If you think the cost of dining out in the Big Apple is steep, be glad you don’t live in London, Paris or Tokyo.
The average cost of a meal in New York City is $41.81 — up 2.5 percent over last year, the latest Zagat survey reports.
But that’s peanuts compared with London, where meals average $65.63, Paris at $78.82, or Tokyo, $93.33.
The survey of 38,868 patrons of 2,069 New York restaurants accompanies the release of the familiar maroon Zagat guide, which went on sale yesterday.
Those surveyed picked Marea, a southern Italian seafood restaurant on Central Park South, as the best new restaurant of the year in the city. It received a food rating of 26 out of 30.
Despite the recession, Marea sells blue lobsters from Normandy at $47 a pound — thus a 1½-pound crustacean costs a mere $70.50 — and “they sell themselves,” said manager Rocky Cirino.
“There’s a premium on these,” he said. “They have a cachet. They come from Normandy. They’re blue and when they’re cooked, they turn a deep red. They’re somewhat sweeter than Maine lobsters. They are delicious. People love them.”
Those who can’t fathom the idea of spending $47 a pound for lobster can choose the lobster salad, which is filled with Maine lobster and costs $21.
Cirino noted “a certain bravado has returned” among the investment bankers who frequent the restaurant. Shelling out big bucks “is not as uncouth as it was six months ago.”
Other pricey restaurants also won top honors in the survey.
Per Se, the Time Warner Center eatery that charges $275 a person for its tasting menu, was voted as having the best service.
Le Bernardin, where the tasting menus cost $135 and $185, was chosen as having the best food.
Restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern, where a three-course meal in the rear dining room costs $86, was voted most popular.
It replaced the Union Square Café — also owned by Meyer — which was No. 2 this year.
For those who despair of the high cost of dining out, the guide lists 618 restaurants where the average dinner tab is less than $30.
For the budget-conscious with romance on their minds, the guide features a new “cheap dates” section of 10 restaurants.
Topping the list is Snack, a tiny Greek restaurant in SoHo that’s “perfect for a first date.” It got a 24 out of 30 for food and dinner costs $27 a person.
The survey found that because of the recession, people are eating out an average of three times a week, down from 3.3 to 3.4 times during the four previous years.
Forty-one percent said they were eating at less expensive places, 21 percent are skipping appetizers and/or dessert, and 19 percent are cutting back on alcohol.
Corporate entertaining has largely evaporated, the survey says.