Rete

For those for live in the tri-state area, you might be interested in this year's Restaurant Week (two weeks actually) which starts on July 16.

Lots of lovely restaurants with a set pre-fixed menu and cost of $24.00 for lunch and $35.00 (excluding drinks).

Let's you try restaurants you would normally not go to because of price or whatever reason.

I've reservations for Frankie and Johnny's for the 18th and looking into others for a Sunday lunch.

Bink

Nice! Can't get there myself but it sounds like a pretty cool chance to get into some nice restaurants at a reasonable price point.

Orangepants

We have ours in Charlotte July 20th.. Last year took advantage of 4 restaurants that I'd been dying to go to. This year have plans for 3 which I have been on my list for a while.. Great idea.

sir_eccles

I used to like restaurant week when we lived in NYC because you really do get to try stuff you wouldn't normally. Still remember a fantastic meal at Petrossian.

Here in Phx though I avoid at all costs. Our favorite places packed to the gills, serving some pretty sub par prix fixe because they know they are getting screwed out of tips from people boarish snobs who are never coming back. One or two gems but meh.

Rete

The Hudson Valley had theirs in the spring. We tried a fab restaurant on the Hudson after X2O's was sold out. Also their two others of good quality, if not of the same caliber.

Amex has a program that if you register your card and go to four restaurants in the program you get a $20 deduction on your statement. Almost like having a lunch for free.