How To Save Money Eating Out At New York City Restaurants
New York City has the widest and most diverse restaurant scene in the world. And it is not an overstatement. More than 20,000 New York restaurants serve any possibly imaginable food with a wide price range from $15 to $300 per dinner. Unfortunately, there are not many good cheap dinner options in New York City; however you still can save some money eating out. Here are some tips how to save money still having great food at New York restaurants.
Inexpensive Restaurants in New York City is always a safe option to save money eating out. Some of them are good, some of them are not. You have to do a research to find best inexpensive restaurants in your neighborhood, particularly if you prefer a certain cuisine. Check out the restaurant listings and critic's reviews; also pay attention to online recommendations of regular people who goes to a restaurant you chose. Here you are few New York Magazine critics' pick and my personal favorite inexpensive restaurants. Fig & Olive (808 Lexington Ave., nr. 62nd St.) is a nicely decorated café, which is totally devoted to olives and olive oil as a featured ingredient in nearly every dish . Hong Kong Station (128 Hester St., Chinatown) is cheap, simple and absolutely delicious everything, from noodles to curry fish balls. 'inoteca (98 Rivington St. at Ludlow St.) - casual, small-plate dining Italian style in the center of hot Lower East Side neighborhood.
Restaurant.com offers you a $25 gift certificate to local restaurants for only $10. If you use this certificate at least once a week, you'll save $60 per month. Unfortunately these certificates are not available for all restaurants in New York City, but you can check quite extended listing and find several worth-a-visit restaurants. Diningfever.com offers to take 15 -20% of your entire dinner check for dozens of New York City restaurants, check it out - some of their deals are great.
Early Bird Menus are served in some New York City restaurants usually between 5 -7 pm. For the price $13 to $25 you can enjoy full dinner menu, sometimes even including drinks. Cucina di Pesce (87 E. 4th St.) - great Italian food on a budget with $12.95 early bird menu. La Paella (214 E 9th St.) - great Spanish paella and delicious tapas bar with $16.99 early bird menu. Alouette (2588 Broadway, nr. 98th St.) - stylish French bistro with really creative delicious food with three-courses pre-fixe menu for only $24.99.
Pre-Theater Dinner Menus is a version of early bird menus served in restaurants in Theater District. Even if you don't go to see a Broadway show, still you can take advantage of these offers in a variety of restaurant in Theater District restaurant row. Most of these restaurants serve pre-fix dinner menus with price range $30-$45 starting 5pm.
Four Star Restaurants in New York City don't usually offer any mercy to your bank account, however there is a trick that can save you a lot of money - go there for lunch instead of dinner. In this case, you can get lunch menu prices for dinner quality entrees! Aquavit (65 E. 55th St.) serves fantastic Scandinavian food with great lunch menu. Le Bernardin (155 W. 51st St) serves different types lunch pre-fixe menus. Jean Georges (1 Central Park West) offers great two-course lunch for only $28.
Occasionally New York City neighborhoods offer temporarily dining discounts. For example, in November and December 2007 due to Broadway strike most of the Theater District restaurants offered 15% discount on lunches and dinners. You always can take advantage of offers like that if you follow the news.
