EATING HEALTHY IN THE NEW YEAR? AMERICAN EXPRESS TASTEMAKERS DISH ON THE TOP NEW YORK RESTAURANTS FOR GRABBING A HEALTHY BITE

Tastemakers share tips on eating healthy while eating out in the New Year

NEW YORK, January 25, 2008 -- For many Americans, better health tops the New Year's resolution list. But for the millions of foodies in New York City, eating healthy while eating out is not always easy. Today, American Express issued its Tastemaker Index and in it, Tastemakers dish on some of the best New York restaurants where diners can get a fresh, healthy meal to help them keep that New Year's resolution. The Tastemaker Index is a monthly alert which provides an insider's look at the hottest restaurants recently dined at and talked about on American Express Dish®. Dish is a community web site dedicated to connecting people who love to dine out.

The Tastemaker Index reveals the Top Restaurants for Healthy Dining. These rankings are based on the number of charges made by Tastemakers at restaurants. While they don't account for a restaurant's size or hours of operation, they do reflect the dining trends of an exclusive group of food-loving Cardmembers.

NEW YORK CITY: Top 5 Healthy NYC Restaurants

RANK

RESTAURANT
1. Mizu Sushi
2. Café Metro
3. Estiatorio Milos
4. Spice
5. Republic

Source: American Express Dish Tastemakers

Tastemaker Picks

  1. Mizo Sushi
    29 E 20th St Frnt, New York, NY 10003, (212) 505-6688
    • Tastemakers frequent Mizo Sushi for the "great atmosphere," "friendly chefs" and "fresh ingredients."
  2. Café Metro
    466 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017, (212) 697-7200
    • Tastemakers turn to Café Metro for its "fast service," "variety of foods" and "healthy staples."
  3. Estiatorio Milos
    125 W. 55th St., New York, NY 10019, (212) 245-7400
    • Known for "the freshest fish in town," Estiatorio Milos is a go-to for Tastemakers that "guarantees a healthy meal."
  4. Spice
    199 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011, (212) 689-5182
    • Tastemakers turn to this well-known Thai restaurant for its "affordable and healthy" menu.
  5. Republic
    37 Union Square W., New York, NY 10003, (212) 627-7172
    • Famous for its "fresh ingredients," Republic promises a healthy Asian meal for its customers.

More on Dish
What Dish provides that is unlike any other dining resource is the web's most robust combination of dining offers, information and insights, including peer restaurant ratings, expert picks and instant reservations among other features. Available in New York and San Francisco, Dish is an ongoing platform, allowing diners to tap into the insights of a diverse group of passionate Cardmembers and celebrity foodies, better known as the Dish Tastemaker community.

In addition to the existing features and offers on the site, Tastemakers are encouraged to come back often to check out new offers from Dish. New York Dish's latest promotion called "Table for You" awards gift certificates and reservations at some of the city's most exclusive restaurants. American Express posts a featured restaurant and asks a thought-provoking question such as "which menu item inspires your imagination?" Tastemakers with the most compelling submission win a $400 gift certificate from the featured restaurant. Check out the Table for You contest by clicking on the banner on Dish's New York homepage and find new restaurant gift certificates to win in upcoming weeks, including 'Cesca and Babo among others.

"The Table for You contests are just one way American Express Dish provides Cardmembers with first-rate access to the hottest restaurants in New York City," said Penni Berns, vice president, Network and Merchant Marketing. "Not only do Tastemakers benefit from American Express' restaurant rankings and fellow Tastemaker feedback, they can also take advantage of special offers and discounts available only on Dish."

American Express Dish is currently available in New York City and San Francisco. To become a Tastemaker and start dishing, go to www.amexnetwork.com/thedish. Tastemaker participation is open to all U.S. consumers with American Express-branded cards. For official rules on the Table for You contest, please go to http://thedish.amexnetwork.com/NYC/promos/rules.action.

About American Express
Merchant Services is the merchant network of American Express, which acquires and maintains relationships with millions of merchants around the globe, which welcome American Express-branded Cards. American Express Company is a leading global payments, network, travel and banking company founded in 1850.



Contacts:
Sarah Meron
212.640.5503
Sarah.B.Meron@aexp.com