Lower Manhattan Dining Festival Returns with 50 Restaurants, Hosted by Food Network Star and Cookbook Author Chef Amanda Freitag

09/23/2015
Lower Manhattan Dining Festival Returns with 50 Restaurants, Hosted by Food Network Star and Cookbook Author Chef Amanda Freitag

Lower Manhattan will be welcoming back one of its most anticipated and well-attended public events, “Dine Around Downtown” for its 14th edition next week. The food festival will feature an extensive array of Lower Manhattan’s best restaurants and cafes from across the district and is expected to draw thousands of visitors. The Downtown Alliance event will be co-presented by Fosun and sponsored by The Seaport District.

At the event, diners who post a photo of their plate using the hashtag #DineAroundDowntownNYC on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter will be entered for the chance to win a 2-night stay for two at the W New York – Downtown. The photos must be posted on September 30th between 11:00 am and 11:59 pm.

This year's event will also feature celebrity host Amanda Freitag, celebrated chef, Food Network star and cookbook author. Ms. Freitag will be promoting her new cookbook, The Chef Next Door: A Pro Chef’s Recipes for Fun, Fearless Home Cooking. As a judge on Chopped, a co-host on American Diner Revival and contestant on Iron Chef America, Freitag is a well-recognized personality on the Food Network. Her restaurant, the Empire Diner, has been critically acclaimed and throughout her career she has established herself as one of New York City’s most celebrated chefs. Visitors to Dine Around will be able to meet Chef Freitag and purchase signed copies of her book at the event.

Lower Manhattan is quickly establishing itself as a compelling destination for adventurous eaters, and many of the district’s most impressive culinary offerings were on display at the midday festival. With dozens of openings over the past year and more restaurant openings in the pipeline, more and more New Yorkers are heading to Lower Manhattan for some of the city’s best meals. With dozens of featured restaurants to choose from, Dine Around Downtown will have a bit for every appetite.

“Lower Manhattan is the place to be for endless exciting food options,” said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. “Dine Around’s amazing restaurants are just the tip of the iceberg of what Lower Manhattan has to offer; no matter what corner of the culinary map New Yorkers are seeking out, they can find it downtown. From tiny cafes to four star gourmet establishments, we are redefining dining in Lower Manhattan.”

In addition to the local restaurants, the event will welcome two guest participants from Shanghai, China: Lubolang Restaurant and Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant. Diners will also enjoy a live musical performance from the National Jazz Museum in Harlem’s All-Stars. 

“The Tang Dynasty poet says that when the brightest moon shines over the sea, the entire world shares a nostalgic moment together. So it is an extraordinary moment for not only Chinese, but also people all over the world. This echoes the spirits of a city such as New York, and we are pleased to offer a vibrant open space such as 28 Liberty Plaza to accommodate a neighborhood-focused festival such as Dine Around Downtown,” said Mr. Bo Wei, chief executive representative of Fosun Group in the U.S. and Vice President of Fosun Property Holdings.

“The common value of respect for love and family unites us together, and the food festival brings an unforgettable culinary experience to the community, residents, office workers and visitors. More importantly, it is a chance for Fosun to help continue a great Lower Manhattan tradition,” he added.

“Lower Manhattan has become a top destination for food and culture lovers who are seeking new and exciting restaurants,” said Erik Horvat, managing director, with Fosun Property. “We are honored to co-present Dine Around Downtown, which provides an opportunity for people to experience the ever-expanding variety of Lower Manhattan restaurant offerings.”

Participating restaurants included: Adrienne’s Pizza Bar; ATRIO Wine Bar | Restaurant; The Bailey Pub & Restaurant; Barbalu; Bavaria Bier Haus; Beckett’s Bar & Grill; Bill’s Bar & Burger; The Black Hound; Bobby Van’s Steakhouse; BonChon Chicken; The Capital Grille; City Hall Restaurant; Cowgirl Sea-Horse; Delmonico’s Restaurant; Dorlan’s Tavern & Oyster Bar; The Dubliner; Felice 15 Gold Street; Financier Patisserie; The Growler Bites & Brews; Gunbae; Harry’s Café & Steak; Harry’s Italian; Haru Sushi; Jersey Mike’s Subs; Le District; Les Halles; Lubolang Restaurant; Mad Dog & Beans Mexican Cantina; The Malt House; Morton’s The Steakhouse; Nanxiang Steamed Bun Restaurant; Nelson Blue; OBAO Water Street; The Open Door Gastropub; The Paris Café; Pound & Pence; Route 66 Smokehouse; Smörgås Chef; Southwest NY; St. George Tavern; Stone Street Tavern; Stout Fidi; Suteishi; Trading Post; Trinity Place; Ulysses’ Folk House; Vintry Wine & Whiskey; and Wei West.

Photos of 2014’s Dine Around Downtown can be found at http://instagram.com/downtownnyc.