NYC Restaurant Week® Originals
Published 07/06/2017
NYC Restaurant Week® has been serving up prix-fixe fine dining for 25 years. The restaurants below (or, in some cases, their predecessors) were part of the inaugural 1992 program, and they’re still cookin’ for this year’s edition. Read up on these eateries that have stood the test of time.
1
Barbetta
1
321 W. 46th St.
This establishment claims to be the oldest family-owned restaurant in all of NYC. They’ve been purveyors of traditional Northern Italian fare since 1906.
2
Brasserie 8 1/2
2
9 W. 57th St.
The original (and now closed) Brasserie was a first-year Restaurant Week participant; diners can enjoy the type of elegant French cuisine it was known for at its sister restaurant in Midtown West.
3
Delmonico’s
3
56 Beaver St.
This historic steakhouse was a pioneer of fine dining when it first opened in 1837. You’ll find the same commitment to quality throughout its current incarnation.
4
Felidia
4
243 E. 58th St.
Celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich is an icon of Italian cooking. At her flagship, the menu typically features hearty but refined Italian dishes like pear and pecorino ravioli and braised quail legs with zucchini rollatine.
5
Gallagher’s Steak House
5
228 W. 52nd St.
A Theatre District institution, this eatery originally opened as a speakeasy in 1927. Slide into one of the red booths for the house specialty—steak, of course—or take a seat at the historic mahogany bar and order up a martini.
6
Gotham Bar and Grill
6
12 E. 12th St.
Consistently high standards are the name of the game at this Greenwich Village spot, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2017 (for the 12th year running). Dine here to sample a seasonal menu of elevated yet classic American cuisine.
7
Le Cirque
7
151 E. 58th St.
Though this restaurant has changed locations a few times since its 1974 opening, its name remains synonymous with upscale French dining—and it continually draws celebrities into its ritzy dining room.
8
Palm Tribeca
8
206 West St.
The downtown Palm location maintains the legacy of the 1926 original with the same family ownership, surf-and-turf menu and signature decoration: caricatures of guests—mostly familiar faces—lining the steakhouse’s walls.
9
Remi
9
145 W. 53rd St.
This Italian eatery is known for its Venetian design and Northern Italian cuisine. It’s a longstanding Midtown go-to for upscale business lunches or pre-theater dinners in the garden atrium.
10
The Russian Tea Room
10
150 W. 57th St.
Celebrating its 90th birthday this year, this restaurant retains its 1920s-style glitz and glamor. A parade of celebrities has occupied the red leather booths here, feasting on traditional noshes like borscht, chicken Kiev and blini with caviar.
11
Shun Lee Palace
11
155 E. 55th St.
This Midtown East spot puts your corner Chinese take-out place to shame. Shun Lee has specialized in high-quality Szechuan fare since the 1970s, with flavorful offerings like Beijing duck, shredded crispy beef and prawns with XO sauce.
12
Tavern on the Green
12
1 Tavern on the Green
Tucked in verdant Central Park, the Tavern should be instantly recognizable from its numerous film appearances. The traditional, seasonal menu (rack of lamb, lobster risotto, grilled asparagus) nods to the restaurant’s classic American roots.
13
Tribeca Grill
13
375 Greenwich St.
This Lower Manhattan restaurant is co-owned by Robert DeNiro. You might come with hopes of a celebrity sighting, but the modern American fare and the epic 25,000-bottle wine list will more than hold your interest.
14
Victor’s Café
14
236 W. 52nd St.
For top-notch Cuban cuisine, head to this Theatre District joint. The family-owned spot serves dishes like shredded beef, roast suckling pig and seafood salad in a dining room filled with palm trees and colorful murals—meant to evoke the tropical feel of Havana.