What\u2019s big, brassy, beauteous and a no-holds-barred invitation to strap on the ol\u2019 feedbag? That\u2019s right, gastronauts and gastronettes, it\u2019s Restaurant Week\u2014the winter edition\u201423 days long & everyone of them a potential winner, even if there\u2019s no established unit of time to cover its actual duration on the Upper East and Upper West sides.<\/p>\n
No matter its fanciful branding, the facts are as follows: from Tuesday January 20 (the birthday of George Burns, nee Nathan Birnbaum, of the Lower East Side) through February 12 (the birthday of Abraham Lincoln, whose February 27, 1860 speech at Cooper Union boosted the Illinoisan into a presidential frontrunner) more than 600 participating hash slingers\u2014more than 500 in Manhattan\u2014are offering special \u201cprix fixe\u201d menus at $30, $45 and $60 price tiers.<\/p>\n
That moolah covers two or three courses, though expect to pay more with drinks and tips. Also, while these menus generally cultivate a reduced version of any given restaurant\u2019s offerings, they represent both a relative bargain and a chance to explore venues and cuisines that might otherwise be elusive.<\/p>\n
Following is a highly selective guide to some of the local gems of Restaurant Week.<\/p>\n
Patrick\u2019s On The Hill<\/p>\n
1635 Amsterdam Ave.<\/p>\n
www.patricksonthehill.com<\/a><\/p>\n 646-682-7243<\/p>\n Part of the veritable Patrick\u2019s uptown empire that includes both an affiliated patty shop and bar, if you need motivation to venture to the wonderland of Hamilton Heights, here\u2019s your chance. As the word patty strongly suggests, Patrick\u2019s is identifiably Jamaican joint though in the spirit of pan-regional embrace, they call themselves Caribbean\u2014which is fair enough, not least because Hamilton Grange is just down the hill and Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies\u2014shout to all the Nevis Island people in the house! Pick Hits: Jamaican \u2018Peppa\u2019 Shrimp (fresh shrimp cooked in a savory, spicy sauce made with Scotch bonnet peppers, garlic, ginger, and herbs), Pineapple Jerk Salmon (tender salmon fillet seasoned with signature jerk sauce, grilled to and topped with a tangy pineapple salsa); carrot cake.<\/p>\n Dagon<\/p>\n 2454 Broadway<\/p>\n www.dagonnyc.com<\/a><\/p>\n 212-873-2466<\/p>\n Nestled at the northeast corner of West 91st Street and Broadway, Dagon is a modern Israeli restaurant with a difference. Inspired by the famed Voice of Peace (Kol HaShalom), an offshore radio station based in a former Dutch cargo that broadcast from the Mediterranean Sea to the Middle East from 1973-1993, Dogon\u2019s co-owners Simon Oren and David Sasson seek to bring a sense of that harmony into feeding our beloved Upper West Side. Pick hits: hummus, tuna sandwich (Harissa poached tuna, hard-boiled egg, potato cucumber, preserved lemon) and crispy roasted lamb (Cucumbers, dates, wild rice, shawarma spice).<\/p>\n Bad Roman <\/p>\n 10 Columbus Circle<\/p>\n www.badromanyc.com<\/a><\/p>\n 212-970-2033<\/p>\n If Bad Roman conjures visions of certain outre emperors like Nero or Caligula, well\u2014such are the complexities of western history and if that\u2019s still off putting, pretend it\u2019s really a German a place name, where \u201cbad\u201d means spa. See, feels better already, doesn\u2019t it? For an even bigger boost, mosey over to Columbus Circle, enter the Time Warner Center and head up the third floor. The views alone are tremendous but the feast that awaits, mama mia! Pick hits from the Restaurant Week menu: Yellowtail Crudo (with charred grapefruit, pistachio) and Roasted Branzino with salsa verde.<\/p>\n David Burke Tavern<\/p>\n 135 E. 62nd St.<\/p>\n