Eating out in New York City can cost an arm and a leg. Foodies love NYC Restaurant Week, the January-February and July-August promotion in which participating New York City restaurants offer a 3-course lunch for $29 or a 3-course dinner for $42. Saturdays are generally excluded, but some restaurants do Sundays.
A lot of New York City’s best restaurants participate. NYC Restaurant Week is a great way to try new restaurants with friends.
The most in-demand restaurants sell-out, so make your reservations as early as possible. Enjoy and let us know which you think are the best Latin restaurants in New York.
NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2017
NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2017 reservations open Monday, January 9 for sittings January 23 – February 10, 2017.
Brazilian Restaurants
You can chose between NYC’s top Brazilian Churrascaria steakhouses: Fogo de Chão in Midtown across from the Museum of Modern Art, and Plataforma in Hell’s Kitchen, closer to the Theater District.
There’s also the richly flavored Brazilian-Japanese-Peruvian fusion SushiSamba in the West Village. You might remember it from a Sex and the City episode.
Cuban Restaurants
Victor’s Cafe is NYC’s classic Cuban restaurant in the Theater District. Cuban-Latin American Calle Ocho gives a modern spin in the Upper West Side.
Cuban-Asian fusion Asia de Cuba in NoHo is NYC’s best spin on the “Spanish-Chinese” restaurant. That odd hybrid is a legacy of the Chinese laborers who moved to Spanish Cuba to work after slavery was outlawed. Working-class versions of this kind of restaurant used to be common in New York City.
Latin American Restaurants
Most of the restaurants in NYC Restaurant Week’s “Latin American” category are better fits for other categories. One good fit though is Vermillion in Midtown East. It’s an Indian-Latin American fusion. That mix probably comes from Goa, an Indian state on the West Indian coast that was a Portuguese colony from the early 16th century until 1961. Vermillion extends the Portuguese connection into Brazil.
Mexican Restaurants
Mexican food has become American food, and the Mexico has so many regional styles that there is no one true “Mexican” cuisine. Anyway, there are a number of great Mexican restaurants participating in NYC Restaurant Week.
Chef Richard Sandoval has several winners on this list. Sandoval’s restaurant empire started with the traditional Maya in the Upper East Side. Pampano in Midtown East does Mexican seafood. Opera legend Placido Domingo is an investor there.
One of our Sandoval favorites is Asian-Mexican fusion Zengo in Midtown East. If you go, be sure to check out the La Biblioteca Tequila library in the basement.
Toloache in Times Square is regularly one of NYC’s best Mexican restaurants. You can also try Toloache ~ Thompson in Greenwich Village.
Dos Caminos is represented by outposts in Midtown East, SoHo, Meatpacking District, NoMad, and Times Square.
You can try Rosa Mexicano in Tribeca, Union Square, Midtown East, and the Upper West Side.
There is Salvation Taco in Murray Hill.
In Chelsea, you can taste Bodega Negra at Dream Downtown, and the Rocking Horse Cafe.
East Village restaurants include Empellón Cocina and Fonda.
In the West Village try El Toro Blanco, Empellón Taqueria, and La Loteria.
Down in Battery Park City, El Vez offers a festive vibe.
Peruvian Restaurants
Raymi in the Flatiron District is NYC’s top Peruvian restaurant. The fresh ceviche goes great with a Pisco Sour.
Japanese-Peruvian fusions Nobu New York and Nobu Next Door bring back memories of great Iron Chef shows.
Spanish Restaurants
Casa Mono in Gramercy Park is Mario Batali and Andy Nusser will satsify Catalans, Spaniards, and the rest of us with its Michelin Star winning kitchen and awesome wine list.
Other Spanish restaurants participating in NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2017 are: Socarrat Paella Bar in Chelsea, Midtown East, and Nolita, ABC Cocina in the Flatiron District, Amada in Battery Park City, Tertulia in the West Village, La Fonda del Sol in Midtown East, Andanada in the Upper West Side, and Macondo West and Barraca in the West Village.
NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2016
NYC Restaurant Week Summer 2016 was July 25-August 19. Reservations opened July 11.
NYC Restaurant Week is a registered trademark of NYC & Company.