Unique Gifts Blog - Ooonique!

This is part two of an article on NYC dining. Kindly written for Oonique by Reed @ Reed's Tickets.

The first part can be found here: Dining in New York.

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Combine Travel And Dining In NYC With Restaurant Week!

If you're looking to combine travel with good dining in NYC, then Restaurant Week is the perfect event for you. It's held twice a year, once during late January, and then again during June. The event takes place right across the city, with participating restaurants offering a three course lunch for $24.07 and in some cases, dinner as well for $35. The idea behind this event is to allow people to taste foods from restaurants which they normally would not have a chance to visit.

This event allows them to sample food at a reasonable price, whether it’s expensive or exotic fare!


Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar, NYC

How To Make The Most Of It

Naturally there are a few tips to keep in mind to make sure that you can get the most out of Restaurant Week. Many people do end up having a rough time because they either seem to choose the wrong restaurants or they are bombarded with disgruntled waiters. It's true that during Restaurant Week, the waiters do see to be a little on edge--this could be because there are lots more patrons to deal with but not nearly enough tips! In any case, it's important to prepare ahead of time before you start hitting the restaurant circuit.

First of all, and perhaps most importantly, you need to reserve early. Since many of the top restaurants in New York take part in this event, you can be sure that people will be clamoring for a table. It's best to get on the phone as quickly as possible and book your table well in advance. In general, it's often much easier to get a reservation for Mondays-Wednesdays than other days of the week.

All That Glitters Isn't Gold

Many people make the mistake of assuming that all participating restaurants in Restaurant Week offer fabulous fare--unfortunately this isn't true. While some restaurants really shine and offer wonderful food, others don't seem to have much apart from bad food and bad service. Rather than blindly choose a restaurant, it makes more sense to check out some of the restaurant reviews first. You'll also be able to get a better idea of what dishes are available, as some restaurants might not offer their signature dishes for this event. You can also check out the restaurant's website to find out what they plan to offer on the menu. Be clear about the prices as well--oftentimes, things like beverages can be extra.


A front waiter | Photo from SFGate

While you might meet some annoyed waiters on your Restaurant Week, do make it a point to generously tip the ones who serve you well. Remember that this event often means extra work for them but at the same salary. Apart from that, many of them feel that Restaurant Weekers are just out for a cheap meal and they don't tip. Generously tipping those waiters who give you good service is a great way to break this misconception.

And if you've liked a restaurant, don't forget to tell other people about it! Word of mouth is one of the best ways to learn about what restaurants are great, and which ones can be missed during NYC's Restaurant Week.

The author of this article writes about New York entertainment and Getting NYC Concert Tickets advice online.