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BUDGET YOUNG-AND-AVVY-PODCAST MILLENNIAL-ADVICE

The Best Deals at Restaurant Week

by Peter J. Creedon

Here in New York City, late January signifies a special time of year…restaurant week! In case you’re unaware, NYC Restaurant Week is a semiannual event where more than 380 restaurants across the city offer three-course prix-fixe meals. With lunch being $29 and dinner being $42, this event is an excellent opportunity to try out new establishments and cuisines.

Here at Crystal Brook Advisors, we’re all about getting you the biggest bang for your buck. We’ve taken the guesswork out of finding the best deals at participating restaurants, and uncovered which will offer you both deals and atmosphere. Curious to know where you may be eating next? Keep reading to find out.

Nougatine at Jean-Georges

How could you go wrong with a restaurant described as “…the more casual sister of Jean-Georges, with a very lively bar scene at night. The restaurant attracts a mix of celebrities, socialites, and movers and shakers in the business world.” This Michelin Starred restaurant is seriously stylish and boasts an expensive (and extensive) menu. Although they are only offering this dinner special on Sunday, the savings more than make up for it. Typically, appetizer dishes go for around $20 and meat/chicken entrees go for an average of $50. So, if you’re looking to impress your date or have an upscale experience, this may be a great option for you!

Raymi

Unlike many restaurant week options, each of the prix-fixe courses has a variety of options to choose from, rather than the standard two or three choices. Also unlike other selections, you’ll receive four courses rather than three. Raymi is best described as a stylish take on Peruvian food, with a dining experience centered around a centrally located raw fish bar. A very similar four course meal (ceviche, salad, large plate, and dessert) would be over $70 at other time of the year, so at $42 this is truly a great deal.

Blenheim

Another Michelin Starred restaurant, rustically decorated Blenheim in the West Village focuses heavily on ingredients sourced from their own Blenheim Hill Farm in the Catskills. In fact, their simple yet elegant plate is featured as the image of restaurant week this year. With an amuse bouche included and items such as skate and spicy beef tartare on the menu, it’s clear that this limited time menu isn’t a watered-down version of the original.

BKW by Brooklyn Winery

Don’t worry Brooklynites, we didn’t forget about you! Regardless of price point, it’s extremely rare that a glass of wine is included with your three-course meal, but at Brooklyn’s BKW by Brooklyn Winery, it is. Their elevated comfort food menu, think fried manchego and shishito peppers, is the perfect antidote to the temperamental weather we’ve been having. You’d be hard pressed to find braised short ribs anywhere on a prix-fixe menu, but not here.

If you’re thinking of turning a few weeks of thrifty dining into a lifelong saving habit, contact us at Crystal Brook Advisors. Live for today and plan for tomorrow, because “We Make Financial Planning Crystal Clear.”

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