Restaurant Week has pretty much become Restaurant Month, yet somehow it is still close to impossible to secure reservations at some of the top spots around Manhattan. Currently in full swing, Restaurant Week runs from July 16th through August 10th and features prix-fixe lunch menus for $24.07 and dinner for $35 at over 300 restaurants around the city. Check out some of our favorite destinations for a delicious meal on a budget. by Sarah Mintz, Contributing Writer
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| Pretzel Crab Cake, David Burke Kitchen |
David Burke Kitchen 23 Grand Street nr. 6th Ave. Available for both lunch and dinner, David Burke Kitchen in SoHo offers a large prix-fixe menu, including 6 appetizers and 7 entrees for dinner all without supplemental charge. For dinner, wEE recommend the pretzel crabcake, short rib and cavatelli, black sea bass, and red velvet sundae. Also don't forget to stop by the Treehouse, the restaurant's outdoor bar for a drink before or after dinner!
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| Beignets, Riverpark |
Riverpark 450 East 29th Street nr. FDR Drive If you love Tom Colicchio as much as wEE do, head over to his east side spot, Riverpark, located right along and overlooking the East River. Beyond the breathtaking views, you can enjoy the entire Riverpark menu this Restaurant Week for both lunch and dinner at a discounted cost! A few of the menu items will hit you with a supplemental charge, but portion sizes and the flavors will knock your socks off. wEE recommends the avocado and hamachi salad, Spanish gazpacho, pork chop, and beignets.
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| Coffee & Doughnuts dessert, Quality Meats |
Quality Meats 57 West 58th Street nr. 6th Ave. Participating in lunch only, Quality Meats is your spot for an affordable steakhouse experience in a trendy and sexy environment. wEE recommend the scallops, hanger steak (to get the biggest bang for your buck), and the coffee & doughnuts dessert.
North End Grill 104 North End Avenue nr. Vesey St. Get a taste of the Danny Meyer empire this summer's Restaurant Week. During Lunch from 11am-2pm only, try the best from Chef Floyd Cardoz. wEE recommend the chilled cucumber soup, pork loin with navy beans, mustard, and peach puree, and pistachio cheesecake with plums. Reservations are limited so book now!
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| Maialino, Gramercy Park Hotel |
Maialino 2 Lexington Avenue nr. 21st St. No restaurant week is complete without lunch at Maialino. Located in one of the quaintest parts of town inside the Gramercy Park Hotel, Maialino boasts charm without being pretentious. If you can stomach it, wEE recommends starting with the tripe. Served with pecorino, this tripe is perfectly tender yet not overly rich. Or, if you'd like to opt for something lighter, go with the artichoke mouse on toast or summer squash and ricotta salad. For your secondi, wEE recommend the Bombolotti All'Amatriciana - think suckling pig and pasta. Amazing, I know. Dessert is not even a question. Olive oil cake takes the cake.
Junoon 27 West 24th Street nr. 5th Ave.
Restaurant Week is the perfect time to be a little adventurous, right? Without breaking the bank, head over to Junoon in Chelsea for lunch or dinner and an extremely flavorful Indian meal. This luxurious and spacious restaurant combines contemporary elegance, creative cuisine, and is equipped with its own spice room. wEE recommend the piri-piri shrimp, lamb kolhapuri (warning: it's spicy!), and cardamon kulfi for dessert.
EE Restaurant Week Tips:
1) Don't go to restaurants that offer prix-fixe menus year round.
2) Do check the menu before you go - some restaurants have "supplement" charges for certain dishes and might also be serving a few dishes that don't interest you.
3) Do confirm that the restaurant offers Restaurant Week dinner - many of the best only serve lunch. Some offer both lunch and dinner.
4) Don't ask for substitutions. The menu is designed to give you a multi-course meal at an affordable price.
5) Do bring a friend. Explore the menu together and try a little of everything.
6) Do enjoy - then tell us about what you loved and why you loved it.
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