Grae Gram

Summer Restaurant Week 2010 is back again!

(Image Courtesy of NYCGo)

If you don’t know about Restaurant Week, it was started in 1992 as a lunch only promotional event for $19.99 a person. Today, lunch is under $25 per person, and dinner is $35 per person from participating restaurants’ Restaurant Week menu. (This price does not include beverages or gratuities. Please, please be nice and tip your servers. ) Restaurant Week starts July 12, and ends July 25. This writer drummed up some Restaurant Week suggestions for a close friend and decided that the recommendations were too good to keep away from you all…so here we go!

Blue Water Grill:

Cuisine: Seafood New American.

As part of the B.R. Guest Restaurant group, Blue Water Grill boasts sleek, swanky surroundings and fresh, flavorful food. This writer’s suggestion? The Roasted Day Boat Cod. Served with Sweet Corn Puree and Clam-Chorizo Provencal, the flavors are sure to light up your palate.

Check out their menu: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Blue Water Grill

Brasserie 1605:

Cuisine: New American.

This is a restaurant that this writer is DYING to try, especially their Pan Seared Red Snapper with Plantain Chips and Spiced Tomato Vinaigrette. Their casual chic atmosphere lends to their success…and I’m sure that the spectacular view of Times Square doesn’t hurt.

Take a look at their menu: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Brasserie 1605

City Lobster & Steak.:

Cuisine: Seafood.
Both this restaurant and their sister restaurant, City Crab & Co., boast an awesome collection of fresh seafood at reasonable prices. Their wine list perfectly complements their collection. Try their Grilled Fillet of Salmon with Lemony Spinach and a Maine Crabmeat-Wasabi Beurre Blanc.

Here’s their menu: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, City Lobster & Steak.

Fig & Olive Fifth Avenue:

Cuisine: Mediterranean.

Fig and Olive Fifth Avenue boasts a plethora of olive oils with every dish they serve. This writer cannot wait to try in particular their Grilled Thyme Chicken Paillard.

You can check out their Restaurant Week menu here: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Fig & Olive Fifth Avenue

Kellari Parea Greek Bistro:

Cuisine: Greek.
You may have heard us talk about Kellari Parea before – we reviewed their Gramercy Park location for Confessions of an Ex-Foodie a while back. What’s a must? Yesterday’s Lamb…slow marinated and roasted for 24 hours. Believe me…you want the lamb…and this restaurant…in your life.

You can look at their menu here: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Kellari Parea

Rayuela:

Cuisine: Nuevo Latino.

Actually…if you ask Paul Fernandez, executive chef of Rayuela, he will tell you that the cuisine that they put out is Freestyle Latino, a mélange of Latino culture and newer techniques. Either way, Rayuela’s food is as unique as it’s name. Ellen Sternau, owner of How Sweet It Is (you may remember her from our Top 5 Cupcakes Blog for Cupcake Week – ) did their grand opening cake, and she agrees (as will you) that Fernandez’s food is nothing short of amazing. You can take a look at our recommendations for Rayuela in our Shuga Magazine article for Father’s Day…

And you can check out their prix fixe menu here: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Rayuela

Ruth’s Chris:

Cuisine: Steakhouse.
You know we had to include a little flame grilled red meat for all our meat and potato lovers out there…and this is exactly what you’ll get at Ruth’s Chris. Delicious steak, hearty potatoes, traditional steakhouse sides, sexy chic atmosphere. What a glorious thing. =o) And, of course, their Restaurant Week menu features, besides steak, a succulent stuffed chicken breast, and North Atlantic salmon, for your non red meat eaters.

Take a look at their menu: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu, Ruth’s Chris

B. Smith’s – Restaurant Row

Cuisine: Southern/Soul/New American

Ahh. Where would we be without a little soul in our lives? We had to include B. Smith’s Restaurant on Restaurant Row. B. Smith, coined the “Black Martha Stewart”, hosted her own series, “B. Smith with Style”, comprised of her own lifestyle tips and creative spin on houseware and foods. Be sure to try the restaurant’s Grilled Algerian Lamb with Three Peppers. Succulent and delicious.

Look at B.Smith’s Restaurant Week Menu here: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu: B. Smith’s

Asia de Cuba at Morgan’s

Cuisine: Asian Latin Fusion

Part of the China Grill Management team that hosts other restaurants such as Ed’s Chowder House and The Empire Rooftop Hotel, Asia de Cuba boasts an Asian Latin fusion flair to their dishes, giving everything an uber swanky feel. Give a try to their Honey Rhum Glazed Pot Roast of Pork, even if you’re not a pork eater. You’ll adore it. I promise.

See their menu for Restaurant Week here: Summer 2010 Restaurant Week Menu: Asia de Cuba

If you have any other ideas or suggestions for restaurants during Restaurant Week, shoot us an email at ex_foodie@kimberlyparris.com! We will post reviews for Restaurant Week under the hashtag #NYCRestaurantWeek…so stay tuned! =o)

K. Parris Catering and Personal Chef Service, LLC, is an off-premise catering company specializing in French influenced Caribbean cuisine for the elegant yet trendy urban professional. They offer full service event planning, catering, and personal chef services tailored to family friendly as well as urban chic events. For more information, visit her website, or check out her food and spirits blog, “Confessions of an Ex-Foodie”.