Enjoy Restaurant Week while it lasts

Common knowledge dictates that you have to be rich to live in New York or to enjoy its comforts. But during NYC Restaurant week, even those with little pocket change can find a great deal.

Running until Sunday, Restaurant Week features more than 200 participating restaurants in Manhattan and the outer boroughs that offer prix-fixe meals — three-course lunches and dinners for $24.07 and $35, respectively. For students who have never eaten at higher-priced restaurants, this is a chance to scope out those swanky restaurants that they've walked past on the way to class, but haven't had the chance to dine in thanks to ever-dwindling funds.

Restaurant Week happens twice a year in New York — once in January/February and again in June/July — for two weeks. January is considered the slow month for most restaurants as business tends to slow after the holiday bustle. This event is a way to remind diners that New York City is still the brightest and the best when it comes to food, service and hospitality even during the off-season.

"New York is one of the most inspiring places to start a food business, or open up a restaurant," CAS sophomore Fahima Islam said. "But that also means competition is intense and small fine dining meals are often ridiculously high-priced."

Islam is interested in opening up her own bar and restaurant five to ten years after graduation, and said she would like it to make fine dining available to the common man.

A complete list of participating restaurants can be found online at nycgo.com/restaurantweek. Be sure to make reservations early, though, as restaurants fill up quickly for this limited promotion.