Jaunted - Tag: Recession-Restaurants-Map

London: The Cheapskate Version Of The London Dinner And Show

BS — 2009-01-16T11:00:49-05:00

Recession Restos aren't just for the US. This financial crisis thing-y is global, and everyone everywhere still has to eat (lavishly).

Heading across the pond, we're looking at Electric Brasserie, a see-and-be-seen hot spot in London's trendy Notting Hill 'hood. Electric is actually kind of a complex, with a sleek bar-and-restaurant next to the Electric Cinema, where you can grab some Champagne and chill on a sofa for two while watching a first-run movie.

But even dinner theaters are having trouble reeling them in nowadays, and Electric is offering a pretty sweet mid-week deal. On Mondays to Wednesdays, you can get a three-course meal and a movie for £28.50 ($42). If you're familiar with London (over)pricing, you know that's a pretty good deal for a menu of steak tartare, pork belly and sticky toffee pudding, followed by a feature film ("The Wrestler," "Waltz with Bashir" and "Rachael Getting Married" are playing this week).

Related Stories:
· Electric Brasserie [Official Site]
· Electric Cinema [Official Site]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Electric Brasserie]

New York: L'Ecole

BS — 2008-12-30T10:00:40-05:00

L'Ecole--the restaurant at the French Culinary Institute in Soho--isn't exactly an eatery for those of us hardest-hit by the recession. But for foodies accustomed to the high-end lifestyle who can't quite afford the Nobus and Peter Lugers of the world anymore, this one's got the right price tag.

Because it's a culinary school, you'll be eating grub cooked up by students rather than big-name chefs, but honestly, unless you're a serious gastrophile, it'll be hard to tell the difference.

For moderate prices ($28 at lunch, $42 at dinner), you can get a prix fixe, three-to-five course meal full of high-end French staples like country pate with foie gras and truffles; braised short ribs with sweet potato puree and celery root foam; and pistachio-chocolate cr�me brulee.

Don't go crazy with the wine list or that price tag will sneak over the $100 mark, but otherwise L'Ecole makes for a relatively inexpensive way to pretend like we're all rich again.

Related Stories:
· L'Ecole [Official Site]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: roboppy]

Kapaa: Hukilau Lanai

BS — 2008-12-23T13:30:36-05:00

Vegas-sized meal prices at Hawaii's resorts can usually make it difficult to see the state on the cheap. But one resort restaurant that packs a foodie punch without emptying your wallet is Hukilau Lanai at the Kauai Coast Resort. The six-year-old restaurant, which focuses on green, sustainable cuisine from local farms and fisheries, offers an array of high-end-sounding dishes that mostly don't break the $20 mark.

The fresh seafood offerings depend on what locals catch any given day but usually include all the local standbys, like opah, mahi-mahi and pink snapper. Less traditional spins on Hawaiian cuisine include nachos topped with sashimi-grade ahi tuna, sugar cane skewered shrimp and ravioli stuffed with local sweet potato and Feta.

The best choice for cheapskates is sampling all of the above off the happy hour tasting menu, served only from 5 to 6 pm. With all that plus 20 wines priced under $20, you'll think you're back on the mainland. Or at least out of the resorts.

Related Stories:
· Hukilau Lanai [Official Site]
· Hawaii Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Hukilau Lanai]

San Francisco: What's Up With Recession Chic?

BS — 2008-12-18T14:00:33-05:00

We've been highlighting recession restaurants lately, but what we're looking for is restaurants that make us forget we don't have money anymore. You know, give us those truffles and filet mignon and arugula... for half-price!

But we're a little perplexed by the most recent trend popping up: Restaurants are seeking to remind us that we're in a recession, even treating it as if it's hilariously cute.

Case-in-point: San Francisco's trendy Mission eatery Luna Park, which recently introduced a "blue plate special" that pays homage to Depression-era soup kitchens with inexpensive meals served on cafeteria-style trays.

We can't argue with the deal--$12 for chef Nick Cobarruvias's French-tinged comfort food--but enough with the recession chic! Give us a break--and can you spare a dime?

Related Stories:
· Luna Park [Official Site]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Luna Park]

Philadelphia: Lacroix Offers A Stimulus Package

BS — 2008-12-16T11:30:31-05:00

A few weeks back, dinner-booking site OpenTable.com announced "The Appetite Stimulus Plan," a promotion offering three-course prix fixe meals at 1,300 high-end eateries around the country. We usually don't get too excited about Restaurant Week-style promotions such as this, because they too often go hand-in-hand with limited selections, poor service and obnoxious crowds.

But Philly foodies are in luck, because one of the city's hottest dining rooms--Lacroix at the Rittenhouse--is running with the idea and offering the deal all winter long.

For $24, you can choose from a (limited) lunch menu of upscale comfort creations. For example, warm butternut squash-and-miso soup for a starter, orzo macaroni and cheese with spinach, smoked salmon, and oven dried tomato for the main and a pre-determined dessert tier.

Yes, $24 may sound like a lot to drop on a lunch, but considering mains alone usually go for that much or more at Lacroix, we're smelling a discount that's worth it.

Related Stories:
· Lacroix at the Rittenhouse [Official Site]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Rittenhouse Hotel]

New York: The City Bakery's Bad Economy Menu

BS — 2008-12-11T12:00:29-05:00

Manhattan's lunchtime favorite The City Bakery is known for their high-end takes on snacky food, particularly the signature pretzel croissant and the super-rich dark hot chocolate with homemade marshmallow. Now, CB is getting on board the recession resto bandwagon, offering up a new happy hour menu designed to appeal to the cheapskate in you.

City Bakery's New Bad Economy Beer Menu serves up heartwarming fried comfort food snacks from 4 to 8 pm, and everything is priced at $10 or less. There are old school comfort classics like deviled eggs, as well as new inventions like the pig in a pretzel-croissant blanket. There's also the gooey deliciousness that is the bacon and chocolate sandwich. If that can't get you out of a depression, what can?

Serious Eats has a great photo gallery of the entire menu. And don't worry, that over-the-top hot chocolate is still there.

Related Stories:
· The City Bakery [Official Site]
· City Bakery's New Bad Economy Beer Menu [Serious Eats]
· Recession Restaurants coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: szlea]

Arlington: Bebo Trattoria

BS — 2008-12-09T13:35:27-05:00

Italian-born chef Roberto Donna is one of DC's biggest culinary stars, so when he closed high-end eatery Galileo for renovations, District power-lunchers were more than disappointed. But their pain was NoVa cheapskates' gain, as Donna used his time off to open a more casual take on Galileo: The new-ish Bebo Trattoria in Crystal City, Virginia.

Given the bustling family-style atmosphere and the sub-$10 prices, you’d be forgiven for thinking Bebo Trattoria is just another suburban Olive Garden clone. But look closer and you'll see the salads, sandwiches and homemade pastas here are all dotted with imported Italian delicacies like Belgian lettuce, pepper-cured prosciutto and guanciale (cured pork cheeks). The newest offering is the selection of pizzas, straight from the wood-burning oven and topped with a drizzle of olive oil and sea salt, along with gourmet toppings like Gorgonzola dolce cheese.

But the best deal is the one that grew out of Donna's popular take-out lunch counter service at Galileo. The locally famous pork shoulder panini, topped with provolone and broccoli rabe, are available at lunchtime for just $6.25.

Related Stories:
· Bebo Trattoria [Official Site]
· Something for the Poors at Vidalia [Jaunted]
· Recession Restaurants Map [Jaunted]

[Photo: kthread]