5 Best Restaurants For Fashion Week 2015
For a week in February, when the prettiest of pretty people descend for Fashion Week, Lincoln Center is transformed into the world's epicenter of couture. This year, Fashion Week begins on Thursday, Feb. 12, and runs through Thursday, Feb. 19. Keep your energy up between shows by grabbing a meal at one of the restaurants listed below, each of which is offering specials in honor of New York's largest media event of the year. By Jessica Allen.
Tucked inside the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, itself tucked inside the Time Warner Center, Asiate one ups the typical prix fixe, courtesy of amazing views of lower Central Park and its environs. The dining room ain't so bad either, with art meant to mimic trees in winter and a huge wine wall. Asiate is offering a two-course prix fixe for lunch, Monday through Friday, for $42. The dining here is truly fine, in every sense of the word. Wear your finest finery, and make sure to sit up straight.
Worried about your aching dogs after a morning spent rushing from tent to tent? An easygoing bistro run by Daniel Boulud, Bar Boulud is awfully close to Lincoln Center, making it easy to pop over for its Fashion Week special: a salade d'endives et poulet with a choice of a red or white wine ($23). You'll get your greens, you'll get your protein, and you'll get a tiny tipple. You'll also have room for dessert, such as île flottante (pictured), coconut tapioca, steamed vanilla meringue, and green tea anglaise.
Like a lot of restaurants on this list, Bouchon Bakery boasts great views. Unlike them, however, this one also boasts deservedly famous, peanut buttery Nutter Butter cookies. But we digress. For Fashion Week, Thomas Keller's casual outpost is offering various specials, including health conscious bites and creative drinks. (There's also a special Valentine's Day brunch, featuring french toast and eggs benedict.) Among the other options at this French boulangerie are a butternut squash sandwich and saffron mussels.
You know what they say about breakfast: it really is the most important meal of the day. How can you concentrate on the designs if you're woozy from hunger? Begin your day at Café Luxembourg, with two items for $13 or three for $15. Or you can head over for two courses ($22) or three courses ($28) at lunch. (Both options are available Monday through Friday only.) Since 1983, this restaurant has been a beacon of loveliness and French specialties on the Upper West Side.
Compare the artfulness you're seeing at the shows with the artfulness on view at the Museum of Arts & Design. Or skip the galleries and head straight to Robert, high above Columbus Circle. This New American eatery is offering two Fashion Week specials: wine by the glass for $10 and a three-course lunch prix fixe for $35 (neither is available on Valentine's Day). Chef Luisa Fernandes has a way with salads, seafood, and pasta, but, really, everything is delicious at this, dare we say it, sexy restaurant.
