TV Dinners

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

This isn’t an official “Restaurant Week,” but if you’re looking to snag a table at a hot restaurant, now’s a good time to do it. With the last of the presidential debates tonight and the Yankees-Red Sox playoff series unfolding through the weekend, some of your fellow New Yorkers will be abstaining from their usual tables.


Major televised events often result in a decrease in restaurant reservations, according to longtime food publicist Steven Hall of the Hall Company: “The Academy Awards, the Superbowl, Yankees games. They affect restaurants all the time,” he said.


Nick Livanos, a partner at the upscale Greek restaurant Molyvos and the seafood restaurant Oceana, said that the upcoming events will take a toll.


“Our restaurants are not sports oriented,” said Mr. Livanos, who expects to see a 10% to 15% drop in reservations. “But the debate is on a Wednesday night, and people still have to conduct business.”


During the previous presidential debates, the staff at Aix restaurant on the Upper West Side noticed that customers were leaving around 8:30 p.m. in order to go home and watch the debates. But the management caught on and made the battle of wits available at the bar.


According to a spokesman for Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, the staff at Eleven Madison Park has noticed greater demand for early time slots on debate nights. With a 6:30 p.m. reservation, diners can still have a leisurely meal and then head home to catch the action at 9 p.m. Aureole saw regular customers asking for earlier reservations on the evening of the first debate – and asking for dessert to go.


On the other hand, Gramercy Tavern has seen no changes in reservations. Likewise, the Myriad Restaurant Group’s marketing director Tracy Nieporent has not seen changes or cancellations at the company’s hottest properties, which include Tribeca Grill and Nobu.


“It’s not any easier to get a reservation at Tribeca Grill or Nobu,” he said. “If you’ve made a reservation at a restaurant, you’re probably not going to cancel it for the debate. That’s why you have Tivo or VCRs.”


Though he’ll be watching the debate, he’s unconvinced that the events this week will shift dining patterns. “There are so many people in New York who have diverse interests. Baseball and politics don’t necessarily divert people from their plans.”


Politics did, however, divert diners during the Republican Convention. “There were a lot New Yorkers away, and it was easier at that time to get reservations,” said Mr. Nieporent, who also chairs the restaurant committee of NYC & Co., the city’s convention and visitor’s bureau.


At least one restaurant is launching a new program tonight, which may induce hungry folks to set the VCR to record the fireworks between President Bush and Senator Kerry. At their restaurant Mix in New York, Alain Ducasse and Christian Delouvrier are offering a complimentary glass of wine with their bistro dishes such as escargot and cheese souffle for the next 10 days.


Though the most sought-after tables may still be hard to get, you might get in through a last-minute cancellation – or at least get a little extra attention while other New Yorkers are glued to the television.


“It’s a good week in general to go out to dinner,” said Mr. Livanos.


The New York Sun

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