The first Restaurant Week of 2012 begins next week, which most of you probably know means restaurants are offering 3-course lunches and dinners for $24.07 and $35, respectively. While this event was created to offer the opportunity to eat at expense-account restaurants for much more palatable prices,it’s degraded in recent years as many (or dare I say most) of the participating establishments are not places a diner would necessarily spend that amount on food only. As more people have become wise to this fact, Restaurant Week has lost much of its cachet among foodies.
But that doesn’t mean Restaurant Week should be ignored entirely. I’ve spent some time pouring through the numerous offerings and I’m happy to report that there are still some great opportunities to sample the cuisine of highly regarded restaurants at reasonable prices. I’ve compiled a list of my top picks below.
Top 5 Restaurant Week recommendations (in alphabetical order):
Ai Fiori (Lunch): This highly-acclaimed year-old restaurant normally charges $38 for its 2-course prix-fixe lunch (you get 3 here). Save over a third and get a free desert. 400 Fifth Avenue (212) 613-8660
EN Japanese Brassiere (Dinner): Unique but expensive Japanese small plates in a beautiful setting. $35 actually gets you 5-courses here and you can add a sake flight for another $16. 435 Hudson St. (212) 647-9196
Nobu Next Door (Dinner): Yes, it’s been around forever and is no longer as cutting edge cuisine as it once was. But the food is still fresh and flavorful; it just comes at a high price. The Beef Toban Yaki (avail on the Restaurant Week menu) itself usually goes for $35, but you can add a seafood appetizer and dessert for that price. 105 Hudson St. (212) 334-4445
Perilla (Dinner): Harold Dieterle is one of my favorite chefs (also owner of Kin Shop) and never disappoints. With entrees generally costing around $30 and apps around $15, the $35 prix-fixe is a steal. 9 Jones St. (212) 929-6868
SHO Shaun Hergatt (Dinner): The highly regarded Asian-French fusion fare is normally only available in an $85 prix fixe. You get to test it out for for less than half that. 40 Broad St. (212) 809-3993
Other acclaimed restaurants worthy of consideration:
A Voce (Lunch) 10 Columbus Circle (212) 823-2523 & 41 Madison Avenue (212) 545-8555
Café Boulud (Lunch) 20 East 76th Street (212) 772-2600
Lincoln (Lunch) 142 West 65th St. (212) 359-6500
Megu (Lunch and Dinner) 62 Thomas Street (212) 964-7777 & 845 UN Plaza (212) 964-7777
Know of any other Restaurant Week deals worth jumping on? Please share them in the comments below.
