Restaurant prices for lunch are often less expensive - that is, if the restaurant is even open for lunch. In Manhattan, I've found that many popular restaurants don't open until 5:30 or 6:00 pm. If a restaurant does serve lunch, the dishes offered are so different from the dinner menu that it's like a different restaurant altogether. I recall a well-known Italian restaurant in California's Napa Valley that was hailed for its food. Unfortunately, their lunch menu was so limited to a couple of pastas, salads, and their 'special of the day' was calzone. I can order calzone at any generic pizza place in NYC - why would calzone be offered in a famous Californian restaurant? I suspect a bit of laziness on the part of the chef. I've seen this happen too often at restaurants that are open for lunch.
3
Unfortunately true, adult beverages really do jack up dinner prices, while nice and often delicious, a single drink easily adds $ 20 or more (including tax and tip) and it may go above $ 30 in this age of "special" wines by the glass and tiny pours. I anymore tend to stick to New Yorks finest or limit it to one drink.
3
Extensive research like the ones described in this article works best when that's the only thing we need to do in life.
7
Again we have trite, self-evident suggestions. Check the prices ahead of time? Get a doggie bag? Wow. How about skip paying for these articles to be written, save up, and publish something that is meaningful if not actual news?
24
While it was still expensive for me, Le Bernardin for lunch was a relative steal compared to dinner. I will never be able to afford dinner on my teacher's salary, but I count myself so lucky to have been able to splurge on an extraordinary lunch with a glass of wine with my friends.
12
The most vulgar thing: talking about money while you’re out dining.
11
Huh?? "... splitting the bill works best if everyone’s meals are priced within $5." Is she dining on another planet or at CostCo's fast food counter? Get real.
12
I think she means within $5 of each person's ordered items. If someone orders something expensive and someone orders something very cheap, then someone loses out at splitting the bill.
1
I believe you have misunderstood. The article does not suggest getting an entree under $5. The idea, when splitting a check, is that everyone's entree is within $5 of each other's. For example, one entree would be $23, another $26, another $21.
2
She meant if the price of the meals range within $5, not costing $5 each.
Shockingly many people freak out when they have to figure out a tip as they don't seem fluent in basic arithmetic like percents. If the bill is $25.68 whoa. They can't seem to think in 10's. I am usually the one to figure out the tip and I am no math wiz. If this is all too much there are little tip cards you can carry in your wallet. Actually as I don't have a smart phone I imagine they can calculate the amount with no thought from you. For me I like to exercise my brain once and awhile. And yes do not stiff the server.
19
Big gap here - one should not only skip alcohol, but all drinks. NYC tap water is healthy, safe and delicious, and should be provided cold OR hot at no charge.
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