I think New York City might be one of my favorite dining destinations of all time. So when Ryan asked if I wanted to tag along on a business trip last week, my answer was an emphatic "Yes!" and that was before I even knew it was Restaurant Week. Restaurant Week is a special culinary event each year where participating restaurants agree to a set price for a multi-course set menu (usually an app, an entree, and a dessert). Often times, you can even add wine pairings for $10-$20 on top of the set price. This means, you're eating at fine dining restaurants for around $100 for two people, three courses, wine, dessert, and tip. Not too shabby, and a great excuse to explore some of the city's finer dining establishments. Here's a tour of our restaurant week haunts in New York.
Tavern on the Green
I know what you're thinking. That this is a tourist stop in Central Park. But actually, the whole restaurant has been remodeled in the past few years and the menu has also been updated. We enjoyed impeccable service from an attentive and friendly server who steered me toward some vegan options such as the beautiful roasted vegetable and grain bowl below. We were able to enjoy a lightning storm from the three-glass-walled dining room on the park. As we watched flashes of light crack across the sky, and a complete downpour, we felt cozy at our little table with our wine.
Southgate at Essex House
Southgate bar is actually located on the lobby floor of our hotel on Central Park South. The restuarant had cozy leather chairs that faced out to the south of the park where you could watch tourists, local commuters, taxis, and horsedrawn carriages outside the floor to ceiling windows. They made me a fantastic French 75 and we shared a lovely bowl of spicy gazpacho. A perfect stop for happy hour and people watching.
Boulud Sud
Boulud Sud is a lovely Mediterranean French fusion restaurant located across from Lincoln Center. Their menu featured falafel and homemade pita bread. The chef created a cauliflower and romesco dish for me--and I literally scraped the plate clean. We were given a quiet table in the back corner where we had a view of the whole restaurant. Our server was patient and did not rush us one bit. This was the perfect place for a romantic and luxurious dinner.
Chelsea Market
I'm not sure how they filmed so many seasons of Sex and the City without visiting the Chelsea Market. The Chelsea Market is like one long line of Eataly counters, but with all different kinds of cuisine. The venue felt very much like Seattle's Pike Place Market--complete with exposed brick and a definite history. After much deliberation, we opted for Miznon which featured a variety of Mediterranean street food. It's also a good sign that at 9:30, the place was still hopping. The bag of green beans and the roasted baby cauliflower were amazing, but the vegan lavnon, basically a pita filled with all kinds of vegan flavor, might be one of the best things I've EVER eaten.
Food Hall at The Plaza
This is one of my favorite little-known spots in New York. The Plaza Food Hall. Yes, the bar and tea room upstairs are a great place to make a memory, but for amazing food and a lively atmosphere, head downstairs to the below-street-level basement where the food hall sits. You can enjoy a glass of wine and an appetizer, indulge in an insta-worthy dessert, or grab a full meal in any one of their many vendors. From wine bars to macaron counters to Italian kitchens, this place offers something for everyone. I spent several hours catching up with my friend from college, Maria. We reminisced over glasses of chilled rose and caught up on the last few years. Cheers to you, Maria, and thank you for one of the most fun evenings I had all summer!
Pampano
Pampano was our first meal of the week. It was our "if we stay in the room or eat at the hotel tonight we will fall asleep after a long day of travel" attempt to get out and about and enjoy some of our first night in NYC. The Spanish restaurant had some great vegan and vegetarian options. The fried plantains were amazing--it was like eating banana-shaped churros. And I wasn't mad at the guac either, though my one complaint is that it could have been a bigger serving!
Tavern on the Green
I know what you're thinking. That this is a tourist stop in Central Park. But actually, the whole restaurant has been remodeled in the past few years and the menu has also been updated. We enjoyed impeccable service from an attentive and friendly server who steered me toward some vegan options such as the beautiful roasted vegetable and grain bowl below. We were able to enjoy a lightning storm from the three-glass-walled dining room on the park. As we watched flashes of light crack across the sky, and a complete downpour, we felt cozy at our little table with our wine.
Southgate at Essex House
Southgate bar is actually located on the lobby floor of our hotel on Central Park South. The restuarant had cozy leather chairs that faced out to the south of the park where you could watch tourists, local commuters, taxis, and horsedrawn carriages outside the floor to ceiling windows. They made me a fantastic French 75 and we shared a lovely bowl of spicy gazpacho. A perfect stop for happy hour and people watching.
Boulud Sud
Boulud Sud is a lovely Mediterranean French fusion restaurant located across from Lincoln Center. Their menu featured falafel and homemade pita bread. The chef created a cauliflower and romesco dish for me--and I literally scraped the plate clean. We were given a quiet table in the back corner where we had a view of the whole restaurant. Our server was patient and did not rush us one bit. This was the perfect place for a romantic and luxurious dinner.
Chelsea Market
I'm not sure how they filmed so many seasons of Sex and the City without visiting the Chelsea Market. The Chelsea Market is like one long line of Eataly counters, but with all different kinds of cuisine. The venue felt very much like Seattle's Pike Place Market--complete with exposed brick and a definite history. After much deliberation, we opted for Miznon which featured a variety of Mediterranean street food. It's also a good sign that at 9:30, the place was still hopping. The bag of green beans and the roasted baby cauliflower were amazing, but the vegan lavnon, basically a pita filled with all kinds of vegan flavor, might be one of the best things I've EVER eaten.
Food Hall at The Plaza
This is one of my favorite little-known spots in New York. The Plaza Food Hall. Yes, the bar and tea room upstairs are a great place to make a memory, but for amazing food and a lively atmosphere, head downstairs to the below-street-level basement where the food hall sits. You can enjoy a glass of wine and an appetizer, indulge in an insta-worthy dessert, or grab a full meal in any one of their many vendors. From wine bars to macaron counters to Italian kitchens, this place offers something for everyone. I spent several hours catching up with my friend from college, Maria. We reminisced over glasses of chilled rose and caught up on the last few years. Cheers to you, Maria, and thank you for one of the most fun evenings I had all summer!
Pampano
Pampano was our first meal of the week. It was our "if we stay in the room or eat at the hotel tonight we will fall asleep after a long day of travel" attempt to get out and about and enjoy some of our first night in NYC. The Spanish restaurant had some great vegan and vegetarian options. The fried plantains were amazing--it was like eating banana-shaped churros. And I wasn't mad at the guac either, though my one complaint is that it could have been a bigger serving!