Restaurant Recession Deals & Steals

It’s the only upside to a down economy- restaurants around town are coming up with all kinds of deals to draw in the guests.  From prix fixe, buy one get one free, reduced prices, wines, and lots of other deals, we’ve combed the city to find some of the best recession specials.

Halfsteak at Craftsteak
85 Tenth Ave., btwn. W. 15th St. & W. 16th St.
(212) 400-6699
www.craftrestaurant.com
Every weekday the cafe at Tom Colicchio’s steakhouse ingeniously morphs into the terrifically affordable Half Steak. There’s tons of great small plates, half-pints of beer, cocktail specials, and small desserts, all under $15.  I’m fond of the pig trotters, fried oysters, and the namesake dish — a half-portion of Craftsteak’s dry-aged steak, served with their hand-cut fries.

Del Posto’s Enoteca
85 Tenth Ave., btwn. W. 15th St. & W. 16th St.
(212) 497-8090
www.delposto.com
Just next door to Craft is another great bargain.  This one’s available Wednesday through Friday in Del Posto’s enoteca.   The $35 prix fixe menu will get you an antipasto, secondi, and dessert plus a pasta for the table.  Not to be missed: the octopus alla griglia, the pennette with cauliflower, and the housemade gelato.

Elizabeth
265 Elizabeth St., btwn. Houston St. & Prince St.
(212) 334-2426
www.elizabethny.com
Every Monday night,  Elizabeth in Soho offering a $25 prix fixe menu, which includes two courses plus a glass of wine or beer.  Start with a flute of Veuve Clicquot or a glass of Cabernet.  Among the menu options are an endive salad and seared scallops, and a Caesar and their burger with garlic fries. 

Gotham Bar & Grill
12 E. 12th St., btwn. University Pl. & Fifth Ave.
(212) 620-4020
www.gothambarandgrill.com
Gotham’s turning 25 and the celebration lasts all month long.  Both the $25 three course lunch and $75 five course dinner menus change weekly and feature chef Alfred Portale’s favorites from the past- you might recognize the duck carpaccio with artichoke salad, grilled lamb sausage with eggplant caviar, and goat cheese ravioli.  Gotham’s also created a special cocktail for the occasion- the “25” features Bulleit Bourbon, blanc and rouge Dolin Vermouth de Chambery, Domaine de Canton, and house-made ginger syrup, with a lemon twist.

Jean-Georges
1 Central Park West, Trump International Hotel
(212) 299-3900
www.jean-georges.com
Always wanted to have dinner at Jean-Georges, but didn’t feel comfortable dropping $148 on the tasting menu, especially in this economy?  Well, if you don’t mind eating between 5:30 and 6 p.m. or 10 and 11 p.m. on Monday through Thursday nights, you can get the Jean-Georges experience for only $58.  The prix fixe changes weekly and includes three courses picked by Jean-Georges himself.  Of course, Johnny Iuzzini pitches in with a dessert. 

Eighty One
45 W. 81st St., btwn. Central Park West & Columbus Ave.
(212) 873-8181
www.81nyc.com
This upscale Upper West Sider has rolled with the punches and is newly economy friendly.  Eighty One has two courses for $30.81 Sunday through Friday nights.   Chef Ed Brown adds a few daily specials to the prix fixe, but  there’s always pumpkin risotto and a scallop ravioli.  For dessert, there’s a great bourbon vanilla ice cream float with gingersnaps, well worth the extra $8.10 dessert fee.  And Sommelier Heather Branch is offering great wine deals by the glass and bottle.

Dressler
149 Broadway, btwn. Bedford Ave. & Driggs Ave.
(718) 384-6343
www.dresslernyc.com
Just over the Williamsburg bridge, Dressler will be offering a $45 five-course tasting menu starting March 9th.  Available Sundays through Thursdays, the menu changes weekly, but expect to see the likes of a roasted baby beet and citrus salad, oxtail ragout, braised Berkshire pork belly, and sweet potato crème caramel.  Look for wine pairings in the spring.

Pizza Gruppo
186 Avenue B., btwn. E. 11th St.& E. 12th St.
(212) 995-2100
www.gruppothincrust.com
The combination of beer and pizza doesn’t ever get old, especially at this price or at this East Village sleeper.  From 5 to 7 p.m. everday, Pizza Grupo offers a pitcher and pizza special.  Order a pitcher of Yuengling and one of their thin-crust pies for $18.  I’m a fan of the Classica, El Greco, and best of all, the pesto and fresh mozzarella.  Not to worry, wine drinkers — there’s a two for one special on Pinot Grigio and Montepulciano also.

Allen & Delancey

15 Allen St., btwn. Delancey St. & Rivington St.
(212) 253-5400
www.allendanddelancey.com
Wine enthusiasts looking for some new, well-priced bottles should pop into to Allen & Delancey for Wine Jamborees on Sunday nights.  $38 buys you a four-course tasting menu and wines are half-off by the glass and bottle.  It never gets old on Sundays, because the grape and region change every few weeks.  First few Sundays in March, expect to see the South of France.

The Smith
55 Third Ave., btwn. E. 10th St. & E. 11th St.
(212) 420-9800
www.thesmithnyc.com
What does $8 buy you at breakfast these days?  A blueberry muffin and a latte maybe?  A fried egg sandwich?  Now it also buys you breakfast at the Smith from 8:30-11 a.m. Monday through Friday.  Whether you prefer savory or sweet, everything comes with coffee and a glass of orange juice.  Don’t miss the Croaker, their version of a croque monsieur on sourdough rye.

Beacon
25 W. 56th St., btwn. Fifth Ave. & Sixth Ave.
(212) 332-0500
www.beaconnyc.com
Hate the name, but love the menu at Beacon, where Chef Waldy Malouf just introduced a Stimulus Menu.  Take advantage of the open fire cooking at this midtowner.  There’s also a Burger Bar for $8.95.  Beacon doesn’t stop there.  All lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch dishes are 20% off.  Blood orange margaritas, pineapple mojitos, and other fruity cocktails go for $10, plus there’s a list of thirty $30 bottles of wine.