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A Guide to Domestic Beer Prices in Whale Restaurants

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By definition, Whales like expensive restaurants. NO ONE DISPUTES THIS. Most Whale-watching restaurants have extensive lists of fine wines and, often, beers. But what about the Whales who just don't care about these better libations? Enter The Bud Light Index, tracking the cost of cheapo domestic beers at New York's Whale destinations.
Many of the Whale restaurants, of course, simply don't offer Bud Light. Nello, for example, only offers Italian beers, while the younger and trendier Whales might go to The NoMad with its carefully curated beer list that even features a Brooklyn Brewery brown ale made specifically for the restaurant. These won't make an appearance in the Bud Light Index. But others, like The Four Seasons, have Budweiser?Bud Heavy?instead of Bud Light; that cheap swill is equal in the eyes of the Bud Light Index.


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The Four Seasons Restaurant

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The most expensive restaurant in New York, The Four Seasons sets the upper limits of the Bud Light Index. They don't actually have the light, but Bud Heavy will cost an undiscerning Whale $11. For perspective, a six-pack from many bodegas runs just $9.

P.J. Clarke's

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Setting the lower limit of the Bud Light Index is P.J. Clarke's, where a bottle will a run a hobnobbing Whale just $5. (Photo)

Le Cirque

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Many legendary chefs have passed through the halls of the Maccioni family's Le Cirque, where a Budweiser will run a history-seeking Whale $8.

Smith & Wollensky

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With one of the best steaks in town, Smith & Wollensky has a Bud Light that won't break a Whale's (admittedly unbreakable) wallet, at $7.

The Palm

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The blue haired whales are still flocking to Midtown East for the original location of the Whale haven The Palm. A Bud Light here is just $6.75.(Photo)

Harry Cipriani

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The Midtown Harry Cipriani, part of the Whale-friendly Cipriani family of restaurants, has Budweiser for $10.50. It's unclear if that's the same price at Harry's Bar in Venice, on which Harry Cipriani is modeled.(Photo)

Arlington Club Steakhouse

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Laurent Tourondel's brand-new Upper East Side steakhouse, a partnership with the nightclub kids at the Tao Group, has a bone-in rib eye for $58 and a Bud Light for $7.50. (Photo: Krieger)

Russian Tea Room

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The Carnegie Hall-adjacent Russian Tea Room matches The Four Seasons in terms of price, and when a Whale is getting a $295 one-ounce portion of imported black caviar, an $11 Bud Light sounds downright affordable.

"21" Club

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The Midtown Whales' legend the The "21" Club has Budweiser for a suddenly-respectable sounding $8.50.(Photo)

Algonquin Hotel

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Cocktails at The Algoquin Hotel's lounge are a whopping, Whale-worthy $21 to $22. The cost of Bud Light there doesn't disappoint, coming in at $9, the cost of a six pack.

Keens Steakhouse

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Eater 38 member Keens Steakhouse attracts Whales seeking the best steak in the city. Its Bud Light comes in a hair cheaper than Peter Luger's, at $6.50.

Peter Luger Steak House

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Across the East River, many Whales are hitting the famed old-timer steakhouse Peter Luger, where the $90 steak for two can be paired with two Bud Lights for just $6.95 each.

Cipriani

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Harry Cipriani's FiDi sibling is still Whale-friendly enough to host mayoral galas that got marched on by OWS protesters. Bud Heavy is available there for a clean $10.

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The Four Seasons Restaurant

The most expensive restaurant in New York, The Four Seasons sets the upper limits of the Bud Light Index. They don't actually have the light, but Bud Heavy will cost an undiscerning Whale $11. For perspective, a six-pack from many bodegas runs just $9.

P.J. Clarke's

Setting the lower limit of the Bud Light Index is P.J. Clarke's, where a bottle will a run a hobnobbing Whale just $5. (Photo)

Le Cirque

Many legendary chefs have passed through the halls of the Maccioni family's Le Cirque, where a Budweiser will run a history-seeking Whale $8.

Smith & Wollensky

With one of the best steaks in town, Smith & Wollensky has a Bud Light that won't break a Whale's (admittedly unbreakable) wallet, at $7.

The Palm

The blue haired whales are still flocking to Midtown East for the original location of the Whale haven The Palm. A Bud Light here is just $6.75.(Photo)

Harry Cipriani

The Midtown Harry Cipriani, part of the Whale-friendly Cipriani family of restaurants, has Budweiser for $10.50. It's unclear if that's the same price at Harry's Bar in Venice, on which Harry Cipriani is modeled.(Photo)

Arlington Club Steakhouse

Laurent Tourondel's brand-new Upper East Side steakhouse, a partnership with the nightclub kids at the Tao Group, has a bone-in rib eye for $58 and a Bud Light for $7.50. (Photo: Krieger)

Russian Tea Room

The Carnegie Hall-adjacent Russian Tea Room matches The Four Seasons in terms of price, and when a Whale is getting a $295 one-ounce portion of imported black caviar, an $11 Bud Light sounds downright affordable.

"21" Club

The Midtown Whales' legend the The "21" Club has Budweiser for a suddenly-respectable sounding $8.50.(Photo)

Algonquin Hotel

Cocktails at The Algoquin Hotel's lounge are a whopping, Whale-worthy $21 to $22. The cost of Bud Light there doesn't disappoint, coming in at $9, the cost of a six pack.

Keens Steakhouse

Eater 38 member Keens Steakhouse attracts Whales seeking the best steak in the city. Its Bud Light comes in a hair cheaper than Peter Luger's, at $6.50.

Peter Luger Steak House

Across the East River, many Whales are hitting the famed old-timer steakhouse Peter Luger, where the $90 steak for two can be paired with two Bud Lights for just $6.95 each.

Cipriani

Harry Cipriani's FiDi sibling is still Whale-friendly enough to host mayoral galas that got marched on by OWS protesters. Bud Heavy is available there for a clean $10.

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