Zagat Morsels
When the Zagat 2004 NYC Restaurant Guide was released a couple weeks ago, all the fuss was over the excessively high ratings for a Brooklyn mostly-locals place I've never been to. My copy of the restaurant guide came in the mail yesterday and I found there were some other good observations from their survey.

New York's new no-smoking policy: "23 percent of our surveyors report that it has prompted them to go out more often than before -- particularly to 'authentic' (i.e. 'smoky') French bistros, which they once shunned. Only 4 percent say that the smoking law has deterred their restaurant going."

Economy's impact: In response to the sluggish economy, more restaurants are offering prix fixe dinner menus in the $20 to $25 range. The average cost of a NYC meal rose only 0.3 percent from a year ago to $37.06 (compared to $51.15 in London, $53.29 in Paris and $66.60 in Tokyo.)

French boycott: That whole anti-France war thing didn't last long here, Zagat says. "This embargo proved short-lived as most diners realized that NYC's so-called French restaurants are in fact run and staffed by Americans, serve American products and pay American taxes.

Favorite foods: Japanese food is on the rise and Chinese is slipping.
- posted by Amy @ 11/07/2003 12:55:00 PM