Ok, just a backward midwesterner for you. What exactly does a prix fixe meal include?

Obviously, not a term used frequently, well actually rarely around here. Does the meal include non-alchoholic beverages, the main course, salad bread? Or more? Do you get just one choice of entree or is there a variety of choices of foods for salads, entrees etc.?

Thanks!

It can vary depending on restaurant but usually includes an appetizer or salad, main course, dessert and coffee or tea. Sometimes a glass of house wine or a soft drink is included and the coffee or tea isn't. Pre-theater or inexpensive prix fixes tend to have limited choices. Sometimes there are no choices for salads or desserts. In better restaurants or prix fixe only restaurants there generally more selections to choose from. ALso, some restaurants offer a wine-tasting prix fixe where unlimited wine is served with each course (Cite has a nice one of these after 8pm).

I don't think there is ONE answer. What's included depends on the restaurant.

Breads are almost always included with any entre (a la carte or prix fixe). The only it isn't is if it's an ethnic type food where bread isn't associated with the meal (chinese, japanese, etc.).

The bottom line: the term prix fixe simply means a fixed price for a complete meal; what that meal may include is up to the chef. In my experience, a prix fixe meal usually includes an appetizer and/or salad and/or soup( I don't know if non-alcoholic bevs are usually included. However, the emphasis is on "usually"! A Japanese prix fixe meal may include 6 or more small courses; a fancy French prix fixe meal may also include many more courses, or between-course palate cleansers, or amuses bouches to start; and a meal at, say, a vineyard, may include wines along with the courses. Some restaurants do not offer any choices, although they are usually accomodating if one calls ahead with one's dietary restrictions; others offer a selection of two or so items for each course. It can be fun to just plunge in and have whatever the chef is offering that night; but you can always call ahead to inquire as to what that will be.
Just curious: is there a specific restaurant you're considering?

The prix fixe meals I've had here in NYC typically include your choice of an appetizer, entree, dessert, and sometimes coffee. And they put a basket of bread on the table beforehand.

Speaking of Midwesterners, I just met a Minnesotan at a restaurant who was in town on business. I told him about a great little restaurant with a $10 brunch. His eyes lit up...he was amazed there was an all-you-could eat buffet in NY that's so cheap! I had to explain to him that no, brunch here doesn't involve a buffet!

That's right, brunch here is a 3 hour food fest of champagne and a complete buffet! Usually served on Sunday's at certain restaurants.

As far as the question of what are we looking for, we are going to be in NYC for about a week and thought we would have one nice meal out. I had been looking at Becco's because my kids like Italian and was wondering whether their Prix Fixe all you can eat pasta would be a good choice.

Are they pretty accommodating about what type of sauces you prefer? etc.

I think Becco's would be a nice choice for you. It has certainly received good recommendations on this forum (including from myself!).

It is not haute gourmet, but a nice place with a little different twist on the prix fixe theme. For an extremely reasonable price you get a lovely antipasto course and then unlimited portions of the three special pastas of the day, which is always changing. They are usually interesting and tasty selections (not your typical straight spaghetti & red sauce). For example, my favorite (which I've encountered twice) was mushroom filled ravioli with a cream sauce. Because you're already getting three different selections (the waiters keep coming around to serve you more) you don't have the option to select different sauces. However, you do have the option to order a la carte. And I'm not sure, but I believe that coffee is additional.

Becco's would be an excellent choice, but make reservations well in advance!

it has been since apprx '97 when I was at Becco, but it was pretty good. Not Haute, as mentioned, but good. I have read that it has gone downhill just a little bit, though.

When I was there, you got antipasti for the table and 3 pastas served family style...I don't think you got to choose the sauce($19). Wine is extra but was $15 for every bottle on the menu.

Sometimes you will find tasting menus where you just put your self in the chef's hands (after you tell them of any food alergies or loathings). They then bring you a jillion little plates so you try everything.

Otherwise, most Prix Fixe menus are spelled out...either they tell you what you are getting, or you choose from a limited range of app, entree, dessert, etc. Drinks are rarely included.

I find that in less "sophisticated" parts of the country (like where I live) people expect to get a salad automatically with their meal. I have seen my Dad just about loose it when he discovers that his $30 entree arrives with no preceeding salad. So you should assume you will need to ORDER a salad unless stated otherwise.

I don't know your budget situation or your kid's ages, but it's possible that Becco might fall into the normal category of dining and you could try something farther up the scale one night.

A trip to a truly over-the-top temple of haute cuisine is more entertaining than any show IMHO. Daniel, Jean George, Babbo, Grammercy Tavern, somewhere famous! Many of these restaurants heve websites so you can check it out in advance and see what you are getting yourself in for.

Have fun!

OK, another bumpkin here, but what exactly is haute cuisine?

Haute = high in French. So high food literally. Like Haute Couture = high fashion.

It means somebody spent way more time and effort and thought(not to mention $$) on one tiny plate of food than I did on everything I cooked last week. Say for instance a tiny salad of fresh picked crab, tiny dice of cucumber and mango and herbs, all aranged in a little tower and a dab of two or three intensely flavored sauces on the plate. Followed by an incredibly perfect piece of fish wrapped in incredibly thin slices of potato that overlap like they were scales and then pan sauteed, served on a bed of wilted leeks and sauced with a velvety reduction of red wine and fish stock.

Then a red meat course? Cheese course? pre-dessert (a fruit soup or sorbet, etc)? tasting dessert plate? perhaps all of the above? then a final tray of petit fours (tiny tiny chocolates or other delicate candies so beautiful you eat them too, even though you think you might die).

And of course, all that started with an "amuse bouche" AKA "amuse guele"(I'm not sure I spelled that right) which is a super tiny little hors d'ouerve sent out from the kitchen when you sit down. And fabulous bread, many to choose from...baguettes and pecan raison, or rosemary, saffron walnut... And of course wine.

As you can tell...I live for it...and living in South Carolina I have to travel some to get it. Another school of thought would be that it's a ridiculous waste of money

It is custom in France to have the salad AFTER the main entree - in order to 'cleanse' the palate

Serving the salad after the entree is also a tradition with a few of my friends who are very traditional Italian - not sure if it's done that way in Italy or not.

You've received plenty of good info on the wide variations in price fixe. It's worth noting that a number of restaurants in town, including some in the Theatre District, have a price fixe for early birds - it usually involves being seated by 5:30 or so but if you're accustomed to eating early it can be a good deal.

I ate at Becco once two years ago and was pleased. I think those few who disparage it as "all-you-can-eat" are being a bit unfair. We had a table of twelve people - no one asked for or needed seconds and overall the entire party was pleased with the food and atmosphere (there were a few picky types with us who are accustomed to eating in high falutin' places).

If you want to experience the food quality and style more typical of the high end places but want to spend less - try L'Ecole. It's the restaurant operated by the French Culinary Institute. The students work the front end - service is a bit less polished tyhan the fancier places but it's family friendly and there's a notable lack of pretension. IMHO (and in my limited experience) the food is really top shelf. I even got an amuse bouche although I had no idea what to call it. Their price fixe is about $30 per person for starter, entree and dessert - no beverages included but it's really worth the $$ for a great dining experience at less than you'd pay elsewhere.

Reading between the lines, you might want to reconsider about Becco's. While I like it and have always been happy with their three selections for pasta, since you asked how accomodating they are about sauces, I suspect you have someone who is very picky. For example there will probably only be one pasta with a red sauce, so if that is what your picky eater likes, be aware that he or she can't change sauces on the others. They bring big skillets of the three pastas to your table and what you see is what you get.