Finding a coffee shop where you can actually find a seat to meet someone for coffee, a little nosh or having a meeting is hard to find.

If you need a place near Union Square, check out 71 Irving Place. It is a casual and relaxed alternative to the chain coffee shops where you may be able to get coffee but are never able to find a seat.

The coffee selection ranges from your basic cup of Joe to the more sophisticated espresso/lattes.

Depending on your hunger level, you should be able to find something that satisfies your palette from croissants to sandwiches to desserts.

Locations:
71 Irving Place between 18th and 19th Street
Monday – Friday 7:00 am to 11:00 pm
Saturday/Sunday: 8:00 am to 11:00 pm

Smell something in the air today? It’s probably all of the delicious meals being enjoyed this week by New Yorkers without breaking the bank.

Restaurant week is one that is both enjoyed and highly anticipated by New Yorkers twice a year- Jan/Feb & June/July. The reason? During Restaurant week you can enjoy some of the most high end food the city has to offer on fixed prices!  Which means at noon you can enjoy a lunch with coworkers at the 21 club like “The Donald” and then meet up with old friends at Smith & Wollensky for a steak dinner fit for a king all on about $60.

This week is a great opportunity to try out some great new restaurants without going broke, but with 260 participating restaurants it can be hard to chose which ones to try out.

So here’s my top “5 Must Try’s” for Restaurant week:

21 Club- I wasn’t being funny before, people like Donald Trump and famous faces dine here. This restaurant is highly exclusive and even has a dress code. Though their restaurant week menu is limited, it does include an appetizer, entree & dessert and the food is excellent. Really? would the Donald dine there if it weren’t?

Ilili- whether you are a huge fan of Mediterranean food or if you have never tried it, but have always been curious-Ilili has something you are sure to enjoy. With prefix options as low as $16 this restaurant is the perfect choice for international dining on a budget! From Delicious Hommus, Grilled lamb, Fallafel & grilled chicken everyone can easily find their favorite Mediterranean dish.

Kittichi- With a heated out door area, this restaurant offers some of the best Thai cuisine around. For restaurant week their pre-fix menus include a variety of seafood, beef, soups & BBQ specialties. Both their lunch and dinner menus include 3 courses that are sure to satisfy even the biggest appetite.

Devi- Touted by NY Magazine as one of the best Indian restaurants in NYC, this high end restaurant is offering 3 course meals for only $25 for restaurant week. The ambiance is beautiful, and in addition to some of the well known Indian favorites, there are some great introductory dishes like Chicken Kabobs offered for those trying Indian cuisine for the first time.

Cipriani- If you are looking for some great Italian food in a restaurant with posh decor and an possibly the most breath taking atmosphere in NYC, Cipriani’s is your place.  With multiple locations, Cipriani’s Midtown and Wallstreet locations are both participating in restaurant week offering prefix menu’s at an unheard of $25!