A Bailout Plan Foodies Can Appreciate

Diners at Morimoto await the start of the show. Photo by David Mehr, Courtesy of NYC & Company.

In the mood for lunch and a show? For only $24.07? Until Labor Day (7 Sept.), catch the production at Morimoto, the Meatpacking District haunt named after one of those uber-cooks from “Iron Chef America.” While you won’t get a rendition of Duck, Duck, Duck, there will be Angry Chicken.

Sensing that foodies need a bailout plan, too, NYC & Company has extended NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2009, which was initially set to end 31 July.

“NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2009 remains our largest dining promotion to date, and we are pleased to extend the program with an unprecedented number of participating eateries,” said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. “New York City residents and visitors are encouraged to experience the more than 200 restaurants across the City through the rest of the summer season at a price that won’t break the bank.”

The deal is the same: $24.07 three-course prix-fixe lunches and $35 three-course prix-fixe dinners (excluding Saturdays, beverage, tax and gratuity).

Not a high price to pay at 21 Club where as of January, men no longer are required to wear ties at dinner. But those not wearing dinner jackets (at any meal) won’t be admitted to experience asparagus terrine, green tea-rubbed pork chop green and crème brulée w/key lime sablé in a joint with both a storied and sordid history, not to mention all of those famous customers, including sitting presidents since FDR (except George W. Bush, and thus far, the hardworking Barack Obama).

Head’s Up: 21 Club will be closed for summer vacation 17 Aug.- 8 Sept. It will re-open 9 Sept. and resume the restaurant week promotion through 31 October. For more information about “NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2009,” including special offers, the list of participating restaurants and selected menus, call 311 and/or visit www.nycgo.com/restaurantweek.