Your curated guide to NYC Restaurant Week, with insider tips and smart strategies for dining well in New York City. Updated July 1, 2025.
At BKLS, we believe NYC Restaurant Week is not just a biannual dining event. It is a curated invitation to experience the city through its food culture. For over three decades, this celebration has opened doors to some of NYC’s most iconic restaurants and emerging talent, making world-class dining more accessible through thoughtfully priced prix-fixe menus.
Whether you are seeking a midday escape in Midtown, a rooftop dinner in Williamsburg, or a long-awaited return to a fine dining institution, our Ultimate Guide to NYC Restaurant Week ensures you navigate the city’s culinary scene with intention, style, and taste.
Here, you will find timeless strategies, insider insights, and guidance designed to make every edition of Restaurant Week—whether winter’s cozy indulgences or summer’s sunlit terraces—worth your reservation.
For our current curated picks, visit:
🔗 BKLS Summer 2025 Restaurant Week Picks
Table of Contents Show
NYC Restaurant Week?
Why NYC Restaurant Week Still Matters?
At Brooklyn’s Lifestyle, NYC Restaurant Week is not about discounts—it is about discovery. It is an invitation to experience the city through its dining rooms, its neighborhoods, and the culinary voices shaping what comes next.
Yes, there are prix-fixe deals. But the real value is access. Access to storied dining rooms that helped shape New York’s culinary reputation, to emerging chefs redefining seasonal menus, and to places that might never have crossed your radar.
Restaurant Week is also a reflection of how New Yorkers really eat. Seasonally, socially, and with curiosity. It is a moment to step beyond the familiar, to explore boroughs you rarely visit, and to experience hospitality at a different pace. That might mean an elegant lunch in Midtown, a rooftop dinner downtown, or a casual discovery in Brooklyn.
BKLS approaches this event with a curated lens. We sift through the noise—because not every participating restaurant delivers on experience, value, or intention. What you find here is more than a list; it is our editorial perspective on what is worth your time and how to make the most of this uniquely New York tradition.
What is NYC Restaurant Week?
NYC Restaurant Week is a biannual dining event that invites locals and visitors alike to experience the city’s culinary scene through accessible prix-fixe menus at restaurants across all five boroughs. Running each winter [January–February] and summer [July–August], the program spans several weeks and features a wide range of dining experiences—from celebrated institutions to emerging kitchens.
At its core, Restaurant Week is designed to make exceptional dining more approachable, offering multi-course menus at thoughtfully set price points.
How It Works
Prix-Fixe Menus
Participating restaurants offer multi-course prix-fixe menus, typically priced at $30 | $45 | $60. These menus allow diners to experience a range of culinary styles. From casual neighborhood spots to fine dining institutions, at a more accessible price point.
Participating Restaurants
A diverse selection of restaurants across New York City takes part in each edition. Expect everything from established dining rooms and rising newcomers to local favorites that reflect the city’s rich and evolving culinary landscape. NYC Restaurant Week encourages exploration beyond the familiar, inviting diners to engage with the city’s vibrant neighborhoods and dining scenes across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island.
Finding Reservations
Diners can browse participating restaurants, preview menus, and make reservations through the official NYC Restaurant Week website or platforms like OpenTable and Resy.
Pro Tip: Book early—coveted tables tend to go quickly, particularly at those restaurants consistently delivering a sought-after dining experience.
A Brief History
Established in 1992 by restaurateur Joe Baum and food critic Tim Zagat, NYC Restaurant Week was originally conceived as a lunch-only promotion tied to the Democratic National Convention. Its overwhelming success led to its evolution into a celebrated citywide tradition that now draws global attention.
Insider Tips For NYC Restaurant Week
BKLS Insider Tips for Navigating NYC Restaurant Week
1. Plan Your Reservations Early
- Reservations typically open well in advance, and sought-after spots book quickly. Mark the dates on your calendar and secure your preferred times as soon as possible.
2. Research Menus Before Booking
- Preview participating restaurant menus to ensure they align with your tastes, preferences, and expectations. Not every prix-fixe menu offers equal value, and some restaurants craft more thoughtful or inventive offerings than others.
3. Prioritize Restaurants You Have Been Curious to Try
- Restaurant Week presents an opportunity to experience celebrated or newly opened restaurants at a more accessible price point. Prioritize those that have long been on your list.
4. Opt for Lunch for Greater Value
- Lunch menus are often priced lower than dinner while offering similar dishes. A weekday lunch can provide a quieter, more relaxed dining experience with exceptional value.
5. Be Flexible with Timing and Approach
- If flexibility is an option, consider off-peak hours. Early dinners, late lunches, and weekday reservations often offer greater availability. Some restaurants may accommodate walk-ins during quieter times, but it is always best to call ahead.
5. Have a Backup Plan
- Restaurant Week is popular, and last-minute changes do happen. Identify a few alternative restaurants of interest so you can adjust your plans with ease if needed.
5. Explore Beyond the Familiar
- Use Restaurant Week as a reason to visit neighborhoods you may not typically frequent. Consider pairing your reservation with the opportunity to discover another side of the city.
6. Make It a Full Experience
- Elevate your outing by pairing your reservation with cultural or leisure activities. For example:
- A Broadway matinee followed by an early dinner
- An afternoon in Prospect Park before dining in Brooklyn
- A gallery visit paired with a neighborhood lunch
7. Tip Generously
- Prix-fixe pricing is not a discount on hospitality. Tip as you would on the full value of the meal—it reflects respect for the service and the craft behind your dining experience.
READ
Your Go-To Guide for NYC Must-See Week
8. Consider the Enhancements
- Many restaurants offer optional add-ons—such as wine pairings, cocktails, or upgraded dishes—that enhance the dining experience beyond the prix-fixe menu.
9. Be Mindful of Etiquette
- Arrive on time. Tip generously. Prix-fixe pricing does not reduce the value of hospitality. Gratitude, in both demeanor and gratuity, reflects well on everyone at the table.
10. Dine with Friends for a Richer Experience
- Small groups allow for more variety and a richer experience. Share thoughtfully to sample more of the menu.
11. Stay Open to Discovery
- If your top choice is fully booked, explore alternatives. A lesser-known restaurant may offer a more intimate, attentive, and ultimately memorable experience.
12. Share Your Experience
- Take note of what you enjoyed—and what fell short. Whether through conversation with friends or quiet reflection for your own future dining choices. These observations shape how you approach the city’s dining scene with greater discernment. Every meal adds to your understanding of where and how you want to dine next.
Frequently Asked Questions
NYC Restaurant Week Frequently Asked Questions
Are drinks included in the prix-fixe menus?
No. Beverages, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, are typically not included in NYC Restaurant Week’s prix-fixe pricing. Expect to pay separately for any drinks ordered.
Can I order from the regular menu during Restaurant Week?
This varies by restaurant. Some offer both the Restaurant Week prix-fixe and their standard menu; others may restrict dining to the prix-fixe offerings during peak hours. It is advisable to confirm when making your reservation.
Is gratuity included in the prix-fixe price?
No. Gratuity is not included. Standard tipping etiquette applies, and it is customary to tip based on the full value of the meal, not just the prix-fixe price.
How do I find participating restaurants?
The official NYC Tourism website lists all participating restaurants and their menus. Reservations can typically be made through OpenTable, Resy, or directly through the restaurant’s website. BKLS also publishes curated seasonal guides highlighting the most worthwhile dining experiences.
Is lunch or dinner the better choice?
Lunch is often considered the best value—many restaurants offer the same quality of experience for a lower price during quieter midday hours. However, if ambiance and atmosphere are part of your preference, a well-timed dinner may offer a different kind of experience. BKLS seasonal guides provide recommendations for both.
Seasonal Restaurant Week Highlights
NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2025 Edition
Summer in New York City means alfresco dining, breezy patios, and light, seasonally inspired menus. A beautiful context for NYC Restaurant Week. This summer edition runs from July 21 to August 17, 2025, featuring nearly 600 restaurants across all five boroughs, with two-course lunches and three-course dinners priced at $30, $45, and $60
Whether you are craving a rooftop seafood tower, a plant-forward lunch in Brooklyn, or a refined dinner in Manhattan, this is the moment to indulge with intention. Many restaurants are also introducing “Founded by NYC” dishes and specialty cocktails to celebrate the city’s 400th anniversary
Summer vibes mean seasonal freshness and vibrant settings. Think tomato salads, ceviche, rooftop rosés, and breezy indoor-outdoor dynamics that complement longer evenings and warmer weather. The atmosphere is as important as the menu here.
For BKLS’s full seasonal picks, thoughtfully curated for atmosphere, menu, and aesthetic, visit:
🔗 Summer 2025: BKLS Curated NYC Rooftop Picks
READ
Your Guide to Tipping in New York City
New York City Restaurant Week
Make the Most of NYC Restaurant Week—With BKLS as Your Guide
NYC Restaurant Week is more than a dining promotion. It is a curated invitation to experience the city anew, season after season. At BKLS, we navigate the noise so you do not have to. Whether you are seeking your next lunch spot or planning a full day around a reservation, our insider perspective ensures you experience the very best of what the city offers right now.
For our latest recommendations, visit our [Summer 2025 Curated Picks] and subscribe to The Local Edit—your weekly insider dispatch for refined, intentional New York City living.
