Tempting Tuesday: NYC Restaurant Week Kickoff

January 15, 2013

NEW YORK CITY, USA – We admit, weather-wise, New York in January is a bit bleak, but eating-wise, we couldn’t think of a better time to be in the Big Apple. That’s because the city will be celebrating restaurant “week” (though it’s actually more like month) from January 14 to February 8 in over 300 restaurants across Manhattan. We had a tough time narrowing down our favorites from the exciting list of eateries offering $25 lunch and $38 dinner deals, but after much deliberation we have selected our absolute favorite spots participating in restaurant week.

Norma's

First of all, if brunch is what you love, then Norma’s should be your number one priority for restaurant week. It’s one of our Purple Picks for New York City, and our favorite place for Waz-Za waffles, super blueberry pancakes, and breakfast dumplings. In The Purple Passport to New York City, we said, “Norma’s boasts lofty ceilings, leather banquettes, menus stocked with posh, inventive dishes, and casually upscale crowds to match. In short, expect what has become widely known as the most extravagant all day breakfast in town…[continue reading].” If we’re going to slap down $25 for brunch, Norma’s is the place to do it!

On the opposite end of the spectrum, Nobu New York is another of our top picks, offering a refreshing Japanese prix fixe luncheon. On their set menu, starters (such as the sashimi salad), mains (like umami artic char), and a dessert are included. We also love the atmosphere. In The Purple Passport to New York we said, “The neutral colors and natural textures of Nobu New York’s warmly lit interior give the pleasing illusion that you’ve entered a Japanese forest…[continue reading].” For an oasis in the city, Nobu is certainly our top pick.

Gotham Bar and Grill

For those with their hearts set on American dining in a truly elegant setting, Gotham Bar and Grill is the way to go. Lunching at this power-scene restaurant for only $25 is definitely a treat considering the typical prices and elite clientele. In our guide to New York City, we mentioned that Gotham Bar And Grill is one of the few NYC restaurants to prove it can withstand the test of time: “Even after 25 years manning the stoves, Gotham’s chef Alfred Portale continues to give his diners memorable meals, making this a surefire spot for a special occasion or solo treat…[continue reading].” It’s another of our top picks in our guide to New York City and we think it’ll make your restaurant week lunch feel like a special occasion!

For a dining experience with an exotic flair, we think Kittichai, with innovative Thai cuisine is one of the best choices. In our guide, we noted, “This sexy, exotic Thai restaurant housed in a boutique hotel gives diners a fashionable, blissfully exaggerated take on Thailand…[continue reading].” Kittichai is offering both lunch (at $25) and dinner (at $38) during restaurant week with wine pairings for an additional cost.

Le Cirque

Finally, if you want to feel as though you have been whisked away to Paris to dine on haute French fare for only the cost of a prix-fixe lunch or dinner, the Le Cirque should certainly be your choice. In our guide, we said, “Le Cirque is one of this city’s choicest French eateries, and it shows in the fact that owner Sirio Maccioni continues to seduce the wealthy and well-coiffed with his haute French cuisine (now boasting organic greenmarket ingredients)…[continue reading]. It’s the perfect excuse to pull out those pearls and pumps on a dreary January evening and take hubby out for a night on the town!

There are many more restaurants we wish we had time to cover–Bice Ristorante, Lure Fishbar, Rosa Mexicano, Kefi, Tamarind, and EN Japanese, the list could go on and on–but we simply can’t feature all of the wonderful restaurants with the time they deserve in this hopelessly short 25-day restaurant week! Check out nycgo.com for all restaurant week listings and if you love our picks for restaurant week, be sure to check out our brand brand new eBook guide for Kindle and Kindle Apps, The Purple Passport to New York City Restaurants, on Amazon. Happy dining!