Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Rules & Standards
Participation in Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week is a benefit of membership with the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). To ensure the integrity of the promotion, consistency for diners, and a level playing field for all participating businesses, the following rules and standards must be strictly adhered to.
Failure to comply with these guidelines will result in immediate removal from the current marketing campaign and will disqualify the restaurant from participating in future Restaurant Week promotions.
To participate in Restaurant Week, your restaurant must be a member in good standing of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW). If your restaurant is not a current member, please join online here.
Restaurant Week registration is accepted only via the RAMW.org online enrollment portal.
Restaurant Week is not just about a discounted lunch or dinner; it is about creating a dining experience, and in doing so, it is imperative that our participating restaurants adhere to the RAMW Restaurant Week promotion standards that reflect excellence in:
- Level of Service
- Diversity of Menu
- Quality of Ingredients
- Overall Experience
Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week: Rules & Standards
1. Menu Requirements & Course Definitions
- Mandatory Three-Course Structure: Participating restaurants MUST offer, at a minimum, a true three-course prix-fixe menu.
- Food Components Only: A course is strictly defined as a distinct, solid food item (typically a starter/appetizer, a main entree, and a dessert).
- Beverage Restrictions: Optional beverage pairings, flights, or cocktails may be offered as an add-on or upgrade, but cannot under any circumstances substitute for a food course.
- Mandatory Menu Submission: A copy of the Restaurant Week menu must be uploaded to the RAMW portal in PDF format. Menus are reviewed by RAMW for compliance and posted to the official promotion website. This menu must remain accurate throughout the entire promotional period.
2. Pricing Tiers & Upsells
- Flat-Rate Pricing: Menus must be priced exactly within the established RAMW Restaurant Week tiers chosen during registration:
- Lunch/Brunch: $25 or $35 per person
- Dinner: $40, $55, or $65 per person
- Base Value Protection: Restaurants are permitted to offer premium menu upgrades, supplemental items, or add-ons for an additional fee. However, a full, high-quality, three-course meal must always be available entirely within the base promotional price tier. Diners must not be forced into an upgrade to complete a three-course meal.
- Exclusions: Promotional pricing does not include beverages (unless specified as part of a designated pairing add-on), gratuity, or local sales tax.
3. Availability & Operating Hours
- No Time Restrictions: The Restaurant Week menu must be made available to all diners during all normal operating hours of the selected service (Lunch, Brunch, or Dinner) for the entire duration of the promotional week.
- No Blackout Windows: Restricting the Restaurant Week menu to "early bird" windows, specific seating times, or cutting off availability during peak hours is strictly prohibited. If you are open for dinner and registered for dinner, the menu must be available from open to close.
- Brunch Limitations: Weekend brunch cannot be the sole service option offered for the promotion. Restaurants cannot register exclusively for weekend brunch; participation requires actively offering lunch, dinner, or both throughout the standard weekdays of the promotional period.
4. Brand & Marketing Compliance
- Official Logo Usage: To maintain cohesive campaign visibility, participating restaurants are strongly encouraged to utilize the official Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week logo provided in the RAMW toolkit on digital assets, social media, and printed promotional materials. If used, the logo must not be altered in color or stretched. Outdated assets from previous years may not be used.
- In-House Menu Visibility: The Restaurant Week menu must be easily accessible, clearly presented, and offered to all guests upon entering the physical dining room during the promotional hours.
METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON RESTAURANT WEEK FAQs:
The following frequently asked questions have been compiled to assist you in adhering to the Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Week Rules and Standards:
How do I register my restaurant for Restaurant Week?
To register for Restaurant Week, your restaurant must be a member in good standing of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington.
Registrations are accepted only via the RAMW online enrollment portal. View registration instructions
Registrations are accepted only via the RAMW online enrollment portal. View registration instructions
What is the deadline to register?
Registration closes within 2-weeks of the start of the promotion.
Is there a fee to participate in Restaurant Week?
Yes. The participation fee is $500 for early registration and $550 after the early registration deadline.
Yes. The participation fee is $500 for early registration and $550 after the early registration deadline.
Why is there a fee to participate in Restaurant Week?
The participant registration fee goes to Restaurant Week website improvements, maintenance, advertising, marketing, and promotion of the event to help make it as successful as possible.
The participant registration fee goes to Restaurant Week website improvements, maintenance, advertising, marketing, and promotion of the event to help make it as successful as possible.
I have more than one restaurant. Does each of my restaurants have to register separately to participate?
Yes. All restaurants receive identical benefits so each participating restaurant has to register individually. A group rate is available for 5 or more locations registered at the same time. Each location must be added to your registration shopping cart for the discount to apply. Use code GROUP in the discount field in the shopping cart before check out.
Yes. All restaurants receive identical benefits so each participating restaurant has to register individually. A group rate is available for 5 or more locations registered at the same time. Each location must be added to your registration shopping cart for the discount to apply. Use code GROUP in the discount field in the shopping cart before check out.
Do I have to pay the fee for each location if I have more than one restaurant with the same name in different locations?
Yes. Each restaurant will be listed individually and included in all promotional material as a separate restaurant.
Yes. Each restaurant will be listed individually and included in all promotional material as a separate restaurant.
Does my restaurant have to participate for the entire length of Restaurant Week?
Yes. All participating restaurants are required to offer their Restaurant Week menu for the selected service during all regular operating days, for the full length of the 7-day promotion period.
Yes. All participating restaurants are required to offer their Restaurant Week menu for the selected service during all regular operating days, for the full length of the 7-day promotion period.
Restaurants that opt to offer a Restaurant Week brunch service are able to choose from Saturday only, Sunday only or both days.
Does my restaurant have to participate for the entire length of the Restaurant Week if there is an extended period?
During an extended promotional period, participating restaurants that opt-in for the extension are agreeing to offer a three-course, or equivalent, prix fixe menu for the duration of the extension period during the normal operational hours of the restaurant.
During an extended promotional period, participating restaurants that opt-in for the extension are agreeing to offer a three-course, or equivalent, prix fixe menu for the duration of the extension period during the normal operational hours of the restaurant.
Do I have to offer a 3-course menu?
Yes. Each restaurant determines its Restaurant Week menu must offer at least 3-courses, or the equivalent of 3-courses, for the specified promotional price points exclusive of tax and gratuity. Side dishes and cocktails are not considered a course.
Yes. Each restaurant determines its Restaurant Week menu must offer at least 3-courses, or the equivalent of 3-courses, for the specified promotional price points exclusive of tax and gratuity. Side dishes and cocktails are not considered a course.
Do I have to offer every menu price point?
You have the choice to offer menus at the price point that best fits your menu(s).
You have the choice to offer menus at the price point that best fits your menu(s).
Can I include a cocktail or glass of wine in the fixed price?
Yes, restaurants can include beer, wine, cocktails or any other beverage within your Restaurant Week offer.
Yes, restaurants can include beer, wine, cocktails or any other beverage within your Restaurant Week offer.
If your standard price point for a 3-course meal falls within or below the Restaurant Week price point, we strongly suggest you include another course, glass of wine, cocktail or beer within the offer.
You are able to indicate if you are offering pairings while registering your location. Cocktail and wine pairings are not expected to be included in prix fixe pricing.
Can I offer “upsell” items to the fixed price menu to increase the check price?
Yes. You can offer the Restaurant Week menu at the stated price point with an upgrade option.
Yes. You can offer the Restaurant Week menu at the stated price point with an upgrade option.
Does my restaurant have to offer multiple appetizers, entrees, and desserts on my RW menu?
It’s up to you to decide what is offered on your Restaurant Week menu. Many participants offer a special menu or include their full menu as part of the promotion.
It’s up to you to decide what is offered on your Restaurant Week menu. Many participants offer a special menu or include their full menu as part of the promotion.
Whatever, you decide to do, Restaurant Week diners are looking for menus that offer variety and value during the event. It is a best practice to create a menu that will showcase your restaurant.
How can I participate in Restaurant Week Brunch?
How can I participate in Restaurant Week Brunch?
Restaurants have the option to offer a Restaurant Week brunch menu that has an equivalent value of a 3-course menu at the promotional price points.
Do I have to send my Restaurant Week menu to RAMW?
Yes. Participants can upload their final Restaurant Week menu via your member profile on RAMW.org or send via email to rw@ramw.org.
It is a best practice to provide your menu as soon as possible. Diner feedback shows that they often look menu offerings on the Restaurant Week site before booking their reservation.
When will my restaurant be listed on the website?
Your restaurant will be listed on the official Restaurant Week site upon completion of your registration which includes payment of the participation fee.
Your restaurant will be listed on the official Restaurant Week site upon completion of your registration which includes payment of the participation fee.
Can I include the Restaurant Week logo on my website and in promotional pieces?
Yes. All participants will receive the Restaurant Week Tool-Kit inclusive of the official Restaurant Week logo, canned social media messages, and customizable templates for your use in promoting your restaurant for the event. You may also email rw@ramw.org to request the logo once registered.
Yes. All participants will receive the Restaurant Week Tool-Kit inclusive of the official Restaurant Week logo, canned social media messages, and customizable templates for your use in promoting your restaurant for the event. You may also email rw@ramw.org to request the logo once registered.