During this tough economic time, who isn't looking for a bargain? This year's Long Island Restaurant Week (LIRW), Nov. 2-9, is more anticipated than ever before as nearly everyone is trying to save and make an extra buck or two. Long Island restaurants recognize the need to offer deals to locals that will result in satisfied customers with heavier wallets and a deal that will also boost their own revenue.

It is anticipated that 205 participants, including Akbar restaurant, B.K. Sweeney's Uptown Grille, Calagero's restaurant, City Café, Legal Sea Foods and Rein Bar & Bistro at The Garden City Hotel in Garden City, will surpass last year's record.

Based on preliminary estimates, this year's LIRW is expected to bring in more than $6.1 million in restaurant revenue alone, $338,000 taxes raised for New York State and will serve approximately 162,000 meals. This campaign garnered the prestigious Big Apple Award in the Marketing Consumer Services, Travel and Tourism/Hospitality sector by the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

The eight-day promotion features a special prix fixe dinner offered by all restaurant participants. The idea is simple: For eight days, Sunday to Sunday, all participating restaurants offer a three-course prix fixe for $24.95 all night, except Saturday when it will be offered only until 7 p.m. Each restaurant offers its own unique menu.

Nassau County: Jameson's Bar & Grill and Villa d'Este restaurant in Floral Park; Corbin & Reynolds, George Martin's Coastal Grill, Lola's Kitchen & Wine Bar and Nick DiAngelo in Long Beach; Avery's Broadway Beanery in Lynbrook; La Marmite in Williston Park; Le Petite Framboise and Louie's Oyster Bar and Grille in Port Washington; Akbar restaurant, B.K. Sweeney's Uptown Grille, Calagero's Restaurant, City Café, Legal Sea Foods and Rein Bar & Bistro at The Garden City Hotel in Garden City; Uncle Bacala's in Garden City Park; Besito, Bistro Citron and Thyme Restaurant & Café Bar in Roslyn; Mim's Restaurant in Roslyn Heights; Gabrielle's and George Martin The Original in Rockville Centre; Bistro M restaurant and On 3 restaurant in Glen Head; Blue 42, E.B. Elliot's and The Schooner in Freeport; Café Formaggio and Ciao Baby in Carle Place; Blue 42 in Freeport; Prime Seasons in Uniondale; Wild Harvest restaurant in Glen Cove; Nicholas James Bistro and Starfish restaurant in Merrick; Chi, City Cellar Wine Bar and Grill and Laguna Grille in Westbury; Louis & Marxx, Palm Court restaurant & Wine Cellar at The Carltun and Runyon's Roadside Tavern in East Meadow; Barney's restaurant in Locust Valley; Antonette's restaurant and Jackson Landing in Bellmore; The Bayou in North Bellmore; La Primavera Restaurant, Peppercorns and West East Bistro in Hicksville; Cara Mia Due and Runyon's in Seaford; Mill Creek Tavern and Pine Island Grill at The Crescent Beach Club in Bayville; Brick & Rail, Hemingway's, Snaps restaurant and Thom Thom Steak & Seafood in Wantagh; Coach Grill & Tavern, Fiddleheads American Fish House and Grill, Il Piatto Italian Steakhouse and Wild Honey restaurant in Oyster Bay; HR Singletons in Bethpage; Brasserie Cassis and Red Fish Grille in Plainview; Fulton & Prime Fish and Steak House, Jewel of India, Mim's restaurant and Rachel's Cafe in Syosset; Big Daddy's, Ciao Baby, Dick & Dora restaurant, Don Juan, Hudson's Mill and Katie Daley's in Massapequa; La Casuccia in Farmingdale; and The Delano Mansion at The Woodlands.

Suffolk County: Chester's Fine Cuisine & Spirits and Vittorio's restaurant in Amityville; Grasso's in Cold Spring Harbor; Legal Sea Foods in Huntington Station; Four Food Studio and Cocktail Salon in Melville; Abel Conklins, Aix En-Provence, Besito, Bistro Cassis, Café Buenos Aires, The Clubhouse, Honu Kitchen & Cocktails, Jonathan's Ristorante, Mac's Steakhouse, Mangiamo Italian restaurant, Martoni's, Noma, Osteria Da Nino, Osteria Toscana, Mazzi restaurant, Piccolo Mondo restaurant, Red restaurant and Toast & Co in Huntington; The Argyle, Babylon Carriage House, Horace and Sylvia's Publick House, Pronto! restaurant and Ristorante Gemelli in Babylon; Ruvo restaurant in Greenlawn; Ludlow Bistro in Deer Park; Ciao Baby, Elmer's, Jackson's restaurant and Red Dish Grille & Martini Bar in Commack; Pumpernickels restaurant in Northport; Fatfish Wine Bar & Bistro in Bay Shore; Nico at The Gatsby Mansion in Islip; Brookwoods in Islip Terrace; Casa Rustica, The Garden Grill and Union Station in Smithtown; Butterfields restaurant, The Grill Room and Wasabi Sushi in Hauppauge; Riverview restaurant and Snapper Inn in Oakdale; Bella Vita City Grill, Mirabelle restaurant, Villa Sorrento and Vintage Steak House in Saint James; Sundried Tomato Café in Nesconset; Blackbirds' Grille, Café Joelle and Oysterman's Restaurant & Pub in Sayville; Le Soir restaurant in Bayport; Pentimento and Three Village Inn in Stony Brook; Mamma Lombardi's in Holbrook; The Fifth Season, Lombardi's On The Sound, P.J. Lobster House, Ruvo restaurant and Wave restaurant & Lounge at Danfords Hotel & Marina in Port Jefferson; Harbor Crab Co. restaurant, The Oar Steak & Seafood Grill and Louis XVI in Patchogue; Chachama Grill in East Patchogue; Avino's Italian Table, The Bellport, Meritage and Porters on the Lane in Bellport; Blond Restaurant in Miller Place; Mill House Inn in Yaphank; Caruso's restaurant in Rocky Point; Desmond's restaurant and Lounge, La Plage restaurant and Michael Anthony's Food Bar in Wading River; JC's restaurant in Manorville; Bella Mare Italian restaurant in East Moriches; The Village Crossroads Restaurant & Catering in Calverton; Cooperage Inn in Baiting Hollow; Olde Speonk Inn in Speonk; Stonewalls at the Woods and Tweed's restaurant and Buffalo Bar in Riverhead; Annona, Casa Basso, Joe's American Grill. The Patio at 54 Main, Tierra Mar and Westhampton Steakhouse in Westhampton Beach; Meeting House Creek Inn in Aquebogue; Dockers Waterside Restaurant & Marina, Isola Trattoria, New Moon Cafe and Stone Creek Inn in East Quogue; Jamesport Manor Inn and Jedediah Hawkins Inn & restaurant in Jamesport; Bayview Inn & restaurant in South Jamesport; Legends restaurant in New Suffolk; A Mano and A Touch of Venice restaurant in Mattituck; Indian Cove restaurant and Oakland's Restaurant & Marina in Hampton Bays; Barrister's restaurant, The Plaza Café, red/bar brasserie and Southampton Publick House in Southampton; Elbow East, The Old Barge and Seafood Barge in Southold; MUSE restaurant and Aquatic Lounge in Water Mill; Front Street Station, Porto Bello restaurant, Scrimshaw restaurant and Soundview restaurant in Greenport; Almond Bar & restaurant and Pierre's in Bridgehampton; Grappa Restaurant & Wine Bar and Oasis Waterfront restaurant in Sag Harbor; Almoncello, Café Max, Della Femina, The 1770 House, Fresno, Harbor Bistro, Matto restaurant, Michaels' at Maidstone Beach and Nick & Toni's in East Hampton; and Gurney's Sea Grille and Lighthouse Grill at Montauk Yacht Club in Montauk.

Long Island Restaurant Week is presented by WordHampton Public Relations, the creators of Hamptons Restaurant Week. The First Annual Long Island Restaurant Week won the SABRE Gold Award Certificate of Excellence and was recognized for its superior achievement in branding and reputation by the leading public relations industry analyst, The Holmes Group. The Second Annual Long Island Restaurant Week garnered the prestigious Big Apple Award in the Marketing Consumer Services, Travel and Tourism/Hospitality sector by the New York Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for excellence in research and situation analysis, planning, execution, results and evaluation.

If your Long Island restaurant would like to participate in this year's event or to view a current list of participating restaurants, visit www.longislandrestaurantweek.com. For more information about Long Island Restaurant Week, call (631) 727-2870.