Tips To Enjoying Restaurant Week In NYC

Restaurant Week is a 2 month even that happens twice a year. This year it’s the celebration of the 20^th anniversary. It offers the chance to dine at some of New York City’s finest destinations. Restaurants all over the city are participating, offering a three course lunch for only $24.07. While this may seem a lot it is actually a rather large discount for the restaurants you can visit. It’s a great time to try new restaurants without it costing an arm and a leg. We will go over some tips that will help you make the most of Restaurant week.

Remember to dress well, while it can be saddening, the truth is that going to a restaurant looking like a slob means that is what you will be treated like. You don’t have to go all out but put in a little extra effort.

Be sure to put in your reservations early. Popular choices can be booked quickly so be sure to call early or you can use sites like Opentable.com. As a rule of thumb, it’s easier to get in earlier in the week rather than Thursday and Friday.

Most restaurants during restaurant week offer 5 or fewer meal choices so go with an open mind. If you are a picky eater trying to find something from the limited menus may not be the best option.

Be selective about your choice. Check out the Recommended Restaurant Week Restaurant Week Restaurants or various websites like chowhound.com. Ask around among your friends and family and see what their experiences were like. Keep in mind that some restaurants can be fantastic all year but tank it during Restaurant Week.

Remember to look at the restaurant’s websites. If you are interested in a specific restaurant it doesn’t hurt to see if they are participating in the even and be sure to look and see if the discount is really a discount. The meal doesn’t involve drinks so if the meal is usually less that $24.07 chances are it’s not worth it.

Be sure to understand what the prices are. Lunch is a set $24.07 and dinner is $35, as mentioned above this does not cover drinks. The Drinks can be costly so don’t be afraid to order tap water. Also be sure to make sure you are not paying more than what the dish is usually worth with the discount.

Remember to tip your server well. Just because the cost of the meal has gone down doesn’t mean that the rent they have to pay is reduced as well. This is also a great way to work towards dispelling the stigma on Restaurant Week diners being cheap and not understanding proper tipping etiquette.

Cancellations happen. So don’t be disheartened if the restaurant you wanted was booked, it is not uncommon for people to fail to confirm their reservation if their schedule gets too busy. So be sure to call in the morning and check for opened availability.

When you book a reservation can be important. If you want to finish your lunch in an hour you may be better off going at noon. Where if you are looking to linger a bit you are better off trying closer to 2 p.m.

Curb your expectations. It is Restaurant Week so keep in mind that you are likely to be offered cheaper fair as opposed to the signature dishes, but you can typically order what ever you want at full price if you really want to try it. The restaurants also tend to squeeze tables in to make up for the reduced income so things can be a little tight.

Restaurant week is a great time to try out restaurants you wouldn’t normally eat at. It is hard to say no to good for at a reduced price. Maybe you can make it a date night and go all out with a New York Limo supplied by Gotham Limo to drive you around. So from Gotham Limos, have a wonderful restaurant week!

By Frank McDonald