Amma
246 E. 51st St., nr. Second Ave.; 212-644-8330
$50 gets you a whopping seven courses of true Indian home cooking, not the trumped-up fusion fare that’s become pervasive.
bär-bō-nē
186 Ave. B, nr. 12th St.; 212-254-6047
Choose from a five-course tasting menu for $42 or seven-courses for $53, including fine Italian fare such as duck ravioli and veal-and-buffalo-ricotta meatballs.
Fig & Olive
808 Lexington Ave.,
nr. 62nd St.; 212-207-4555
This three-course $45 Mediterranean meal is offered from Sunday to Thursday. Try treats like truffle mushroom croquette, beef carpaccio, truffle risotto, and paella. Finish off with chocolate pot de créme.
Boulud Sud
20 W. 64th St.,
nr. Broadway; 212-595-1313
Head to Boulud Sud before going to the theater (from 5 to 7 p.m.) for its $60 three-course meal. Appetizers include sheep’s-milk-ricotta gnocchi and grilled octopus. For the main course, choose sea bass, yellowfin tuna, or chicken tagine.
Becco
355 W. 46th St.,
nr. Ninth Ave.; 212-397-7597
This midtown restaurant is a hidden gem. For $22.95, diners are treated to an unlimited amount of the three pastas the chef has made that day plus a Caesar salad or antipasto misto.