This post covers Restaurant Week, a twice-yearly event when more than 300 of New York City's best restaurants offer a prix-fixe menu at a low price, relative to their regular prices.
It takes place in Summer and again in Winter. The 2025 Winter edition takes place from January 21 to February 9.
I've been taking advantage of this incredible deal for over 25 years and have had $100 meals for $25!
I've tried restaurants I otherwise wouldn't go to given my budget.
Many New Yorkers like myself wait all year for Restaurant Week to roll around.
If you are in town, I highly recommend you try at least one restaurant if not more. You cannot beat the prices!
Below I share with you details of how Restaurant Week works and insider tips to help you secure a reservation at the restaurant of your choice.
- How Does It Work
- When Does It Take Place
- Insider Tips
- Participating Restaurants
- Eat Cheaply in New York
- Things to Do in NYC
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Each Restaurant Week, participating restaurants can choose which meals to offer and at which prices. This can be lunch, dinner, brunch, or all three.
In the winter edition of 2025, the price points were $30, $45 and $60.
Be sure to look at menus when deciding on a restaurant to make sure that the meal you want is offered.
Note that prices are per person, not including beverages, tax, and tip.
The special menus are available Monday through Friday and optional Sundays. No deal is offered on Saturdays.
If you dined at some of these restaurants at other times of the year, your entree alone might cost you as much as what you would pay for your entire meal during Restaurant Week.
To take advantage of this delicious money-saving opportunity, you must make a reservation at one of the participating restaurants.
See my insider tips below for suggestions to help you get a table at a date and time at a restaurant of your choice.
WHEN DOES IT TAKE PLACE?
Restaurant Week takes place twice a year. In 2025, the Winter edition is from January 21 to February 9.
In Summer it takes place from late July to early August.
The name is misleading in that Restaurant Week lasts almost three weeks so you have more time to take advantage of this event.
If you are here for Restaurant Week, you might want to check out our monthly guides for the months when it occurs.
Summer Restaurant Week
Winter Restaurant Week
TIP: Winter Restaurant Week sometimes occurs on the same dates as Broadway Week 2 for 1 Ticket. Just think about all the money you can save on a night out in NYC!
TIPS FROM A LOCAL
I don't want you to miss out on this money-saving, mouth-watering opportunity so here are some helpful tips on how to make the most of Restaurant Week.
As thousands of New Yorkers, as well as travelers will also be trying to book a table, you will need to be prepared to make reservations the minute the website begins accepting them a few weeks before the event.
Before Restaurant Week
1. Find out when Restaurant Week is occurring.
Winter dates are announced on the official Restaurant Week website around mid-November.
Summer dates are announced around early June. Periodically check the website or follow @nycgo on Twitter.
2. Once the dates are announced, you can start browsing the website to see what restaurants are participating. Read more about participating restaurants below.
Some restaurants show the prix-fixe menu they will serve. This is very helpful when choosing restaurants that you might like to try.
3. I highly recommend you pick several restaurants you would like to try in case some are booked up.
4. Be ready with your list of restaurants before the day that reservations open on the website so you are ready to book.
Reservations usually open about two weeks before the start of Restaurant Week.
5. You can make reservations on the official website. Some restaurants also use Open Table to make reservations.
Note that lunch reservations for Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are a bit easier to get.
During Restaurant Week
1. If you can't get a table at a restaurant you wanted to, call them to see if they have any cancellations.
On that note, contact the restaurant if you can't make your reservation. Your cancellation will make someone else very happy.
2. When you arrive at the restaurant, tell the Maitre d' or the server that you are there for Restaurant Week so they will give you the correct menu.
3. Tip your server especially well (between 20-25%) if they provide good service.
Remember, the server is doing their job exactly as they do when meals are full-priced.
4. Savor every bite and don't be shy about taking pictures of the food.
They will look as incredible as they taste and you want to make everyone at home feel envious.
5. Most years, Mastercard cardholders can save even more money when they preregister their card and spend $45 or more to earn $10 back.
Note that not all restaurants participate in this offer.
PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
Once the dates of the event are announced you can start looking through the list of participating restaurants.
The full list of participating restaurants can be found here.
Many restaurants participate every year. They all have excellent food and service.
Some of these are among the most famous and historic restaurants in New York City. Others are run by some of the top chefs in the world.
Though the Summer 2025 list of restaurants hasn't been released yet, here are just a few that typically participate organized by neighborhood:
Midtown Manhattan
- Tavern on the Green in Central Park (American New)
- The Russian Tea Room (Continental)
- The Bar Room at The Museum of Modern Art (New American)
Greenwich Village
- Jane (New American)
- Petite Boucherie (French)
- Osteria 57 (Italian, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetarian)
SoHo and Little Italy
- Dos Caminos SoHo (Mexican)
- Grotta Azzura (Italian)
- Il Mulino (Italian)
Lower Manhattan
- Morton's at World Trade Center (Steakhouse)
- The Tuck Room (New American)
- Vino &…Eataly (Italian)
Chelsea
- La Barra (Spanish, Tapas)
- Queensyard (British, Vegan, Vegetarian)
- Estiatorio Milos at Hudson Yards (Seafood, Greek)
Harlem
- Red Rooster Harlem (Soul Food, Southern Cooking)
- Sylvia’s Restaurant (Soul Food, Southern Cooking)
- Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (Barbeque)
TIP: Want to save money while sampling some of NYC's best foods, check out our food tours!
If you'd like to walk off your meal, we offer pay-what-you-wish walking tours in each of these neighborhoods.
- Greenwich Village
- SoHo, Little Italy, and Chinatown
- Midtown Manhattan
- Lower Manhattan
- Chelsea and the High Line
- and more!
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