NYC Restraunt Week

Several NYC restraurants participate in an insance promotion called Restaurant Week. The restaurants are many of the top places in NYC (top as in mid-tier level dining, Union Sqare Cafe, Tribeca Grill, etc.). All of these place are offering a lunch deal at $20.12 and some are offering a dinner deal at $35. While, my tendency when in traveling generally, and in NYC particularly, is to eat ethnic/low end, I think 'cause of RW, we are gonna change for this trip.

Obviously, there are a lot of restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, and I got to imagine some will be quickly sold out. I am not asking for a ranking on all the places, or for an idea of which ones to go to, I think I have a sense of that. Rather, of the group, listed below, which makes the most sense in three ways. First, from value, will the Restaurant Week menu appropirate what the place does well. Second, from ease of entry. Which choices are more realistic to try for. Third, which if any have seriously gone downhill and are not worth it.

Rob

Places on our short list:

Artisinal Bistro
Aquavit/Aquavit Cafe*
Ben Benson's Steakhouse
Cafe Boulud
Cafe des Artistes*
Charlie Palmer's Metrazur*
Craft
David Burke and Donatella
Fleur del Sel
Gotham Bar and Grill
Gramercy Tavern
Nobu
Molyvos
Montrachet
Tabla
Tribeca Grill
Union Sq Cafe*
Riingo

Rob, my thoughts on several places:

Union Square Cafe is not what it once was. IMO, it has grown comfortably into Restaurant middle age and DM's kitchen is not nearly as inventive or willing to take risk as it once was.

Ditto for Montrachet. It's a really beautiful room. But, I liken its menu to that of Charlie Trotter's here. It's very good. But, it has been surpassed by a newer, fresher style of cooking in that neighborhood.

Grammercy Tavern, on the other hand, has been consistently good for 7 or 8 years now. My last visit was about six months ago and everything there, from service to food, was spot on.

Nobu. Yes. Yes. yes.

I haven't eaten at David Burke and Donatella. But, I can tell you that in its prime, Park Avenue Cafe, with Burke in the kitchen, was a spectacular place.

Ben Benson's is a great steakhouse. As a matter of fact, when I worked in midtown, it was my steakhouse of choice over Gallaghers and Sparks. But, you live in a town with steakhouses every bit as good as Bensons. For that reason, I would avoid it.

I was very impressed with Tabla two years ago. It is a high-end Indian restaurant with food that was creative and impressively prepared and presented. It represents an attempt to create an artistic cuisine using traditional Indian flavors. Not every dish was equally successful (and I didn't keep tasting notes), but I would certainly recommend it.

The dates of Restaurant Week are January 24-January 28 AND January 31-February 4. Should be called Restaurant Fortnight.