Though one local restaurant week has ended, Endicott’s Little Italy neighborhood will shine a spotlight on local eateries with the start of its inaugural restaurant week April 20.
The event, hosted by the Little Italy Restaurant Association, will feature seven local restaurants and cafes and will run from April 20-26. Unlike Binghamton’s restaurant week, which wrapped up its 31st showing on April 16, Little Italy Restaurant Week will not feature prix fixe menus, but rather individual deals at each restaurant.
The event was first announced in an April 1 Facebook post, with all seven menus posted to the group’s Facebook page on April 14. Don’t be fooled by the moniker, as LIRA expands far beyond Italian food and includes bakeries and cafes — though if you are craving Italian, there is no shortage of fan favorites on the list.
Endicott’s Little Italy neighborhood to launch first annual restaurant week
According to Concordia Restaurant owner and LIRA founding member Michael Romeo, businesses were given the option to choose between the traditional three-course restaurant week format or offer specials, with all seven businesses choosing the latter. Romeo said a key factor for the event is showcasing seasonal flavors, meaning menu items from most businesses are tied to the spring season — and though it’s not confirmed, Romeo said the group hopes to repeat the event for all four seasons of the year.
“What we wanted to do was tell the eateries, ‘If you can, highlight spring and seasonal menu items,'” said Romeo. “Our goal is to actually do this seasonally, so we’d have a spring, summer, fall and winter restaurant week, where we give everyone the opportunity to highlight something seasonal.”
According to Romeo, participation in the event is free for all eateries, with no sort of membership fee or buy-in required. At its core, Romeo said Restaurant Week is about supporting Little Italy businesses and ensuring the neighborhood continues to thrive.
Romeo served as the board president for Little Italy Endicott, the neighborhood’s improvement group, between 2016 and 2024. While neither he nor LIRA is associated with Little Italy Endicott, Romeo said the two groups’ goals are inherently related.
“This is something completely independent, but it will run parallel to what they are doing,” said Romeo. “While their focus is on improving the neighborhood, and don’t get me wrong, they support restaurants as well, ours will be directly focused on supporting, promoting and celebrating the restaurants that reside within the Little Italy boundary.”
Full Little Italy Endicott Restaurant Week menus and hours
Baked! By Camille
Cerasaro’s Oak’s Inn
Concordia Restaurant
Cup O’ Jo Café
Di Cotta’s
Jarets Stuffed Cupcakes
Joey’s Pizzeria
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Little Italy Endicott hosts first restaurant week, with seasonal focus
Reporting by Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
