New York Restaurant Week 2008 - Experience New York's Best Without Breaking the Bank

Winter Restaurant Week 2008 launches in New Yorkback roads, and steering clear of the tired tourist
City this week, and provides a great opportunity tosites, shows diners a different India, so old that it
discover new restaurants or to experience pricierseems fresh." Check out this winner during the
places you've been longing to try. Started in 1992 byRestaurant Week event for the lunch menu ($24.07),
legendary restaurateur, Joe Baum, and founder ofwhich includes choice of soup, appetizer, entree and
the Zagat Guides, Tim Zagat, the Restaurant Weekdessert, or dinner ($35.00), which includes choice of
concept is more popular than ever.soup, two appetizers, entree and dessert.
Participating restaurants in this popular two-weekLe Cirque
event typically offer three-course meals for a setThe legendary Le Cirque restaurant in its latest
price; this year it's a three-course lunch prix fixe forincarnation in Midtown's Bloomberg corporate
$24.07, a play on New York as the city that neverheadquarters is described in the New York Magazine
sleeps (open 24/7), and a three-course dinner prixreview as a "great, polished cruise ship of a
fixe for $35.00, most served Monday - Friday. Notrestaurant." Dine under the "big top" for Le Cirque's
every restaurant participates for both lunch andRestaurant Week 2008 lunch menu, or in the cafe
dinner, so be sure to check when making afor dinner, which is served on a first come, first
reservation. Restaurant Week runs Jan. 21st - 25thserved basis (no reservations).
and Jan. 28th - Feb. 1.The Post House
Here are my picks for a perfect Winter Restaurant"Possibly New York City's most civilized steak house,"
Week 2008. And don't forget to make reservationsaccording to the New York Times, The Post Houseis
early, since many places book up quickly.perfect for "people who want their porterhouse with
21 Clubpomp and ceremony." From the team behind a host
Once a glamorous speakeasy, the venerable 21 Clubof upscale restaurants including Smith &
has generated renewed interest and respect since itsWollensky, Park Avenue Winter, and Quality Meats,
acquisition by Orient-Express Hotels, Trains &Post House has received its share of accolades from
Cruises. If you've never experienced what Bloombergthe press and foodies alike. A three-course prix fixe
News calls "the most New York of New Yorkwill be served at lunch for Winter Restaurant Week
restaurants," you can't afford to miss this great2008.
opportunity to see what's kept 21 going for 80Tamarind Tamarindinvites you to "take a culinary
years.journey through India," providing cuisine that is a
Telepanwelcome departure from the norm. Dishes from cities
This popular Upper West Side restaurant is thethroughout India, including Punjab, Madras and
creation of Chef Bill Telepan, who previously garneredCalcutta, distinguish the extensive menus. For
three stars in the New York Times for JUdson Grill.Restaurant Week, a three-course menu is a great
This time out, the Times said Telepan's eponymousvalue at $24.07, offered for lunch only.
restaurant "will warm hearts and sate appetites."Gusto Ristorante e Bar Americano
Discover that for yourself with the Restaurant WeekRestaurant Week is a great opportunity to sample
three-course lunch for $24.07, served both weeks,some of Chef Anne Burrell's cuisine, since Burrell, the
Wed. - Fri.chef of Gusto's sister restaurant, Centro Vinoteca,
JoJohas just taken over for Amanda Freitag at this
Celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's first Newpopular West Village venue. Gusto will be offering
York restaurant, JoJo, was awarded three starsspecial Restaurant Week menus for both lunch and
from the New York Times when it opened it '91, anddinner, and one can only hope the menus include the
is still going strong following an extensive renovation.famous fried artichokes!
The Timesnow calls the space "sumptuous" with theCity Crab & Seafood Company
"heart of a bistro." For Restaurant Week, JoJo's isOne of the cornerstones of Park Avenue South's
serving its regular lunch prix fixe menu with two smallrestaurant row, City Crab & Seafood Company
plates and a dessert for $24.07, and a 3-coursespecializes in seafood and steaks, in addition to a
dinner menu for $35.00.large raw bar and full service sushi bar. Come to this
David Burke & DonatellaNew York City restaurant which is "in its heart,"
Acclaimed Chef David Burke and his partner,according to New York Magazine, "really a Maryland
restaurateur Donatella Arpaia, are (happily for us)Crab Shack with an expanded menu," for the
participating in Winter Restaurant Week again thisRestaurant Week lunch and dinner prix fixes.
year for lunch at their east side restaurant. LocatedBrasserie Ruhlmann
just steps away from Bloomingdale's, this is a greatNamed for Art Deco designer Emile-Jacques
place to lunch before an afternoon of shopping, andRuhlmann and helmed by Executive Chef Laurent
the special prix fixe menu provides a greatTourondel of the BLT group of restaurants, Brasserie
opportunity to experience Burke's cuisine and have aRuhlmann has the added plus of sitting in the heart of
few dollars left for Bloomie's. The lunch menuRockefeller Plaza across from the skating rink. Grab
features three courses with lots of choices, andyour skates or just ask for a seat by the window
we're told not to miss the whimsical Cheesecakeand enjoy the best of New York in winter, and take
Lollipop Tree with raspberries and bubblegum whippedadvantage of Brasserie Ruhlmann's Restaurant Week
cream.menus.
Blue SmokeBread Bar at Tabla
If you city folk have a hankerin' for some authenticTabla's more affordable, casual counterpart, theBread
pit barbecue, head for this very popular Union SquareBar, is participating in Restaurant Week for both lunch
Hospitality Group restaurant in Murray Hill. This is theand dinner. This Union Square Hospitality Group's
real deal, so get your fix during Restaurant Week forforay into "homestyle Indian cuisine" has been
both lunch and dinner.delighting neighborhood regulars for years, and just
Ammamight make you join that group with an even more
A two star review in the New Yorkaffordable introduction during Winter Restaurant
Timesdistinguishes this Indian restaurant, which,Week.
according to the Times'William Grimes,by "taking the