Book Your Table: It’s NYC Restaurant Week

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of New York City Restaurant Week 2012, the event will run not just for a week but for a whole twenty days (not including weekends). With things kicking off this week, that means you have until February 10th to enjoy three-course prix-fixe dining, with $24.07 lunches and $35 dinners at more than 300 participating restaurants.

NYC’s first restaurant week in 1992 was actually developed as a one-off event to mark that year’s Democratic National Convention in the city, and with 95 participating venues, delegates found themselves competing with residents and tourists to dine at some of the best restaurants in town, at a fraction of the normal cost. Now, the foodie extravaganza – which happens twice a year in winter and summer – has grown to more than three times its original size and gives everyone in New York the opportunity to experience the quality and variety of the New York dining scene.

Popular restaurants can get booked up fast so choose your favourite cuisine and try and book a table in advance – here’s a list of participating venues. Don’t worry if you can’t get in to your first choice though, there are more than enough places to discover and it’s always worth calling on the day itself as last-minute cancellations do occur.

Here’s a few of this year’s most enticing options:

One if by Land, Two if by Sea

One if by Land, Two if by Sea was voted the ‘most romantic restaurant in New York’ by Citysearch, and serves up new American cuisine in the West Village.

One if by land, two if by sea © nycgo.com / Malcolm Brown

17 Barrow St, between Seventh Avenue Sth and West 4th St.

Inakaya New York

‘Robota-yaki’-style Japanese (grilled in front of you over an open flame) in the heart of Midtown.

Inakaya New York © nycgo.com / Malcolm Brown

231 West 40th St (at 40th St & 8th Ave)

Carnegie Deli

The most famous deli in the States, according to USA Today. A famous Midtown hangout since 1939.

Carnegie Deli © nycgo.com / Jen Davis

854 Seventh Ave (at 55th St & 7th Ave)

Delmonico’s Steakhouse

An 1837-established Financial District steakhouse and grill, which claims to be the first place to ever serve Eggs Benedict.

Delmonico's Steakhouse © nycgo.com / Will Steacy

56 Beaver Street (at Beaver & Sth William St)

5 Ninth

A restored townhouse restaurant and cocktail lounge in the Meatpacking district, serving American and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine.

5 Ninth © nycgo.com / Will Steacy

5 Ninth Ave (at 9th Ave & Little West 12th St)

Benchmark Restaurant

A diverse restaurant serving up a menu of classic American with global influences in the heart of Brooklyn’s Park Slope neighbourhood.

Benchmark © nycgo.com / Clayton Cotterell

339A 2nd Street, Brooklyn

Glass House Tavern

Upscale theatre district restaurant serving original takes on Italian classics and contemporary American cuisine.

Glass House Tavern © nycgo.com / Alex Lopez

252 West 47th St (at 47th St & 8th Ave)

Also taking part are Gordon Ramsay’s Maze, the Russian Tea Room, Nobu New York, Le Caprice, Cipriani Wall Street and many more. Prices don’t include drinks, tax or tips.

Virgin Atlantic operates five daily flights to New York‘s JFK and Newark airports from London Heathrow. Grab a great fare in our current Sale – but hurry, it ends 24th January!