Fixed-price menus a must-have trend for restaurants

To adjust to a decrease in dining business, most upscale restaurants are relying on a price-fixed menu to keep the doors swinging. Fleming’s features “5 for $6 until 7” with five cocktails, wines and appetizers at the bar. Even Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse now has a $29 power lunch. And through the end of August, Galatoire’s Bistro offers a summer menu for $29.95, featuring the returning local favorite, avocado vichyssoise, a chilled potato and leek soup with fresh avocado and garnished with a boiled shrimp relish (pictured is Galatoire’s Stella Artois steamed mussels with frites and lemon aioli). “You can tell everyone’s frightened about shrinking restaurant consumers,” says Kevin Kimball, manager of the members-only Camelot Club, which came up with a $5 stimulus package lunch special. “People are trying to get creative.” (Photo by Eugenia Uhl)—Rebecca Breeden