[title]
It's already one week into NYC Restaurant Week, the biannual food frenzy where 368 of the city's top tables offer three-course prix-fixe menus for just $25 at lunch and $38 at dinner. With just two weeks left to go, do yourself a favor and snag your reservation at these five spots before time runs out.
RECOMMENDED: Full guide to NYC Restaurant Week
Asia de Cuba - Back for the first time since closing its original location in 2011, this newcomer earned a spot on our top ten list for it's Asian-Latin mashups served in swanky digs. While it's typically a dinner-only restaurant, they've opened their doors for lunch service exclusively for NYC Restaurant Week. The portions are sizable here, so you won't have to starve to save a dollar.
Chefs Club by Food & Wine - A rotating list of word-class chefs curates the menu at this 120-seat supper club. Make reservations for tomorrow, July 28, and Wednesday, July 29 to try offerings from one of Food & Wine Best New Chefs 2014, Matthew Accarrino. Reservations are taken by phone only and there are only a few left for a party of 2: July 28th at 5:30pm or 10:15pm and July 29th at 5:30pm or 9:45pm.
Beauty & Essex - Dinner reservations at this bi-level Lower East Side staple are already filling up for this week, so take note and plan ahead for the last leg of Restaurant Week to feast on tuna poke wonton tacos, brick-pressed chicken and vanilla panna cotta.
élan - This decadent, French-inspired spot, which opened last year, is the first project by chef David Watluck since the shuttering of his beloved downtown fine dining gem Chanterelle. 7pm reservations are completely booked for this week, so you'll have to settle for an early or late dinner to get your hands on some foie gras roulade, sea urchin guacamole and General Tso's sweetbreads.
Root & Bone - TV toques Janine Booth and Jeff McInnis are dishing out their signature drunken deviled eggs, shrimps 'n' grits and fried bird as part of the special menu at their deep South standby in the East Village. While the modest 45-seat eatery is primarily walk-in, snag one of the few golden tickets released daily to avoid jockeying for a seat.