Get your prix-fixe of eating on the town

Manhattan is an island of choices, and the daily decisions inherent to living here are often followed by regret. Eating out means $50 no longer in the bank. Seeing a new borough or neighborhood means 45 wasted minutes on the subway.

When Morningside Heights gets unbearable (but not to the point that you’re willing to sacrifice a significant amount of money or time), treating yourself to a prix-fixe menu at one of the Upper West Side’s many gourmet restaurants offers a perfect solution to the Friday night money-and-travel time challenge. Without further ado, here are three gourmet meals for under $35.

Whether or not you’re theater-bound, you’ll be more than satisfied with the early bird pre-theater special at ‘Cesca on 75th Street. The simple Southern Italian flavors of Chef Kevin Garcia add to ‘Cesca’s already sunny interior. The $31 three-course prix-fixe menu is served weekday nights from 5 to 6 p.m., so hop on the 1 early to catch this spectacular deal, which features buffalo mozzarella and tacconi pomodoro.

Every week is Restaurant Week at Café des Artistes near Lincoln Center at 67th Street, which offers a $35 three course prix-fixe menu every weeknight. The options include gazpacho as an appetizer, hanger steak with fingerling potatoes and merlot sauce for an entrée, and passion fruit sorbet for dessert. There’s nothing not to love about these colorful flavors. But even if there were, the paintings adorning the walls will have you sold on the establishment even before you sit down to eat. It’s the perfect place to take a synaesthetic love interest.

If you’re looking for more casual fare, but still want quality food, try Fred’s on Amsterdam and 83rd Street for some gourmet American cuisine. Adorned with pictures on rustic brick walls and featuring outdoor sidewalk seating in the quickly approaching warmer months, Fred’s offers a gourmet take on classics like mac ‘n’ cheese, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes. Best of all, their Sunday brunch is only $13.95 prix-fixe, so you can nurse your hangover without worrying about your wallet.

Only a short subway ride or a brisk walk away, the Upper West Side is often overlooked in favor of more convenient local fare. But this neighborhood features better food for comparable prices.
So next time you’re at a loss on a Friday night, make an economic decision, and get the best of both worlds in our neighborhood down under.