Dining out in New York City remains the costliest in the nation.The good news, however, is that you can find many very affordablerestaurants there.
The newest Zagat New York City Restaurant Survey offers a bullishview of the city's dining-out scene. Zagat, which relies onvolunteer diners for its reviews, says that 16,000 people who ate out3.1 million times in the Big Apple did the reporting.
The top winner in the '96 Zagat survey is Bouley, which took tophonors not only in the popularity category but also in the foodranking. The next nine winners in popularity were: Union SquareCafe, Aureole, Gotham Bar & Grill, Four Seasons (on the list for 15years), Cafe des Artistes, Peter Luger, Le Bernardin, Lespinasse andGramercy Tavern. The next nine in food rankings are: Aureole,Lespinasse, Le Bernardin, Daniel, Chanterelle, La Grenouille, UnionSquare Cafe, Le Cirque and II Mulino.
Helping to enliven the city's dining scene are theme restaurantsbased on computers ( (at sign) Cafe, Cyber Cafe, Internet Cafe),retro diners (Brooklyn USA, Ellen's Stardust), fun houses (Jekyll &Hyde), skinny models (Fashion Cafe), soul music (Motown Cafe), jobhunting (Resume Cafe), sports mania (Official All Star) and Twins,staffed entirely by identical 'wombmates.'
Now as to cost, the average meal in NYC costs $29.81. The averagecost of the most expensive dining places comes out to $65.86 (aJapanese newcomer, Nadaman Hakubai, will offer a $120 elaborate12-course kaiseki dinner). Many places also offer a prix fixe menu,and Zagat reports the average cost of a 'best value meal' is just$9.37.
How does this compare? Zagat says in Boston the average meal costis $21.83; average expensive meal is $47.65 and the best value is$10.21. The best deal comes in Kansas City, where the average mealcosts $12.15; average expensive one is $25.55 and the best valuefigures out to $7.71.
And what about the tip? In NYC, 20 percent tips are given by 34percent of the diners; 16-19 percent by 25 percent of the diners and15 percent or less by 41 percent. In Boston, 44 percent of dinersleave 20 percent or more; 17 percent leave 16-19 percent and 39percent tip 15 percent or less.Hotel discounts
Travelers staying at a participating Forte hotel between Dec. 1and Feb. 29 will receive a 30 percent saving off the room rate,discounts on Avis car rentals in Europe and select theater tickets inLondon. Additionally, all Le Meridien and Forte Grand Hotelsworldwide are offering up to 50 percent savings with the hotels'Winter Passport promotion. Among the grand hotels participating areLe Meridien Dallas; Forte Grand Balmoral, Edinburgh; Plaza Athenee,Paris; Westbury, New York; Hotel Ritz, Madrid; and Hyde Park, London.For Forte Hotel reservations, call (800) 225-5843; for Le Meridienand Forte Grand, call (800) 543-4300.Free rooms
Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts, which annually offers afree Room at the Inn program for families with a member in a Canadianhospital or hospice, this year is also joining in the fight againstAIDS by donating $1 to the AIDS fund for every room (7,318 availablea night) occupied in a city-center hotel Dec. 18-25. In addition toits Room at the Inn program, which is with hotels near hospitals,Canadian Pacific also offers Room with a View, which providesfamilies a reprieve from the hospital with a relaxing stay at one ofits resorts such as Whistler, Jasper Park or Le Chateau Montebello.Both programs run Nov. 1-Dec. 31. Eligibility is based onassessments made by partner hospitals. For information, callCanadian Pacfic Hotels at (416) 367-7101.Five diamonds
The American Automobile Association has just announced its annuallisting of winners of its Five Diamond Award. These are facilitiesthat 'are renowned for their exceptionally high degree of service,luxurious facilities and superb amenities,' said Graeme Clarke of theAAA, and if you are looking for one of these, the simplest move isto head for a Four Seasons or Ritz-Carlton. Four Seasons propertiesthat received the high honor include Boston, New York, Washington,Atlanta, Maui, Los Angeles, Amelia Island, Naples, Philadelphia,Houston, Seattle, Vancouver, Toronto and Nevis. Ritz-Carlton winnersinclude Laguna Niguel, Marina del Rey, San Francison, Amelia Island,Naples, Buckhead, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia and Cancun. Only82 hotels and resorts out of more than 31,000 in the AAA TourBooksreceived the honor. Five properties have won the award every yearsince it was established in 1977: Marriott's Camelback Inn inScottsdale, Ariz.; The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs; C Lazy U Ranch,Granby, Colo.; The Greenbrier, White Sulpher Springs, W. Va.; and theFour Seasons Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia. Only two NewEngland restaurants made the list: The White Barn Inn inKennebunkport, Maine, and Aujourd'hui at the Four Seasons, Boston.Florida-bound travelers might check out the winners there: The Grillin the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island; and The Restaurant at the FourSeasons Ocean Grand in Palm Beach.
