Every New Yorker has a restaurant they’ve been meaning to try. Maybe it’s a place that always seems booked. Maybe it’s a restaurant you’ve walked past a dozen times. Maybe it’s in a neighborhood you don’t visit very often. Then Restaurant Week rolls around, and suddenly that reservation moves a little higher on the priority list.
NYC Restaurant Week returns from July 20th through August 16th, 2026, with restaurants across all five boroughs offering special prix fixe menus. It’s the perfect time to explore the city’s dining scene.
What Is NYC Restaurant Week?
NYC Restaurant Week is a citywide dining program that takes place twice a year and highlights restaurants throughout the city.
The program dates back to 1992 and is widely recognized as the original Restaurant Week. What started as a way to showcase the city’s restaurant industry has grown into one of New York’s most anticipated food events.
Today, hundreds of restaurants participate in each edition. Diners have a chance to explore new places while enjoying specially priced lunch and dinner menus. Delicious and affordable = a win/win.
How Does Restaurant Week Work?
Participating restaurants offer multi-course prix fixe menus at set price points.
For the 2026 summer edition, those tiers are expected to stay at $30, $45, and $60. Restaurants choose which meals to offer, so some participate at lunch, some at dinner, and some at both.
Restaurant Week menus are generally available Monday through Friday. Saturdays are typically excluded, and Sunday participation varies by restaurant.
It’s also worth remembering that beverages, taxes, and gratuity are usually not included in the advertised menu price unless otherwise noted.
Why Do New Yorkers Pay Attention to Restaurant Week?
Restaurant Week has become part of the city’s summer routine.
The event encourages people to look beyond their usual neighborhood. A Manhattan resident might make plans for dinner in Brooklyn. Someone from Queens might decide it’s the perfect time to visit a restaurant downtown. Restaurant Week creates a reason to explore the city through food. The borough mix is just as important as the cuisine mix.
What Kinds of Restaurants Participate?
One of the strengths of NYC Restaurant Week is its variety. Recent editions have included everything from steakhouses and seafood restaurants to Italian, French, Mediterranean, Asian, and contemporary American concepts. The participating lineup changes from year to year, but the range is broad.
Restaurants that have appeared in recent Restaurant Week programs include Manhatta, Crown Shy, Ci Siamo, Hav & Mar, and Carne Mare.
What Should You Know Before Booking?
Popular reservations don’t last long. Restaurants release their Restaurant Week menus at different times, and the most sought-after tables will disappear quickly once reservations open.
Before booking, it’s worth taking a close look at the menu. Not every restaurant participates at every price tier, and not every menu is available at both lunch and dinner.
A little planning can make a big difference, especially if there are specific restaurants or neighborhoods you want to visit during the program.
NYC Restaurant Week returns on July 20th with another opportunity to explore restaurants across all five boroughs. Whether you’re revisiting a favorite dining room or booking a table somewhere new, the event remains one of the easiest ways to experience the city’s food scene.
The Event Planner Expo brings together the professionals behind New York City’s biggest events. Register today and secure your spot.
