Manayunk’s Restaurant Week features great meals for good deals

Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival, a diverse event filled with food trucks of nearly every kind, was a glorious day for any foodie in the Philadelphia area. But if you weren’t able to attend, don’t dismay. The festival was simply the kickoff for an even greater event: Manayunk Restaurant Week.
From now through Friday, Sept. 30, restaurants all over Main Street are offering special values on meals—sometimes even up to three courses. Over 15 different locations are participating in Restaurant Week  this year, in venues ranging from informal grills and breweries to classy Italian bistros.
Specialized menus are offered at three different prices during the duration of Restaurant Week. The most affordable of these is set at just $15, an extraordinary value for what includes, on many of the menus, a full appetizer, dinner, and dessert. The next level is the $25 special, while the largest or fanciest meals available at the festival are $35. This value is still excellent, considering the amount and quality of food served  at many of the restaurants involved.
Among the restaurants participating in the festival are some of the most acclaimed in Philadelphia. The Couch Tomato Café and Bistro, one of the restaurants offering a dinner for two at just $25, is ranked number 38 out of the 3,400 plus restaurants and bistros in Philadelphia, according to TripAdvisor. Foodies looking for exquisite cuisine for half the price, or students searching for new, expertly crafted flavors can explore some of the best restaurants that Philadelphia has to offer.
Some participating restaurants offer multiple Restaurant Week menus at various price points. The internationally-inspired, yet locally-grown, Maya.J Restaurant, offers meals for either $15, $25, or $35. This flexibility in menu prices can be especially helpful when dining out with friends, because you can all go to the same restaurant without having to pay the same price. Other locations with multiple price options are Taqueria Feliz, a modern Mexican restaurant that has options of $15 and $25, and Bourbon Blue, a New Orleans-inspired restaurant with menus at $25 or $35.
Students looking for a meal off-campus can take advantage of this delicious event with just a short bus ride or drive from the Saint Joseph’s University campus. Main Street, where most of the restaurants are located, is just a few miles away from the Target on City Line Avenue.
Reservations for some of the more popular restaurants are filling up quickly, so those looking for a formal dinner should get to the festival as soon as they can. The deals end on Sept. 30, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to get some delicious, affordable food before the week is over.