Watch CBS News

10 Best Places To Dine During NYC Winter Restaurant Week 2015

Get out of this winter weather and start enjoying Restaurant Week (Feb. 16 – March 6). Sit down for a three-course lunch or dinner ($25 and $35 respectively) and start eating your way through the city (we won't judge). Here are some of our favorite spots that are participating in this scrumptious culinary event. By Carly Petrone.

Fu Tu
(credit: MST Creative Group)

More: NYC's 5 Best Chinese New Year Cocktail Spots

Get your chopsticks ready because Chef Jonathan Wu is serving up a seriously delicious three-course menu at Fung Tu. Start with China-quiles (Steamed Eggs with Sichuan Pork Sauce and Crunchy Yucca Chips), Pork Belly Egg Roll, or Fava Bean Curd Terrine with Pickled Mustard Cabbage, Bacon, and Chili Oil before moving onto the second course. Choose from Egg Noodles with Pickled Red Onion, Chinese Sausage, Chopped Clam-Black Bean Sauce and Chili Oil, Fried Pork Chops with Pickled Mustard Cabbage, or the Vegetarian Curry Pot Pie. Top it off with decadent Peanut Butter & Chocolate Ganache Sesame Balls, Market Fruit with Fried Bao, or Milk Chocolate Mousse with Candied Cashews and Oolong Ice Cream. Yum. Check website for reservations and restaurant hours.

Ai Fiori
(credit: Facebook/AiFiori)

More: NYC's 12 Best Hotel Restaurants

Step into the elegant Ai Fiori inside the Langham Hotel and treat yourself to lunch. For $25 you can dine at the Michelin-starred restaurant, tasting everything from Terrina di Maiale (housemade pate, fisee, mustard, cornichons) and Casarecce (housemade pasta with arugula, asiago and parmesan) to Pollo Arrosto (pan roasted chicken al coq au vin, Thumbelina carrots, turnips, pearl onions, red wine sauce) and Razza (pan-roasted skate wing, polenta, mushroom fricassee, porcini sugo, ricotta salata). Choose from Torta di Cioccolato or Meringue for dessert and you'll walk out bragging to your friends about the meal you just had.

Dos Caminos
(credit: doscaminos.com)

More: New York's Best Mexican Restaurants

Go south of the border and enjoy some Mexican food at Dos Caminos. Sip on a Ginger Sunkiss – made with sobeso, all spice, orange, and reed's ginger beer – before noshing on appetizers like classic Chicken Tortilla Soup, Grilled Squid with Plantain and Papaya Salad, or Braised Oxtail Tamales. Chile Rubbed Brisket Taquitos, a Grilled Organic Salmon Tostada, and Roasted Green Chile Chicken Stew are the entrée options…and that's just lunch! For dinner, may we suggest the Chuleta Tikin Xik (Yucatan style grilled pork chop) or the Petit Filet Tampiquena (wild mushroom enchilada with black beans and avocado)? Satisfy your sweet tooth with the Torta de Chocolate & Caramelo or the Tres Leches Cake. Yum! Check website for locations and hours.

Dovetail
(credit: Facebook/DovetailNYC)

More: 5 Best Brunch Spots On The UWS

Stop into Dovetail for a decadent lunch on the Upper West Side. There's a reason their Broken Beets are served with "green goddess buttermilk" – they really are that good. Luckily these are offered as an appetizer, as well as the Fuji Apple Salad with red cabbage, brown butter yogurt and wild rice and the Cured Carrots with lentils, sunflower seeds, and black garlic tofu. Next up, the entrees: Roasted Cauliflower, Twice-Baked Potato, or Butternut Squash Lasagna. End the meal with Chamomile Semifreddo, Tres Leches Pudding, or Chocolate Chip Devil's Food Cake and you won't crave a frozen custard from Shake Shake (located right next door).

Minton's
(credit: Facebook/MintonsHarlem)

More: The 5 Best Restaurants In Harlem

Have dinner at Minton's and be transformed to Harlem's legendary jazz era of Dizzy Gillespie and Louie Armstrong. They're offering up a Southern menu that includes such starters as Creole Caesar Salad and Rappahannock Oysters on the Half Shell and entrees like Mustard BBQ Smoked Chicken with Dirty Rice and Peanut Butter Collard Greens. Short Rib Ragout and Smoked Praline Pork Chops are also on the menu. Their desserts are just as rich. Bite into a slice of Fried Apple Pie (bourbon caramel, brown butter custard, sorghum Chantilly) or the chewy S'mores (smoked marshmallow, graham cracker cake, chocolate ganache) and stick around for some live music. After all, this is where the jazz greats all played (and ate).

Murray's Cheeseburger
(credity: murrayscheesebar.com)

More: NYC's 5 Best Wine And Cheese Bars

Cheeselovers will want to check out the pre-fix menu at Murray's Cheese Bar. Lunch appetizers include Buffalo Cheese Curds (Wisconsin Cheddar curds, Black River Blue Cheese dressing, and celery Shaved), Brussels Sprout Salad (maple Dijon, candied pecans, Tumbleweed cheddar), and Cheesemonger's Choice (flight of three cheeses with condiments). Now's your chance to try Murray's Burger Ottomanelli – Grass-fed beef burger open face on brioche with Rarebit cheddar sauce and hand-cut fries – as well as their seasonal mac & cheese. Those who are in the mood for a salad can order the Kale Salad (Lacinato Kale, Mimolette, curried Marcona almonds, and pomegranate vinaigrette). For dinner, entree choices include Hanger Steak with Belu cheese compound butter and fries, Grilled Shrimp with Harissa, Quinoa, and Haloumi cheese, as well as the seasonal mac & cheese. Even the dessert includes creamy cheese – Warm Apple Crisp with VBC Crème Fraiche and Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with candied ginger. We hope you're not lactose intolerant.

Black Cod
(credit: noburestaurants.com)

More: The Best Sushi Restaurants In NYC

Craving Japanese cuisine? Make a reservation for lunch at Nobu and enjoy such delicacies as Sashimi Salad with Matsuhisa Dressing, Black Cod Miso on Limestone Lettuce, and Vegetable Yasai Maki. Entrée choices include Umami Arctic Charr, Chicken with Anticucho or Teriyaki Sauce, and of course, assorted sushi. Dessert is up to the chef, but you know it will be equally as enticing. Make sure to stop by Nobu Next Door for their $25 brunch course, which includes Bagel & Lox, Rock Shrimp with Creamy Spicy Sauce, and Chicken Karaage with Green Tea Waffles. A three-course dinner is also available. Check website for details.

The Bar
(credit: thelambsclub.com)

More: Best Hotel Bars In New York

Grab a seat at the bar at The Lambs Club and overlook the lobby of The Chatwal Hotel and 44th Street. Start your lunch off with Italian Burrata, Butter Head Lettuces, or Richard's Soup (barley, zucchini, avocado) before ordering up your main course. The Sirloin Burger on Challah with Cabot Sharp Cheddar, Shallot, and Fries sounds mighty tasty as does the Crispy Skin Duck Rillette with Green Peppercorn Jus and Atlantic Cod a la Plancha. The dinner menu has a few additions including Spicy Lamb Sausage and House Made Ricotta & Black Pepper Cavatelli. Pair an aperitif with the Caramel Chocolate Mouse or Passion Fruit Semifreddo. It's the perfect spot for a pre or post theater date.

Smith & Wollensky
(credit: Facebook/Smith-Wollensky-New-York-City)

More: NYC's 5 Best Bars For Meat Lovers

Who can say no to a $25 steak lunch? Head over to Smith & Wollensky for a juicy 10 oz. Filet Mignon, Surf 'n Turf ($10 supplement), or 14 oz. Dry-Aged Sirloin ($10 supplement). They're also serving up Colossal Lump Crab Cakes, Roast Beef Hash, Chicken Cobb Salad, and Salmon Waldorf as entrees. Start your meal off with your choice of Mixed Greens Salad, Caesar Salad, Split Pea Soup, New England Clam Chowder, or Fried Calamari. But make sure to save room for dessert because there's lots of options. From Chocolate Mouse Cake and Bourbon Pecan Pie to Cheesecake and Coconut Layer Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream, there's something for everyone to savor. Warning: you might go into a food coma after this meal but it'll be worth it.

Donuts
(credit: Baltz & Company)

More: The 6 Best Cheap Eats On The Lower East Side

Get dolled up and have a seat underneath the giant chandelier at Beauty & Essex. The restaurant, lounge, and pawnshop (okay, that's their entryway) is the perfect place to enjoy a night out with the girls or impress your date. Their dinner menu for Restaurant Week is quite impressive with starters like Tuna Poke Wonton Tacos, Chile Relleno Empanadas, Kale & Apple Salad, and Crispy Eggplant Pizzetta available. The juicy Beauty & Essex Burger is also offered as an entrée option (it's served with spicy roasted garlic aioli, beefsteak tomato, goat feta, and crispy BBQ fries). For non-red meat eaters, customers can feast on the Spaghettini, Brick Pressed Chicken, or Grilled Salmon while those with a sweet tooth can choose from Petite Cupcakes (red velvet with cream cheese frosting and Guinness with Bailey's frosting), a Box of Doughnuts, or a Selection of Housemade Ice Creams and Sorbets. Ladies, don't forget to powder you nose while you're there – free glasses of champagne can be found in the bathroom.

For the latest on all of the Tri-State's events and happenings, follow us on Twitter!

Carly Petrone is a freelance writer living in New York City.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.