8 North Broadway Thriving Through Restaurant Week

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week actually lasts for two, having started Nov. 4 and ending Sunday, but Constantine Kalandranis wouldn't mind if it went on even longer.

"The only bad thing about Restaurant Week is it's only two weeks long," said Kalandranis, chef and owner of 8 North Broadway in Nyack. "It works in neighborhoods that understand the value of food and dining and Nyack is one of those places,"

Kalandranis said he has seen Restaurant Weeks work great in some places and fail in others, but he finds it to be useful for his business, which is closing in on completing its first year in Nyack. 8 North Broadway opened Dec. 19, 2012 and is in its second Restaurant Week.

"For us, it's been a really important way to create a menu that fits into that bracket and that's tasty and that's portioned well to really overimpress," Kalandranis said. "There is something for the diners who come in every day and something on our menu for people having their introduction to 8 North Broadway."

Kalandranis took advantage of the occasion to introduce something else, adding lunch service six days per week, Sunday through Friday, starting Nov. 4. They open at noon for lunch. Previously, 8 North Broadway had only been open for dinner and Sunday brunch.

"We used Restaurant Week as a trampoline to bounce into the lunch business," Kalandranis said. "We timed it where Restaurant Week was the catalyst for our lunch, which has been fantastic. We leave Saturdays to create that Saturday night performance, which is really important in our business."

Kalandranis said Nyack has been a perfect fit for 8 North Broadway, with a menu that changes daily and stresses creativity. He said he has been able to turn the focus to other things, such as cooking demonstrations. 

"Nyack is a wonderful neighborhood," Kalandranis said. "One of the benefits of the neighborhood is their positive attitude toward a daily changing menu. The neighborhood has been very supportive of that. It couldn't be better."