NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2019 (or really, month) is back July 22-August 16. If you’ve been following me from the start, then you’ve probably read my Restaurant Week guides of years past and don’t need an introduction to this bi-annual promotion. You may even recall when I completed a challenge to eat as many NYCRW meals in a single week as possible!

So with all that experience, I’m here to guide you to the best options out there in a vast sea of mediocre chicken and salmon menus. The truth is, a lot of restaurants do indeed use Restaurant Week to draw unsuspecting diners in with promotional menus that don’t actually showcase their signature dishes, meaning you’d be far better off just going to those restaurants and ordering a la carte (or in some cases, not going at all 😶). But there are a handful of places doing it right and serving up incredible food at that cool price of $26 for lunch and $42 for dinner.

Best NYC Restaurant Week Menus Summer 2019

Tuome

If you STILL haven’t listened to my recommendations after all these years, NYC Restaurant Week is your perfect chance to finally try Tuome’s unreal snow crab and butter dashi noodles, chicken liver pate, and beignets with goat’s milk caramel. Go with at least 3 people so you can get the pig out for 2 and also split that stellar crab noodles for your mains.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Quality Eats

Quality Eats has 3 locations across the city, and for NYC Restaurant Week they’re all serving their famous Grilled Nueske’s Bacon alongside a wide variety of mains, including a steak and burger, plus their awesome sundaes. You can’t go wrong booking this mini-chain of casual neighborhood steakhouses.

Read my full review of Quality Eats UES

View UES Menu | Make a Reservation

View NoMad Menu | Make a Reservation

View West Village Menu | Make a Reservation

Pig & Khao

One of my favorite restaurants is serving up their greatest hits for NYC restaurant week for brunch or dinner. Try their pork jowl, khao soi, and ribs for dinner and my absolute favorite sizzling sisig plus doughnuts with pandan custard during brunch.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Bar Primi

Chef Andrew Carmellini makes some of the best pasta in NYC, so it goes without saying that his pasta-focused Bar Primi in the East Village should be on your list. They’re serving up cacio e pepe paccheri and trofie with a vodka sugo alongside antipasti like burrata, perfect for enjoying on their sidewalk patio.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Victor’s Cafe

Get transported to Havana with the excellent Cuban food in the vibrant, lush dining room at Victor’s Cafe. Their ropa vieja is the dish to order – a flavor-packed, slow-simmered and pulled beef that is sure to be the highlight of their 3 course $26 lunch offering for NYC Restaurant Week.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Rafele

Rafele was my go-to for underrated Italian in the West Village with a sprawling patio along 7th Avenue. There’s no need to review restaurant week menus here, as Rafele is generously offering their entire menu to pick from to build your prix fixe meal. Anywhere that’s offering a whole personal pizza as an appetizer for your dinner is a winner in my book.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Scarpetta

Ready for theeee best spaghetti? If you haven’t had their signature spaghetti with tomato and basil, NYC Restaurant Week is a great way to try it paired with a nice selection of appetizers (helloooo creamy truffled mushroom polenta) and desserts.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Taboon

I used to live down the street from this darling Hell’s Kitchen spot that serves Mediterranean fare in a warm atmosphere. Having dined for NYCRW in the past, you’ll be in for delicious, generous portions of meats, fish, and meze.

View Menu | Make a Reservation

Which restaurants are you planning to make a reservation at for NYC Restaurant Week this summer?