Come Hungry, Eat Hearty During New York's Restaurant Week

Feeling hungry...for someone else’s cooking? Longing for a nice meal...with somebody not related to you to wash the dishes? Well, grab your penny jar and head out, because it’s Restaurant Week in New York City.
The event, which began yesterday and runs through Feb. 7, offers three-course, prix-fixe lunches for $24.07, and dinners for $35 at some of the city’s top eateries. On the list: 21, Aquavit and Asia de Cuba; Blue Smoke, Butter, and Capsouto Freres. Down at the other end of the alphabet, you can dine at Orsay, The Palm, Rosa Mexicano and The Water Club. Several websites have additional information and ways to make reservations; check out nycgo.com.
While the restaurants don’t always bring their A game—expect a lot of chicken and fish--it’s still a chance to enjoy a meal in some of New York’s most famous dining establishments.
But even if you don’t feel like setting foot inside, say, Tribeca Grill, you can still enjoy soup from a roving Restaurant Week Truck. Hungry New Yorkers can find offerings from twenty-four restaurants at three street corners (Broadway between 50th and 51st from Jan. 25-29; Fifth Avenue between 18th and 19th from Feb. 1-3; and Greenwich Street, between Warren and Murray Streets, from Feb, 4-5.) The trucks, new this time around, will generally be there between 11 am and 2 pm, and will offer such soul-warming goodies as City Crab’s New England clam chowder, and gingered sweet potato and lobster bisque from The Sea Grill.
And if you need more incentive, $1 from every $6 truck purchase will go towards The Haiti Relief Fund.
Eat well; help others. A win-win deal all around.

NYC Restaurants Experience Surge In Sales During Usually Slow Summer Months

Business for New York City restaurants usually hits a low point during the summer months, slowing to a crawl as residents head to the beach or elsewhere on vacation, or bring picnics to the parks. Yet surprisingly, Crain's New York is reporting that restaurant sales have seen a modest surge this summer and the recession’s effect on restaurants has also eased, ushering in strong growth.
Restaurant sales are finally stabilizing and tables are filling up since the recession took hold of the industry last October. For some restaurants, more customers are being fed in June and July compared to the same months last summer.
There are a number of possible reasons why New Yorkers are suddenly emerging to enjoy themselves and eat out: people don't want to deprive themselves any longer, especially in summer, or perhaps they are feeling more confident with job security. Outdoor seating is also a draw in the summertime, and with the rainy weather the Northeast has been experiencing this summer, it’s safe to say that New Yorkers will do anything to get out of their apartments and find ways to beat the gloom.
NYC Restaurant Week is also making a big difference, which started July 12 and will end August 2, acting as a city-wide promotion of the best restaurants New York has to offer. Not only do Restaurant Week’s large discounts draw customers looking for budget-friendly options, but they want to experience the most ambitious eateries creating buzz in New York City.

NYC Restaurant Week Kicks Off This Weekend

This Sunday, July 12, marks the beginning of NYC Restaurant Week and will last for three weeks until July 31. Participating in the celebration of New York City dining this summer will be 250 restaurants featuring a wide range of cuisines.
The restaurants will offer three-course prix-fixe menus for lunch and dinner, allowing the opportunity to dine at some of the best restaurants in town and at hot newcomers for a fraction of the (usually expensive) cost. Prices are per person, with lunches priced at $24.07 and dinner at $35, not including drinks, gratuity or tax. Both lunch and dinner aren’t offered at all participating restaurants, but most do.
As some of the best restaurants can sell out quickly, it is recommended that reservations be booked ahead of time by simply calling the restaurant or reserving a table through OpenTable.com.
NYC Restaurant Week takes place twice a year for several weeks at a time, in January and every June or July. This summer is the first time that many of the restaurants will offer the program on Sundays, as it has traditionally been offered on weekdays only. Saturdays are still excluded.
NYC Restaurant Week first started in 1992 as a one-time culinary program to welcome the Democratic National Convention to New York City, and was such a hit that it developed from there, as residents wanted to take part in the event as well and eat at New York’s best restaurants.