Winter Restaurant Week is Here

Some hate restaurant week, others love it. I fall somewhere in the middle. It has it's place, I get it and for the most part I happily participate in the good offers. However, there are may people taken advantage of, those who haphazardly book tables at good or even mediocre restaurants are are served even worse food than normal. A few words of advice when booking your spots, be smart. If the restaurant already offers a special prix fixe menu close to or even less than the Winter Restaurant Week menu then skip it. Call ahead if you can and ask about the menu otherwise you may be subjected to the chicken, pasta, salmon options and sorely disappointed.

I've had some success, and one failure, dining out during restaurant week, below are a few suggestions:

• Anything from Danny Meyer, the man knows how to treat customers and doesn't skimp during this promotion. Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Cafe, Blue Smoke and The Modern are all participating to some extent.
• Jean-Georges spots generally list the menu ahead of time, but also some of them offer prix fixe menus year round. Look into, but don't run for Perry Street and Mercer Kitchen, with a strong recommendation for his elder Jojo.
• Steakhouses can be hit or miss, sometimes they are worth it, other times a huge waste. A few recommendations (in my opinion), but none of them are can't miss: Angelo and Maxie's, Delmonico's, Primehouse, Porterhouse, Smith & Wollensky, and the still uber-popular The Palm
• A few of my can't miss suggestions: Anthos, Aquavit, Artisinal, Bar Boulud, Bar Stuzzichini, BarBao, Bread Bar, Cafe Boulud, Convivio, Del Posto, Devi, Dovetail, Eleven Madison Park, EN Japanese Brasserie, Esca, Gotham Bar & Grill, Gramercy Tavern, Jojo, Lupa, Lure Fishbar, Matsugen, Morimoto, Payard, Tabla, Telepan, The Modern, Tribeca Grill and Union Square Cafe
  

Enjoy!