Erin Miller

One of the things about living in NYC is that every so often you get lucky. Every so often, a friend will call and invite you out, and you will go in your jeans and pumas, and be ushered through the doors and through the security check because it is someone’s birthday, or someone has some money or something, and somehow, for whatever reason, and despite the signs everywhere saying, “dress up, not down,” it doesn’t matter that you don’t meet the dress code. And you take the elevator up 20 flights, get a ten dollar beer, walk up to the roof, take a “complimentary robe to keep out the cold,” walk outside and end up staring at the empire state building and the Chrysler building from behind heat lamps. Yep, sometimes. And those nights rock.

The Group

cool red robes

I guess this is a phenomena in big cities of which I was unaware. But I am hip to it now. Restaurant Week NYC was Jan 18-23 and Jan 25-30. Apparently, in an effort to reward our stamina as we walk briskly though the wintry mix in heels, just about all the fancy restaurants in the city get together and offer 3 course Prix-Fixe dining for $24.07 for lunch and $35.00 for dinner. The really fancy places only offer the lunch. Still though, a pretty sweet deal. I am not sure it makes the wintry mix worth it, but it is a nice gesture. My friend and I went to Oceana, rumored to be among the best restaurants in the city. We sat down and ordered the cheapest class of wine ($10) to a knowing nod from the wait staff. The ambiance was nice and the service was good, but we weren’t particularly impressed with the food. It was fine for $35, but I probably would have been upset if it had cost any more. The good news though, is that you don’t have to take my word for it. Perhaps because of the downturn in the economy, many restaurants (not the absolute fanciest ones) have extended restaurant week through February 27. Check the website and make a reservation, though personally, I suggest somewhere other than Oceana.
nycgo.com/restaurantweek