NYC Restaurant Week is here again, and it’s sticking around for longer than just one week. Having begun on January 18th, the “week” lasts until February 5th. This means you still have plenty of time to troll the restaurant week list for the establishments with the best drink selections. After all, since you’re spending so much less on an extravagant meal, why not take advantage of those pricier drink menus?
 

We figured we would do some of this trolling for you, and here are several places we came up with. Whether they offer extensive wine lists or inventive margaritas, they will definitely quench your thirst.

Bar Boulud

A French restaurant with a wine cellar featuring the country’s best, Bar Boulud is a good call for restaurant week if you feel like splurging more on wine than on delicious food. Canard and steak frites are both on the menu. (1900 Broadway; 212-595-0303)

Sessanta Ristorante

Another restaurant with an extensive wine list, Sessanta specializes in Italian. Though the fare on the restaurant week menu is pretty basic (a chicken dish, branzino, flatbread), any meal can become luxurious when paired with the right Italian wine. (60 Thompson St.; 212-219-8119)

Zenkichi

Chasing dishes with sake is a regular practice at Zenkichi, and it’s more affordable than usual during restaurant week. You’ll get Japanese classics like tuna sashimi as a prelude to mains featuring lamb, chicken, or cod. (77 N 6th St., Brooklyn; 718-388-8985)

La Loteria

Margaritas in all different flavors come by the pitcher here, which is expensive but less so if you have plenty of friends with whom you can share the buzz. If you’re looking for some serious flavor, other amazing drinks include a Clamato, with hot sauce and chili powder, and the El Apache, with house-made sour mix and tamarind pulp. (29 7th Ave. South; 212-858-9096)

 

With a restaurant week menu that wouldn’t dare bore you, ABC Kitchen brings innovation to a fairly traditional cocktail menu, as well. The hot toddy includes maple rye and cider, and a drink called the Pear n Whiskey includes just that…but with honey whiskey and grappa. (35 E 18th St.; 212-475-5829)

Mario’s Restaurant
This fairly inexpensive restaurant in the Bronx’s Little Italy still makes for a good deal with restaurant week prices, and its Italian wine list includes all the options you’ll need for an excellent pairing. Reasonably priced wines by the glass serve as a major draw. (2342 Arthur Ave., Bronx; 718-584-1188)