Today through Friday, 25 Upper East Side restaurants — including Land Northeast Thai, Gina la Fornarina and beloved Indian eatery Baluchi’s — will be taking 20 percent off food or offering three-course meals for $20.16 during the first 2nd Avenue Restaurant Week.
All participating restaurants are located on the stretch of 2nd Ave. between 68th-96th streets, which has been battling inconveniences related to the ongoing construction of the 2nd Avenue subway.
“There’s no such thing as an immaculate construction,” says MTA Capital Construction Company President Dr. Michael Horodniceanu during a press conference at Southern Hospitality — which is offering a special-edition jalapeno-and-andouille mac and cheese this week. However, the MTA has backed several initiatives to bring shoppers and diners back to 2nd Avenue.
The community’s response to its first restaurant week has been enthusiastic. As noted by Nancy Ploeger, president of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, Brooklyn’s restaurant week enlisted only 200 restaurants from the entire borough. 2nd Avenue’s Restaurant Week drew 25 restaurants in a 27-block radius.
Expected to dine on 2nd Avenue this week are Zagat guide co-founder Tim Zagat, designer Norma Kamali and transit engineer “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz.
The lineup:
1570 Sushi 212-650-0299
Atomic Wings 212-888-5777
Baluchi’s 212-996-2600
Beach Cafe 212-988-7299
Big Daddy’s 212-717-2020
Bistro Nora 212-288-2600
Brother Jimmy’s BBQ 212-288-0999
Cafe Greco 212-737-4300
Delizia 92 Pizzeria 212-996-3720
Don Pedro’s 212-996-3274
Doppio Senso 212-772-8700
Gina La Fornarina 212-535-3300
Heidelberg Restaurant 212-628-2332
Hi-Life Restaurant and Lounge 212-628-5433
Ithaka Greek Restaurant 212-628-9100
Land Northeast Thai 212-439-1847
Midnight Blue Restaurant 212-439-1580
Molly Pitcher’s Ale House 212-249-3067
Nick’s Restaurant Pizzeria 212-987-5700
Panorama Cafe 212-772-2220
Persepolis 212-535-1100
Sotto Cinque 212-472-5563
Southern Hospitality 212-249-1001
Szechuan Gourmet 212-861-6838
Veatery 212-722-0558