By David Porat
August in the city, with weather being cooperative, is a great time to enjoy restaurants that are not as easily available at other times of year. Between reservations that are generally easier to get and the very successful NYC and Co. promotion, Restaurant Week, you can enjoy good food, good value, and maybe a slight bit quieter sound level—and get there quicker and park easier if you happen to be driving.
Looking back at some of my favorites, both recently and over the years, and keeping in mind what deals can be had, the following is a list of where to eat in August.
Restaurant Week involves a good number of restaurants looking for business through the city and having a three course prix fixe lunch for $25 or a prix fixe dinner for $38. Some restaurants just do lunches, some are just open for dinner and generally Saturdays are not included.
The NYC and Co. web site (NYCgo.com) has a very comprehensive listing that links with OpenTable, making it very easy to check availability and make reservations.
Participating restaraunts pay dues to NYC and Co.—an independent, not for profit organization that very successfully promotes New York City, and they all benefit by the publicity that is created around this event. During the summer it starts at the end of July and goes at least into the first two weeks of August.
As a person interested in better specialty food and restaurants, I can sometimes be a bit skeptical of getting the “cheap menu” in a good restaurant in that, as the old adage says, you get what you pay for. It can be a bit like outlet center shopping, clothes can be designed with a fancy brand but made cheaply to sell for a price point, hence the quality is not the same. But restaurants do need business in the summer, so hopefully the diner can get a bit more for their money during this promotion. And it is a great way to check out restaurants that you would less likely find yourself in and try something new.
I ate last week at Junoon, a high end Indian restaurant on 24th near 5th Ave. which had a very carefully chosen three course menu and nicely nuanced Indian food. The setting, the service—the whole package was a great deal. I am looking forward to eating at All’onda on 13th street tomorrow night. Some restaurants that participate and I have written well about in the neighborhood include: Left Bank, Perry Street, Spasso, Tertulia (just lunch during the week and lunch and dinner on Sundays) and Yerba Buena.
Getting a weekend reservation at a place like Carbone can be next to impossible—even for me who has tried several times thirty days in advance. Mr. Obama ate there last Saturday with his kids, which probably was not too hard to arrange. I did score a reservation on the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, and yes, a good bit of hype is well deserved as long as you do not focus too much on the bottom line.
The same folks—Major Food Group—have also brought us Santina, which is a slightly easier reservation. With their outdoor space, their summer occupancy goes up a good bit. They recently opened for weekday breakfast as well; this would be a great way to start a summer vacation day.
I also ate recently at Barbuto down Washington Street a bit and this is another one to try while vacationing. RedFarm continues to draw folks and the Decoy’s Peking Duck in the space below was a great splurge. Typically it is a hard reservation, but it could be easier in August. A few other places that are popular and easier in August are Rosemary’s, Toro, Market Table and Piora.
Enjoy some local good food in August—often better than vacation food. The competition, talent and ingredients available in NYC keep our city a capital in the world for good eating.
All’onda
22 E 13th Street, (212) 231-2236
Barbuto
775 Washington Street, (212) 924-9700
Carbone
181 Thompson Street, (212) 254-3000
Decoy
downstairs, 529-1/2 Hudson Street, (212) 691-9700
Junoon
27 W 24th Street, (212) 490-2100
Left Bank
117 Perry Street, (212) 727-1170
Market Table
54 Carmine Street, (212) 255-2100
Perry Street
176 Perry Street, (212) 352-1900
Piora
430 Hudson Street, (212) 960-3801
RedFarm
529 Hudson Street, (212) 792-9700
Rosemary’s
18 Greenwich Avenue, (212) 647-1818
Santina
820 Washington Street, (212) 254-3000
Spasso
551 Hudson Street, (212) 858-3838
Tertulia
359 6th Avenue, (646) 559-9909
Toro
85 10th Avenue,(212) 691-2360
Yerba Buena
1 Perry Street, (212) 620-0808
