Its time to take advantage of NYC Restaurant Week. New York City is known for it's many, many restaurants. If you can crave it, you can eat it. Some restaurants are known for their trendy clientele, some for their famous chefs, some for their budget breaking prices, etc., etc... There is a restaurant for every one's taste, but some aren't a fit for every one's budget. Restaurant Week helps expand our choices by offering a wonderful deal.

Those of us lucky enough to score a reservation for one of the participating restaurants of Restaurant Week will benefit greatly. Restaurant Week enables us to dine at some of the most popular restaurants in NYC at a fraction of what it normally would cost. You get to try food from places you might not normally be able to afford. You get to dine in places that are well known, trendy, have great food, and for only $35.

What is the Deal?

Restaurant week is January 21 - 25 and January 28 - February 1. The deal for dinner is a three course dinner for $35. The deal for lunch is a three course lunch for $24.07. Of course, this price does not include drinks, tax, or tip.

 

Where Should you Eat?

You can find participating restaurants and make reservations for meals at them on Opentable.com. I use opentable.com often and have found it to be a good site. Some participating restaurants include 21 Club, Bobby Van's Steakhouse, Café Centro, Cafe des Artistes, Delmonico's, Fig & Olive, Marseille, Rosa Mexicano, The Water Club, Vong, and many, many more. It is worth taking a look.

1. Ohana at Disney's Polynesian Resort

   For those of you who have never been to Hawaii, this place becomes so close to those tropical islands, I think I'm actually there! The Hawaiian food is absolutely delicious, and it looks good too! There are fun games the staff set up for the kids to play while they wait for the food. After diner, there are the world famous Disney fireworks! It's really nice after a long day of Disney, to just plop down on the beach with the restaurants special dessert, the bucket "o ice, and just watch the fireworks fly.

2. Sci-Fi Diner at MGM Studios

   Disney sure has a way to create atmosphere. This restaurant is themed to be like an old fashioned drive-in movie theater. You watch film clips from old Sci-Fi movies while waiters on roller skates bring you your food. Whilst there is no Fillet Minions at this restaurant, the décor definitely makes up for it.

3. Coral Reef Restaurant, Living Seas Pavilion, Epcot

   Half way down our list is the famous Coral Reef Restaurant. Featured in many T.V. shows, such as Full House and Boy Meets World, this place is more than just a good filming location. I"ve never liked seafood that much this food is scrumptious. The fish swimming beside the dining room will have kids, and some adults, speechless at the vast collection of exotic sea life. When you're there, one question pops into mind, “Am I eating what's swimming right next to me?”

4. Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom

   I haven't been here in a long, long, time. But Disney Dining List would be complete without. Making reservations a long time in advance, gives you the opportunity to dine with Princess Cinderella. Girls will love to dine with a Disney Princess. And little Boys are great with it too! Why, a while back my brother sat down right next to Cinderella and said “Hi Cindy!! My name's Michael! I just got new Velcro shoes! You should try them some time! Then your shoes won't fall off as much!”

5. California Kitchen at the Contemporary Resort

   Not to be confuse with the California Pizza Kitchen. This was my favorite dining experience. Contemporary décor matches the hotel whilst you dine at a high-class establishment. When the fireworks start at the nearby Magic Kingdom, the speakers in the restaurant play the music in sync with them. Even if you don't dine during the fireworks, the give you a ticket so you can come back and watch from the roof of the hotel!