Twice a year some of New York City's finest restaurants participate in this event where they offer a three-course lunch for $24.07 and dinner for $35.00. This is a great opportunity to try places that would otherwise be out of your budget. All different types of cuisines are offered so this is also a safe way to try new dishes. To see a full list of the restaurants and menu options go to www.nycgo.com.
Our group decided to dine at Smith & Wollensky steakhouse since we figure won't be able to afford a $50 steak very often (http://www.smithandwollensky.com/). Erica and I got dressed up with heels on and everything for our reservation at 9:30pm.
Our beautiful heels.
Wanted to let you see the heel so you know how painful it was walking through the city.
When we arrived they had us down for a 10:00pm reservation instead of 9:30pm, but were very accommodating and seated us within 5-10 minutes. The restaurant was full and the waitstaff was very busy. They brought the traditional bread and water while we looked over the set menu.
797 3rd Avenue
It did take longer than normal to order, but we weren't in a rush so it was fine. After ordering the food came rather promptly. When ordering appetizers and desserts, we wanted to order at least three different items so we could share and taste each one.
I ordered the Split Pea Soup and it was excellent. It was very thick though so I was afraid to eat too much of it and not be able to eat the rest of my meal. The Mixed Greens Salad was light and had a spicy kick to it that made it extra special. The fried calamari was properly fried so the tubes were a light golden brown. It was absolutely delicious.
Split Pea Soup
Mixed Greens Salad
Fried Calamari
All appetizers were the traditional serving. This surprised us because each person had their own mini meal. We expected them to cut it in half since it was a set menu, but they did not skimp on anything. You could tell that they were in a bit of a hurry though because plating was not as exceptional as ususal.
Our main entree was not as diverse. Each one of us ordered a steak.
10 oz Filet Mignon
Since sides are an additional cost to the meal, our group did not order any. I was slightly sad because my plate looked so bare. As soon as they set our plates down another waiter brought us complimentary hash browns and creamed spinach for the table.
The hash browns had a nice thick, crunchy top layer. The sauteed onions in the hash browns added an extra special taste to them. They were noticeable, but did not take over the dish in any way. The creamed spinach had a vibrant green color that made it appealing. It was very thick and creamy. My medium filet was absolutely amazing. The cook time was very accurate by having the perfect amount of pink in the center. The juice and tenderness made the overall entree exceptional.
For dessert we made sure to cover every option. I ordered the Bourbon Pecan Pie. Everyone at the table voted it was the best dessert. The center was solid, but still soft. It was gelled perfectly and had the right amount of pecans for the topping. It was the perfect ending to the meal.
Bourbon Pecan Pie
The overall meal was amazing. Our waiter had been working their for 25 years. He was very attentive and pleasant. We all agreed that it was the perfect place to choose for restaurant week and we all decided to pick another place next week for lunch.
WOW! sounds like you have a tasteful evening. Maybe you should write restaurant reviews, you did an excellent job. A waiter for 25 years? WOW never thought of making that a career.
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