New York City Restaurant Week Returns
From July 22 to August 18, more than 600 restaurants are participating
New York City Restaurant Week has returned. The promotion has interesting roots considering we are in an election year: Restaurant Week was created in 1992 to lure Democratic National Convention delegates to various restaurants throughout the city by offering a prix-fixe lunch that cost $19.92. The program proved successful with locals, and the promotion, backed by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, is now also a tourism driver with visitors coming to New York on culinary adventures.
The entire model proved to be completely successful with other major cities like Miami (Miami Spice), Boston (Dine Out Boston), Lose Angeles (Dine L.A.), and Las Vegas (Las Vegas Restaurant Week) following suit.
NYC Restaurant Week, which started as a four-day promotion, now runs from July 22 to August 18 (with some eateries extending their offers through Labor Day to take advantage of summer tourism). It offers prix-fixe lunches ($30 and $45) and dinners ($30, $45, and $60). With 630 restaurants participating (find them all here), there are bound to be places that offer better values than others. With Saturday off the table, look for restaurants that offer deals on Fridays and Sunday brunch (not all do,). Weekday power brunches are also a good way to take advantage of Restaurant Week.
Finally, if you’re visiting New York (or staycationing here), why not opt for a classic restaurant for a true New York experience?
Here are some options that stand out, or peruse all 630 choices here.
Chef Hillary Sterling offers straightforward fine Italian fare at this Hudson Yards restaurant. Restaurant week offers include a $45 two-course weekday lunch and Sunday brunch.
If you’ve ever wanted to have a RHONY experience, Fresco by Scotto is as close as you’ll get. This East Side gem is a nightly soiree hosted by the Scotto family (Marion Scotto and her children (including Fox 5 News co-anchor Rosanna Scotto). Restaurant Week is offered for lunch ($45) and dinner ($60). Hearty dishes like swordfish panzanella and chicken scarpariello make this a good choice.
If it’s seafood you crave, Lure Fishbar is a classic choice, offering $45 lunch, $60 dinner, and $60 Sunday dinner for Restaurant Week. And, while many seafood restaurants skimp on the actual sea fare, you’ll find salmon, tuna, skate, and more offered.
If you’re craving some tranquility, HanGawi is an oasis of calm in the middle of Manhattan. This traditional Korean restaurant asks you to leave your shoes (and your worries) at the door and savor a vegetarian feast. The restaurant offers a $60 dinner nightly (except Saturday, of course), with options such as acorn and beet soba noodles and tofu with asparagus and Brussels sprouts.
This classic establishment is a stunning restaurant (where Alexandr Petrovsky took Carrie Bradshaw on their first date). This stunner offers $45 lunch, $60 dinner, and $60 Sunday dinner for Restaurant Week. The menu is as classic Russian as you can get: borscht, stroganoff (beef or mushroom), and blinchik are all on the menu.
A twinkling gem in Central Park, Tavern is a perfect “Summer in NYC” experience. The restaurant offers $45 lunch and $60 dinner. An additional wine pairing costs $25 and includes two wines.
City Brunch Cruise by Hornblower
Hear me out on this one, all you native New Yorkers — you let visitors to this fair city have all the fun. And there’s nothing more fun than a brunch cruise on the Hudson. For $60, this Sunday brunch cruise includes bottomless mimosas, a brunch buffet, a DJ, and spectacular views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty.