NYC restaurant week eateries ration, cut menu items as owners struggle to keep up with rising costs: Its not sustainable

This deal isn’t too sweet.Some restaurants participating in NYC Tourism’s semi-annual Restaurant Week are giving customers less bang for their buck, The Post has learned, by skimping on fries or entire menu dishes altogether due to rising operational costs.The prix fixe cost to dine during the event, which runs from Jan.21 to Feb.

9 this season, hasn’t budged from its $30, $45 and $60 options since 2022.While a good price for customers, some restaurant owners complain the fixed prices haven’t kept up with inflation — and say 2025 may be the last year they offer some deals.Loycent Gordon, owner of Neir’s Tavern in Woodhaven, Queens, told The Post he has historically been able to offset rising costs and keep the price of his $30 Goodfellas Burger (named for the movie partially filmed there) by cutting down on portions of fries — but noted “it’s not sustainable” anymore for his business.“For us, integrity is very important, so we will never skimp on quality,” Gordon told The Post.

“But what is customary – when prices increase, wholesale prices increase – restaurants typically cut back on portion sizes.“Because we’re living in an industry where it’s a luxury, in so many words, to go out and spend money at a restaurant, people are very price-sensitive,” he added.Gordon said he was forced to raise all burger prices by $1 within the past year, and has cut down patties from eight to seven ounces – particularly as beef prices have soared to record-highs in recent months.“The average mom and pop restaurant in Queens can’t charge $25 [for a cheeseburger],” Gordon quipped.

“When you talk about the working class families that we have in this neighborhood, you won’t get away [with it].You’ll be out of business tomorrow.”A request for comment from NYC Tourism, which sets the annual price tiers, wasn’t immediately returned.NYC Tourism’s website lists over 500 participating eateries this season, down roughly 100 from last...