NYC’s summer iteration of Restaurant Week is in full swing but a crucial part of the City has been neglected. There are over 400 restaurants listed in Manhattan, but not a single one is located in Washington Heights. 

There is only one restaurant listed under Washington Heights on the City’s website, but it is actually located in Inwood.

NYC & Company, which is responsible for getting restaurants to participate, says they worked with local community boards and the Washington Heights Business Improvement District to conduct community outreach and get restaurants into the program. 

Washington Heights is known as “Little Dominican Republic” due to a large influx of Dominicans living in the area. NYC & Company did provide a Spanish version of the flyer and offered pre-recorded sessions in Spanish on how to register and what it means to participate. 

The community has received special recognition in recent weeks for the release of the movie version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s hit Broadway musical “In the Heights.” A public premiere of the flick was even held in the neighborhood.

Still, the Heights were shut out of Restaurant Week.

“We would love to have more Washington Heights restaurants in the program in the future,” said a spokesperson for NYC & Company.

They also say that the restaurant Terravita is signed up to participate during weeks 3 and 4 of Restaurant week. The restaurant is located in Washington Heights.

Restaurants are required to offer a fixed menu at the price of $21 or $39 per person. Some restaurants will also offer three courses for $125 per person.

The eateries, however, aren’t selected. Instead, the owners are required to sign their restaurants up themselves. Restaurants that want to participate in the future are encouraged to reach out to NYC & Company.

Executive Director of the Washington Heights Business Improvement District Isidro Medina thinks that restaurants in the area didn’t feel it was worth changing their menus for Restaurant Week. He also says they were contacted by NYC & Company and he provided them with references for restaurants in the neighborhood.