How Restaurant Week Got Started
August 19, 2026
If you've ever enjoyed a prix-fixe meal at a New York City restaurant during Restaurant Week, you may have wondered how the tradition started.
The answer goes back to 1992, when New York City was preparing for a major political event that brought thousands of visitors, journalists, and delegates to the city.
What began as a short-term idea became one of New York's most recognizable dining traditions—and eventually inspired Restaurant Week programs around the world.
It Started With the Democratic National Convention
In July 1992, New York City hosted the Democratic National Convention at Madison Square Garden.
The city expected thousands of delegates and journalists to arrive, and organizers wanted to showcase New York as a great place to visit—and, of course, a great place to eat.
Two people helped come up with an unusual solution: Tim Zagat, co-founder of the Zagat restaurant survey, and legendary restaurateur Joe Baum.
Their idea was simple: give visitors a chance to experience some of New York's best restaurants at an accessible fixed price.
The original promotion was called NY92 and was designed as a short, lunch-only event. Nearly 100 restaurants participated.
Why $19.92?
There's a fun piece of New York history hidden in the original price.
Participating restaurants offered a three-course lunch for $19.92—a nod to the year 1992.
At the time, that was a way for visitors and locals to experience some of the city's better-known restaurants without paying their usual prices.
The promotion was originally expected to be a temporary event tied to the convention.
Instead, something unexpected happened.
People loved it.
New Yorkers who weren't attending the convention started taking advantage of the special menus, and restaurants saw the potential of bringing new customers through their doors.
From One Week to a New York Tradition
What was supposed to be a one-time promotion became an annual event.
Over the years, Restaurant Week expanded beyond lunch and eventually included dinner. It also grew from a short promotion into a much longer dining celebration.
By the late 1990s, the event had become an established part of New York's restaurant calendar. In 1998, for example, 118 restaurants participated in the program.
Eventually, NYC Restaurant Week expanded into both summer and winter editions.
And the idea didn't stay in New York.
The original NYC program became the inspiration for Restaurant Week promotions in cities across the United States and around the world.
Why Restaurant Week Matters to Local Restaurants
Restaurant Week isn't just about getting a discounted meal.
For restaurants, it's an opportunity to introduce themselves to people who might not otherwise walk through the door.
Someone might discover a restaurant during Restaurant Week, enjoy the experience, and come back months later for a birthday dinner, date night, or family meal.
That's part of what makes the tradition so interesting: a promotion designed to bring people into restaurants became a way for diners to discover neighborhoods and businesses they might have otherwise overlooked.
Brooklyn Has Always Been Part of the Story
Although Restaurant Week began in Manhattan, it eventually grew into a citywide celebration involving restaurants throughout all five boroughs—including Brooklyn.
And that's something worth celebrating.
Brooklyn's restaurant scene is incredibly diverse, from neighborhood pizzerias and family-owned restaurants to destination dining, bakeries, cafés, and everything in between.
Restaurant Week gives diners another reason to explore beyond their usual neighborhood.
Maybe this is the year you skip your regular spot and discover a restaurant you've walked past a hundred times.
From a Political Convention to a Global Dining Tradition
It's pretty remarkable when you think about it.
A short promotional idea created around the 1992 Democratic National Convention became the world's first Restaurant Week.
It started with fewer than 100 restaurants, a lunch promotion, and a $19.92 price tag.
More than three decades later, the basic idea remains familiar:
Give people a reason to try somewhere new. Give restaurants a reason to welcome them. And give a city another way to celebrate its local businesses.
That's a pretty great legacy for a promotion that was never supposed to last.
Discover Brooklyn's Local Restaurants
At Brooklyn Local, we're all about helping neighbors discover the businesses, people, and places that make Brooklyn special.
Whether you're looking for a new restaurant, a neighborhood favorite, or a local business you've never tried before, there's always something new to discover.
Explore Brooklyn. Support local.