The promotion that well, doesn’t really seem to promote anything.

Cleveland Restaurants Week sounds like a great way to get folks out to a restaurant not previously visited. This is the second year that I have participated in Cleveland Restaurant Week, and have been left, well, very hungry.

There seemed to be a lot of buzz with friends on Twitter — even if I couldn’t seem to find a username for Cleveland Independents or Cleveland Restaurant Week. During Cleveland Beer Week, the promotion team seemed to work tirelessly advertising events, tweeting updates, keeping the site updated. There were HUNDREDS of restaurants, bars and breweries involved to make this inaugural event a success. And that success was HUGE! We went to one or two events EACH AND EVERY night of Cleveland Beer Week. So, who is in charge of CRW, and why does it seem to be a major FAIL?

Last year, I enjoyed a fabulous three-course dinner date (heh. fucker) at Crop Bistro. It was amazing — and compared to the price of normal main courses, was completely worth the prix-fixe meal. (And OMG, the habernero-infused ice cream was in itself worthy of $30).

I attempted dinner #2 at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights. They were no longer participating (to give them some credit, they did participate early in the week, but for whatever reason, decided to cut the promotion early). Not a complete loss, as the dinner and company was a great experience — as was the great live music. Although even for lunch, I feel that the food at Nighttown is somewhat mediocre and overpriced.

Planning ahead for a week (two weeks? I don’t get it) of restaurant awesome offerings, I called to double-check menus and reservations this year. To my dismay (and probably numerous others who did not “call ahead”), many were not participating at all. And one restaurant, Boulevard Blue, closed (yet is still listed on the Cleveland Independents Web site).

We did end up at La Boca in Gordon Square for dinner last Saturday. While what I wanted for my meal wouldn’t total the $30 three-course spec, the boyfriend’s meal was worth it — and we were able to split a dessert instead of each having one (and holy crap, the dessert was HUGE). $30 for an appetizer and ANYTHING else on the menu and a dessert — it was a really great deal. But eating anything a’ la carte on the menu would be equally as satisfying. AB took the opportunity to devour a couple seafood dishes. My meal even left me full enough where I had enough pulled pork for a lunch sandwich the next day.

(Ed — there is a review coming. I swear!)

During the work week, we enjoyed a relaxing dinner date at Tartine Bistro in Rocky River — which like La Boca, was incredibly delicious. But 1) the restaurant was not participating in CRW and 2) our meal with two drinks, two apps and two main courses was LESS than what the $30/per person ticket would have been if they HAD been participating.

Thoughts: in this economy, there are MANY restaurants offering inexpensive menu options to enjoy a fantastic local meal for less than $30 a person. Lola even has a happy hour constant $30 meal. The Greenhouse Tavern has a “chef’s dinner” that is wholly reasonable per person — and if you have a double date the table is left with MORE than enough food (and even a lot of leftovers for sharing). Now, don’t get me wrong, we have split a bill with another couple at GHT and have spent $150 for our HALF. I understand that some days, you dinner splurge and others are you just need to eat on the cheap.

But some of us don’t want dessert. Even MORE of us do not eat alone, and share apps or halves or likewise. Many times, I eat an app and salad for my dinner — I’m not a steak person and can very rarely finish a “main course.” I think the $30 meal ticket has gone by ways of promotion extinction — it is an every day deal, not just a week (or two weeks, whatever) of screwing your brain to think it’s some sort of “special.”

Sidenote: to give CI a bit of credit (even if I do find it lame), there was a disclaimer on the Web site to “call first” as some of the restaurants would not be participating and others would not be extending the special to Friday and Saturday meals. I call bullshit. And if I may say “lame” again.

First, I think that someone at CI should, oh, I don’t know, ASK? if a local restaurant would like to participate in a Cleveland Restaurants Week promotion — and yes, weekends are included as part of a week. Second, include menus on the site from those participating restaurants. Third, trim the promotion to an actual WEEK… or call it Cleveland Restaurants Two-fer or some shit. Fourth, keep your Web site updated and get involved — with local bloggers, twitter friends, Facebook… something. anything.

All that being (negatively) said, I do like the incorporation of OpenTable with Cleveland Independents reservations. Many times I have called for rezzies, realizing it’s two o’clock and the restaurant isn’t opened until 4… and then, well, I forget to call back. And then I’m all damn! damn! damn! and miss making the reservation altogether until the night before or something.

What would you change to make a promotion such as Cleveland Restaurants Week more appealing? How can CI retool this “week” of restaurant promotions? What is CI doing to ensure future success for these local establishments? Restaurant Owners/Managers — do you enjoy and/or obtain some benefit with your relationship with Cleveland Independents?

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