7 Restaurant Hacks You Have to Try in NYC

Why have one meal when you could eat bites of five different ones? Try a restaurant that offers large portions to share family-style, like Feast, Supper or Rubirosa. (Ordering a bunch of appetizers works, too.) Bonus: It’s usually less expensive than ordering individual entrées.

Think about it: When a restaurant is packed, the wait staff is likely trying to get guests in and out the door as quickly as possible. For a more relaxed experience, cook at home on the weekends and reserve a special date night for next Tuesday, when your favorite spot will be way less crowded.

Instead of asking the server what he recommends (he’s likely to say the most popular dish on the menu), ask which meal the chef makes for himself on his break. If he likes it, we’re willing to bet it’s pretty tasty.

Listen up, people: This one is key, especially in New York City. Before you even look at the menu, check out the bathroom. If it’s dirty, go somewhere else. (You don’t want to imagine what the kitchen looks like.)

Per Se is incredible, but dropping $1,000 on dinner isn’t always in the cards. Luckily, in NYC, there are a few restaurants like Contra, Wallflower NYC, The Eddy and Battersby, that offer amazing tasting menus for under $100.

Oops, you’re out for girls’ night and you all forgot to bring cash. Instead of asking the server to split the bill on eight credit cards, try the free Tab app. Just snap a photo of the receipt and tap your items to claim them. Tip and tax are included, too.

If your heart is set on that Michelin-starred meal, go for lunch, when the prices are usually cheaper, instead of dinner. Jean-Georges offers a $38 prix fixe lunch, while a dinner tasting will cost you upwards of $98. Use the rest of the cash for a cute new dress.