Restaurants in New York slash prices to bring back diners
New York's top 150 restaurants have slashed their prices in an effort to tempt diners back to the city.
The initiative was launched last week by NYC& Company, the marketing arm of the city's administration, and has already led to a flood of diners returning.
Tim Zagat, chairman of the organisation and co-editor of the Zagat restaurant guide, said trade was now, on average, down just 10% on what it was before the 11 September terror attacks.
But restaurants in parts of the city heavily dependent on tourism were still suffering badly, with establishments in Little Italy reporting business down by 50%, and Chinatown 30% lower than normal.
The promotion has seen restaurants offering cut-price lunches for $20 (£14) and dinner for $30 (£21) and could be extended for up to another fortnight, said Zagat.
Apart from the loss of the Windows on the World restaurant in the World Trade Center, more than 30 restaurants in the downtown area of the city have been closed permanently.
Another 37 in the devastated financial district remain temporarily closed, and whether they ever reopen is still in question.
More than 15,000 workers have been laid off by restaurants in the city since the attacks.
However, those in the more outlying neighbourhoods have been reporting their best business ever, as New Yorkers have preferred to stay close to home or to buy take-aways.
"There has been a reallocation of stomachs. For every tourist from somewhere else who has not come to New York there has been a New Yorker who has not been going to California," Zagat added.
by Nic Paton
