It’s a great time of year to be a gourmand.
Reservations for New York’s summer restaurant week are now open. Image by Amy Lombard
Exploring New York’s dining scene can be an expensive proposition, but when the city’s biannual Restaurant Week kicks off July 22, ambitious eaters will find a wealth of mouthwatering options at seriously discounted prices – and reservations are now open.
We’re not talking cheap dumplings or dollar slices here either. The NYC & Company signature program comprises nearly 400 restaurants spanning 30 different cuisines across all five boroughs, and some of the city’s most highbrow destinations are set to participate, offering $26 two-course lunches and $42 three-course dinners through August 16.
Morimoto is one of nearly 400 New York restaurants offering prix fixe dining options this summer. Image by Amy Lombard
Cross a classic off your list with old-world favorites like borscht and vareniki at the Russian Tea Room or a steak dinner at Smith & Wollensky, or consider something with a bit more buzz. Balthazar restaurateur Keith McNally’s latest, the upscale Augustine serves French fare with flair; seafood takes the spotlight at Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s Meatpacking District outpost, while over in Chelsea, David Chang’s Momofuku Nishi features Italian-inspired plates with a twist, like ceci e pepe, a chickpea-based spin on a traditional pasta. Just south of Union Square, Babu Ji serves up Indian plates both traditional and dishes such as Colonel Tso’s cauliflower and “unauthentic” butter chicken alongside chana masala and tandoori-grilled seekh kebabs.
The spritz selection at Eataly’s rooftop restaurant is particularly summer-friendly. Image by Eataly USA
Anxious to get outside? There are plenty of alfresco alternatives, from the vine-covered patio at Sant Ambroeus in the West Village to Bar Primi’s sidewalk situation in NoHo and the East Village to the Flatiron’s flower-strewn Serra Fiorita, one of the best rooftop bars in the city. Head to the East Village for Noreetuh’s modern Hawaiian or Tuome’s contemporary Asian-inspired American, or venture down a narrow alley off the Bowery for devils on horseback and macaroni and cheese at long-running hipster favorite Freeman’s.
Make reservations through NYC & Company, and be sure to take good care of your servers – a lower bill on your end can also mean less take-home pay on theirs, so tip well.
The post How to score a reservation during New York’s summer Restaurant Week appeared first on Lonely Planet Travel News.