Northport holds its first Restaurant Week

Organizers of the first Northport Restaurant Week, which began Monday night, have found another benefit to urging more customers to dine in the small North Shore village.

Marie Gallowitsch, who with her husband owns Northport mainstay Skipper's Pub, said she and other Northport restaurant owners have found a larger sense of community as they've planned the event, which runs through Sunday.

"All the restaurants are talking a lot more and comparing notes," Gallowitsch said. "There's more community."

The idea of Northport Restaurant Week came out of meetings of the village's Business Development Committee, spearheaded by Village Trustee Tom Kehoe.

Gallowitsch said she and other committee members had discussed ways to bring more business to Northport, and developed the idea for a special week during which restaurants would offer a $25 prix-fixe menu.

Thirteen restaurants, most of them in the village, joined what organizers said they hoped would become an annual event.

Gallowitsch said this week was chosen because it's typically a slower time for restaurants -- especially since boating season is over.

Besides, she said, Northport Village isn't exactly on a major thoroughfare.

"We're off the beaten track, which is good and bad," she said. "It's wonderful because it lends to the charm, but sometimes it's difficult for business."

Gallowitsch said several restaurants have already reported an increase in reservations for this week.

"We're taking baby steps," Gallowitsch said. "Everybody's very excited about it."