11 Washington Heights, Inwood Eateries Joining NYC Restaurant Week

UPPER MANHATTAN, NY — Reservations for New York Restaurant Week opened Monday and Upper Manhattan has the most eateries it has ever had for the promotional event that takes place a few times a year.

A total of 11 Washington Heights and Inwood establishments made the cut for the summer restaurant week, which will kick off July 18 and last a full 30 days to celebrate the event's 30th anniversary.

The double-digit number of eateries participating in the upcoming rendition of the first round of NYC Restaurant Week is the most ever for the two neighborhoods in the past year and a half. It follows Patch's reporting on the lack of uptown restaurants taking part in the program in 2021.

Reservations are open for the 623 spots participating across the five boroughs and 509 of them are in Manhattan.

The summer 2022 program will offer prix-fixe lunch and dinner meals for $30, $45 or $60.

The program runs from July 18 through August 21, but restaurants may participate for one, two, three, four or all five weeks.

In Upper Manhattan, participating favorites include Mamajuana Cafe, Terravita, and II Sole.

Here is the full list of Washington Heights and Inwood restaurants where deals can be scored.

• Pop+ Pour
• II Sole
• Buunni Inwood
• Bocaditos Bistro
• Terravita
• Mamajuana Cafe
• ChinitoLatino
• Retazitos
• Casa Tuya
• Aqua Marina
• Pat'e Palo

As Patch first reported in January 2021, Upper Manhattan was completely left off the menu for the first NYC Restaurant Week of that year.

Not a single restaurant in Washington Heights or Inwood — neighborhoods with more than 200,000 residents and dozens, if not hundreds, of eateries — made the list of 570 eateries.

"We in no way think it was intentional, but it just goes to show how our community continues to be left behind. To be honest, owners everywhere are overwhelmed with everyday operations and survival, and so we'll give folks the benefit of the doubt that it was just an oversight," Jeff Garcia, president of the New York State Latino Restaurant Bar & Lounge Association, told Patch at the time. "However, we hope to be included in the future."

NYC & Company, the city's tourism branch that runs restaurant week, went on to make a concerted effort to reach out to uptown restaurants, and the participating eateries did increase slightly over time.

Unlike the past two Restaurant Weeks, this one will be the first since the coronavirus pandemic without sweeping masking and capacity restrictions.

"Masks and proof of vaccination are no longer required to dine indoors," the event's site states.

City officials still recommend that people wear high-quality masks in indoor public spaces to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Find a full list of participating restaurants here.

Patch reporters Anna Quinn and Matt Troutman contributed.