurant Week fatigue.” However, 118 out of 125 (94%) restaurants claimed they would do it all over again next year. This year, 51% of the restaurants served their RW menu for 3 weeks (up from 38% in 2009). According to our survey, 82% of participating restaurants reported an increase in business during August, but only 39% cleared a profit.

We also asked for “on-the-record” and “off-the-record” comments which are printed below the whole survey.

Jump for the full report.

KRLD Restaurant Week Participant Survey

Number of restaurants polled: 125 out of 131

Number of restaurants that declined to provide answers: 5*

(*Note: The Vault closed on August 1, and thus couldn’t be contacted to answer our survey.)

1. How many weeks did you participate in last year’s (2009) KRLD’s Restaurant Week?

a) One – 25 restaurants answered one week.

b) Two – 25 restaurants answered two weeks. Three of these restaurants specifically said they did two plus preview weekend.

c) Three – 47 restaurants answered three weeks. Twelve of these restaurants specifically said they three weeks plus preview weekend.

d) Didn’t participate last year – 24 restaurants didn’t participate last year.

e) Didn’t know the answer – 1 restaurant couldn’t figure out how long they had participated last year.

2. How many weeks did you participate in this year’s 2010 KRLD Restaurant Week?

a) One – 27 restaurants answered one week. Two of these restaurants specifically said they did one week plus preview weekend.

b) Two – 31 restaurants answered two weeks. Two of these restaurants specifically said they did two weeks plus preview weekend.

c) Three – 64 (51%) restaurants answered three weeks. Sixteen of these restaurants specifically said they did three weeks plus preview weekend.

3. Did your restaurant participate in the first two weeks of KRLD Restaurant Week in 2009? If so, how did this year compare to last year?

a) This year was better – 47 restaurants said this year was better.

b) This year was about the same – 33 restaurants said this year was about the same.

c) This year was below last year – 16 restaurants said this year was below last year.

e) Didn’t participate last year — 24 restaurants didn’t participate last year.

f) Didn’t know yet. – 1 restaurant said they didn’t know this information yet.

g) Wouldn’t answer the question – 1 restaurant wouldn’t answer this question.

4. Based on your restaurant’s experience with this year’s 2010 KRLD Restaurant Week, how likely are you to participate again next year?

a) Yes, definitely will participate – 118 restaurants said they would participate again next year.

b) Not sure – 3 restaurant said they were not sure. Two of these specifically said they didn’t know yet.

c) No, will not participate – 1 restaurant said they would not participate again.

5. The answer to this question will not be attributed directly to the name of your restaurant. It will be combined with other participant’s answers. Does your restaurant:

a) Make a profit during KRLD Restaurant Week — 49 restaurants said they make a profit during Restaurant Week. Seven of these restaurants specifically said that they profit, but at a lesser rate.

b) Income remains about the same – 33 restaurants said that the income from customers remains about the same.

c) Loses money by participating in Restaurant Week – 7 restaurants said they lose money by participating.

d) Even – 4 restaurants would only say that they broke even.

e) Didn’t know the answer/wouldn’t provide an answer – 29 restaurants claimed they didn’t know the answer or declined to answer this question.

6. The fact that Restaurant Week occurs in August:

a) Increases your business – 102 restaurants said the fact that Restaurant Week occurs in August increases their business.

b) Has very little to do with your volume of business – 13 restaurants said that the month has little to do with the volume of their business.

c) Decreases your business – 2 restaurants said that the month decreased their business.

d) Didn’t know the answer – 4 restaurants didn’t know the answer to this question because they couldn’t compare it to anything (new restaurants) or because they simply didn’t know the answer.

e) Wouldn’t answer – 1 restaurant refused to answer this question.

7. Do you feel customers who participate in KRLD Restaurant Week are:

a) Likely to return after KRLD Restaurant Week — 87 restaurants said customers are likely to return after KRLD Restaurant Week.

b) Not sure what they will do — 21 restaurants said they weren’t sure what customers would do.

c) Not likely to return after KRLD Restaurant Week – 13 restaurants said customers would not likely return again after KRLD Restaurant Week.

d) Wouldn’t answer – 1 restaurant wouldn’t answer this question.

8. Any comments you’d like to add on or off the record?

ON THE RECORD

Ama Lur said that it’s a great program and that they’d have nothing negative to say about it. They also believe that more restaurants should participate.

Al Biernat’s. “Our biggest problem is that most people don’t know it’s a charity event.”

Arcodoro and Pomodoro. “People are coming in and we are putting food on their tables, but also helping feed the people without food on their tables. It makes the most sense that a restaurant take part in a charity like this with a food bank.”

Bailey’s Prime Plus Park Lane said that they didn’t think that three weeks were necessary.

Cacharel. “That way it is handled is fantastic. I’m real happy with the program. I have nothing negative to say about it.”

Chamberlain’s Fish Market. “We feel like it’s a win, win, win situation. Helps the charity, feeds customers and helps the restaurant.”

Charlie Palmer at the Joule said that it doesn’t make sense to lump the higher bistros together with the lower restaurants. They’ve been fighting that for years.

Dish said that the second and third week lacks marketing. They said that there’s a big push for the first week and lots of people trying to get in, but no one realizes that it continues on for another two weeks. They also said that a lot of food gets wasted because the restaurants are preparing for the latter two weeks as much as they were for the first week, but the people aren’t there to consume it.

Hannah’s off the Square in Denton agrees that there were promotion problems.

Palette Le Meridien Dallas North reiterated the promotion problems. They said, “I felt the promotion was there in certain regards, but as far as other places, there could have been more promotion.” They went on to say that they didn’t feel that someone visiting Dallas would have gotten the information as well as they should have.

OFF THE RECORD

One participate said, “Restaurant Week is broken. People don’t want to do it, but they feel they have to participate. The intent of Restaurant Week is great. At some point, the people who put this together need to go back and look at the model of it and see how they can fix it.”

Another said that the only thing that was a little frustrating is that people forget it’s for charity. They said no shows are a big problem and that for every person that doesn’t show that’s $7 that doesn’t go to the charities.

An upscale restaurant admitted that Restaurant Week played a big part in helping them make their numbers because the summer months have been slow.

A hotel restaurant said they wanted more promotions during the second week.

Several restaurants, said they’d prefer KRLD Restaurant Week in a different month.

One well-known spot in Uptown said that a lot of people complain that they aren’t getting the menu items they expected from other restaurants, but it’s impossible to make some of those expensive items for the cheap limit. They said they think it would behoove everyone to remember that this is for charity and to keep that in mind.

If you dined during KRLD Restaurant Week in 2009 and again this year, answer the following question below.

Overall, was your dining experience during  2010 KRLD Restaurant Week

a)      Much better than 2009

b)      About the same as 2009

c)      Worse than 2009

Thanks, the check is in the mail.

Hey, is anyone still dining out?

Comments are open. Operators are packing it in.

Hey, is anyone still dining out?

Comments are open. Operators are sleeping in but will be here eventually.

The winner for week number two is Brandon Smoot from Dish. (Last week Dish server Ira Steck was a runner-up.) Obviously Dish is providing great service during the hectic time of Restaurant Week. Way to go Brandon! Your public has spoken.

Below you will find other servers who captured your attention during the second KRLD Restaurant Week. Thanks to all who took the time to nominate your server. And thanks to the many servers who work hard to represent the Dallas restaurant business. We appreciate you both. Go. Eat. Nominate. (nancyn@dmagazine.com)

Abacus
I went to Abacus tonight with a friend and our server was Robert (sorry, no
picture). I believe he mentioned he is normally at Jaspers in Plano but is
helping out at Abacus during RW. He was fantastic from the very beginning,
recommending some fantastic dishes and pointing us in the direction of a
bottle of wine vs the more pricey wine pairings. He clearly knew the menu
well as his recommendations were stellar (pork belly bun small plate, pork
chop big plate). We were never rushed, despite Abacus’ time contraints on
each table. It never felt like he was judging and he took the time to make
conversation with us throughout the evening. Overall, it was a tremendous
experience, as it always is at Abacus. Kent Rathbun’s people definitely
understand the importance of customer service and it shows.

Bolla
We had a great service experience at Bolla in the Stoneleigh. Our server was Collin; and an example of going above and beyond. My wife prefers a red Zinfindel wine; and there was not one on the wine list by the glass. So, we asked Collin if he could ask for a glass of red Zinfindel to be served with my wife’s entree. He gladly and asked and served the wine. And, we really appreciated his friendly, courteous, and professional service.

UPDATE: Lonesome Dove.

UPDATE: Capital Grill, Go Fish, Cadot, Pappas Bros., Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek.

UPDATE: Nick & Sam’s, Central 214, Canary by Gorji, III Forks, Hibiscus.

Update: Al Biernat’s, Abacus.

Update: The Second Floor.