Chef's Steals & Deals Picks

Almost every restaurant is running a recession special these days.  The key is figuring out the best steals or asking the chef’s what they’d order.  So we did just that… 

Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto
283 Amsterdam Ave., btwn. W. 73^rd St. & W. 74^th St.
(212) 877-4800
www.salumeriarosi.com/index.php
The entire menu at newish UWS restaurant is affordable.  Chef Cesare Casella features an extensive selection of cured meats, cheeses and small plates.  But the dish to order is the lasagna and not because it’s only $8.  It’s also the best on the menu.  Casella makes his lasagna with a pork and beef ragu topped with béchamel sauce.

Tabla
11 Madison Ave., at E. 25^th St.
(212) 889-0667
www.tablany.com
Tabla’s answer to the economy is Tabla’s 10.  Every Wednesday, you can sample Floyd Cardoz creative spin on Indian cooking, every dish is under $10, including a $5 spicy tandoori chicken, marinated in garam masala and chiles.  Chef Cardoz’ pick for best deal is the $4 black pepper shrimp — “Tandoori Jinga Kali Mirch“ (pictured right.)

The Little Owl
96 Bedford St., corner of Grove St.
(212) 741-4695
www.thelittleowlnyc.com
Considering how hard it is to get a reservation, The Little Owl doesn’t really need to offer any steals.  But chef Joey Campanaro does just that and might be one of the best in town.  The hardest part is finding it on the menu.  It’s the risotto special and it’s the last item in the sides section of the menu.  The risotto changes nightly, sometimes it’s lobster risotto, other times risotto with asparagus and morels, or classic bianco. The risottos are market priced, but range from $12-16.

Bar Blanc Bistro
142 W. 10^th St., btwn. Greenwich Ave. & Waverly Pl.
(212) 255-2330
www.barblanc.com
There’s a new chef and a new, more casual concept at Bar Blanc Bistro.  There’s a lot of burgers in this town, and chef Sebastian Zijp’s can hold its own.  He tops this extra thick burger (pictured right) topped with Vermont cheddar, homemade pickles and a bone marrow bordelaise mayo and served with a side of fries.  On Sundays, the deal gets even sweeter: $15 for the burger, fries and it even comes with a draft beer.

Halfsteak at Craftsteak
85 Tenth Ave., btwn. W. 15^th St. & W. 16^th St.
(212) 400-6699
www.craftrestaurant.com
A few months ago, Shane McBride launched Halfsteak in the front bar — every dish on the menu is under $15, not bad for a steakhouse.  We advise you order the namesake dish.  For $14, you get  a six-ounce cut of bone-in strip steak with fries.  It may be a half-portion, but it’s just as good as quality as a cut.

Harbour
290 Hudson St., btwn. Dominick St., & Spring St.
(212) 989-6410

www.harbournyc.com

Seafood isn’t cheap, especially first-rate seafood.  But chef Joe Isidori manages to pull off a very affordable, seafood-centric menu at Harbour.  Isidori thinks the $24 seared Arctic Char (pictured right) is the best deal on the menu.  Then again, if you ordered the $45, tasting menu, you get the char and three other courses to boot.

Nios
130 W. 46th St., btwn Sixth Ave. & Seventh Ave.
(212) 485-2999
www.niosrestaurant.com
This recently reinvented midtown spot may have changed its name from District to Nios and lowered its prices, but Chef Patricia Williams is thankfully still in the kitchen.  She’s put her own spin on a bunch of classics, including the reuben.  Williams makes hers with duck prosciutto, house-pickled white cabbage, homemade Russian dressing and Swiss cheese, and rye bread.   It’s $17, but duck, gooey cheese, and crispy, grilled bread there’s no way you’ll need to order dessert.

At Vermilion
480 Lexington Ave., at E. 46^th St.
(212) 871-6600
www.thevermilionrestaurant.com
Talk about timing.  This two-story, Indian-Latin restaurant opened in the prime of the recession.  Chef-owner Rohini Dey is offering a $28 entree that will easily feed two.  The Miris Sri Lankan Whole Fish is cooked with 16 spices.

David Burke Townhouse
133 East 61st Street
(212)813-2121
There’s a lot of deals these days, but a 3-course Sunday dinner for $20.09 is hard to beat.  In David Burke’s opinion, the seawater-soaked, roasted chicken (pictured right) is the biggest steal on the menu.  Even better, it’s the same portion size as the $29 a la carte version and comes with potato purée, roasted vegetables and pomery jus.

Carmine’s
200 West 44th Street, btwn. Broadway & 8th Aves.
(212)362-2200
When New Yorkers think Carmine’s, most thing tourist trap.  Despite the tourists, the food’s not bad at all.  And Glenn Rolnick introduced a $45, Italian clambake that easily serves three.  The clambake comes with two lobsters, six baked clams, 12 mussels, roasted potatoes, polenta, vegetables, and choice of mixed green salad, Caesar salad or bowl of pasta.