Now in it’s 18th year, New York City’s Restaurant week has become an institution. Run twice a year, more than 250 participating restaurants offer special lunch and dinner prix-fixe menus which showcase their cuisines for an affordable price. Some would even say it’s a steal, as many of the participating restaurants are hard to get into, even if you pay full price. This time around, restaurant week, runs in 2 weeks, January 18–January 23 and January 25–January 30, and for the first time, 100 of the restaurants will also offer Sunday menus on the 18th and 25th.
Get three-course prix-fixe lunches for $24.07 and three-course prix-fixe dinners for $35.00 (excluding beverage, tax and gratuity). There’s a special dedicated reservation website open as of Jan. 5th at www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek. Some of the heavy hitters where you can dine this time around: 21 Club, Aquavit, Artisanale, Cafe Boulud, Charlie Palmers Metrazur, Chez Josephine, Eleven Madison Park, Gotham, Jo Jo, Le Perigord, Rayuela, Rosa Mexicano, Spice Market and Vento Trattoria, among many more.
I’ve long been a fan of Restaurant Week, as it gives me a chance to check out many great restaurants I wouldn’t normally go to, and I don’t feel guilty, since the price is always right. I had a nice birthday lunch 2 years ago at Spice Market. It’s also good on the servers, as you feel so spoiled to be getting a great meal at such a great price, and you have all that extra leftover to tip well based on what the price WOULD be on a normal day!
