Since its inception in 2010, Binghamton Restaurant Week has grown into a local tradition. Residents, college students and visitors anticipate this event where we're able to feast on a three-course meal at local restaurants while helping local charities.

What I love about Binghamton Restaurant Week is that it exposes me to restaurants that I might not otherwise try on my own. I have a little one and let's face it- it's not often that I get out. Also, I'm always looking for a way to stretch a dollar and I definitely feel like I'm getting a bang for my buck with Binghamton Restaurant Week because lunch is $10 or less and dinner is $30 or less. And did I mention that appetizers and dessert are included in the price? Now, that's a deal!

Binghamton Restaurant Week is in full swing and runs through April 14th at 31 different locally owned Binghamton restaurants. This year, the Handicapped Children's Association and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Binghamton will benefit from this event.

Yesterday, my family joined me for lunch at South City Publick House on Vestal Avenue. South City Publick House was owned by two brothers for over 30 years and went by the name Southside Yanni's, but the brothers wanted to spend more time enjoying their lives and so they sold it to the owners of Terra Cotta. The new owners kept much of the quaint neighborhood pub charm of Southside Yanni's, but put a few new touches on things such as revamping the lighting and the bar area and changing the name.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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We were greeted by a very bubbly hostess who gushed over my son before leading us to a nice big table and getting us settled. She was extremely excited about it being Restaurant Week as was our waitress who was just as friendly. Drinks arrived almost instantly and so did our food.

My meal started with spinach and queso dip with blue corn chips. I wasn't at all expecting what I got. I thought I would just get a dish of your typical pub cheese dip and a few corn chips, but this was way beyond that. The cheese dip is house made and was so delicious that I definitely could have eaten it with a spoon straight from the bowl.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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I had a really hard time deciding on my main course because everything on the menu looked delicious. I knew my husband would be ordering the fried chicken spiedie sub and I figured he'd give me a taste, so I went with the marinated portobello mushroom quesadilla. I love that South City Publick House offers vegetarian options and that they're very understanding about dietary restrictions. My husband is allergic to dairy and was able to get his sub sans cheese with no issues. Our waitress also told us that they offer gluten free options, which are clearly labeled on their menu.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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If you like portabello mushrooms, you'll fall head over heels for the marinated portobello mushroom quesadilla. It's said that we eat first with our eyes and that's so true. When my plate was set before me, I was very impressed with the presentation. My husband's fried chicken spiedie sub was served a cool little basket- and he loved it so much that I didn't get that taste I was expecting.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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Our third course, dessert, was a red velvet cookie with big chunks of white and dark milk chocolate. My son's eyes bulged out of his head when he spotted the cookie, and so I gave him a tiny taste- this cookie is definitely kid approved!

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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What I enjoyed most about our lunch, even more than the food, was the atmosphere. There were people of all ages around us, including a group with two small kids. Everyone on staff was so friendly and we felt as though we'd been there a million times before by the way they greeted us as though we were friends.  If you go be sure to check out the amazing chalk artwork on the walls. Our waitress explained that one of their regular customers is an artist and these two drawings are made completely of chalk.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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Oh, and if you're as obsessed with coffee as I am, then you completely understand what it's like to visit a restaurant and be impressed with the service and the food, but then to close out your meal with an awful, sludge tasting cup of coffee. This isn't the case at South City Publick House. They have their finger on the pulse of what makes everything taste extraordinary, including their coffee.

Traci Taylor
Traci Taylor
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See what else South City Publick House is offering for lunch and dinner during Restaurant Week as well as what other restaurants are participating, here.

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