Syracuse Downtown Dining Weeks to feature record 32 restaurants for 2017 (list)

(syracuse.com) Five restaurants are joining the annual Downtown Syracuse Dining Weeks promotion for the first time this year, bringing the total to a record 32.

This year's Dining Weeks runs from Wednesday, Feb. 15, to Wednesday, March 1. During those weeks, participating restaurants offer a deal of three-course meals for $25 or less. Some add extra promotions or variations.

New to the event for 2017 are four restaurants that opened withing the past year: Apizza Regionale, which opened in April; Eleven Waters, which opened in the Marriott Syracuse Downtown in August; Khao Gaeng, which openned near Clinton Square in March; and Original Grain, which opened in the Pike Block in September. Also new to Dining Week this year is Niko's Family Italian Restaurant, which has operated in Hanover Square for decades.

This is the 13th year for the Dining Weeks event, which began as way to promote downtown restaurants during what might otherwise be a slow winter period. The 2017 main sponsors are Visions Federal Credit Union and the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, Inc.

We'll be posting or linking to the participants' Dining Week menus as they come in. They will all be posted at the Downtown Committee site.

There will also be discounted parking from Sunday to Thursday during the Dining Week period at several locations -- fees will be $5 after 5 p.m. The discount will be available at the Atrium Garage, Clinton Street Garage, the lot at Fayette and Walton Streets and the lot at  Fayette and Clinton Streets. See the Downtown Committee's complete list of downtown parking options.

Find out this year's participating restaurants at syracuse.com