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City Shuffle
Category: Mass Media Print Media Print Media [Edit]
300 E 39th St(between 2nd Ave & Tunnel Entrance St)
New York, NY 10016
Neighborhoods: Midtown East, Murray Hill
(212) 706-1956
- Nearest Transit:
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Grand Central - 42 St (7, 7X)
Grand Central - 42 St (4, 5, 6, 6X)
Grand Central - 42 St (S)
6 reviews for City Shuffle
6 reviews in English
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Review from annie h.
New York, NY
7/5/2010
I purchased the Manhattan restaurant version of the Diner's Deck at the Union Square holiday market - such a fun present for my group of friends. We have used more than a dozen of them (already quadrupling the cost of the deck), and every single restaurant has known about the deck (which avoids awkward interactions that I have had with other certificate programs). Bonus - the folks selling the cards are super friendly and funny. Looking forward to making the purchase again next year!
Something that you should know about the deck -- it can even be made it into a game with rules. Here's how my friends and I play:
The object of the game is to make reservations at one Diner's Deck restaurant for the following night.
Any number of diners can play, but we have found that 3 - 5 is the ideal number, and that diners who will be attending dinner should participate in the game.
Decide which "player" goes first. The first player draws a card. Each player in the group has one "veto" that may be exercised on any card for any reason (location, price, dietary restrictions, etc.). The first player reads his/ her card aloud. Any member in the group may veto this card. If the card if vetoed, the card is discarded and not returned to the deck until the end of this game. Player two then picks a card and the game continues until either all vetoes are used or the group remains silent on a card that is drawn. If all vetoes are used, then the dinner location is the final card that is drawn after the last veto is used. If no one vetoes a card, the dinner location is decided, and reservations can be made. The game is over when reservations have been made because either all vetoes have been used and a final card is drawn, or no one vetoes a card. -
Review from Scott R.
1/12/2008
City Shuffle is a no-brainer for any NY Yelper or anyone NYer with any semblance of a social life.
For $30, you receive a deck of 52 cards. Each contains a restaurant or bar and represents $10 off of any $30+ bill. A new deck comes out every year with the cards valid until the end of that year (2008 cards expire 12/30/2008)
The three decks of note (the 4th is a kids deck) are:
Diner's Deck - 52 restaurants spread throughout Manhattan. The restaurants span cuisines with a skew towards American and European. The coupon is only valid for dining-in and if the food portion is $30+ (alcohol not factored in). Might not work with any restaurant specials like prix fixe. But, otherwise, valid for all occasions. Restaurants included: https://www.cityshuffl...
Diner's Deck (Special Downtown) - Perfect for the "I never go north of 14th st. Manhattanite". 52 restaurants with 17 overlaps w/ the Diner's Deck (in 2008 edition). Similar American/European restaurant skew. The coupon is only valid for dining-in and if the food portion is $30+ (alcohol not factored in). Might not work with any restaurant specials like prix fixe. But, otherwise, valid for all occasions. Restaurants included: Restaurants included: https://www.cityshuffl...
Bar & Lounge Deck - 52 bars/lounged spread throughout Manhattan. Requires $30+ alcohol tab. Might not apply w/ some happy hour specials but otherwise these are valid. Bars/lounges included: https://www.cityshuffl...
If you do the math, you make your money back after the 3rd use. Shouldn't be hard to do within a calendar year. It does require some ability to plan ahead (to remember the card) or room in your pocketbook/man bag.
So order your deck online now.... http://www.cityshuffle...!
Note: Yelp should really make a deal w/ City Shuffle to create the 'Yelp Recommended' deck!
Note #2: I talked with someone at City Shuffle. They said that if any Yelper types 'SCOTT SENT ME' in the promotion box during checkout, they'll take $5 off the purchase. -
Review from Barbara C.
9/2/2006 1 photo
City Shuffle is the maker of the Diner's Deck cards, an essential for any foodie or just frustrated citizen looking to try something new. For $30, you get a pack of 52 cards featuring various restaurants either in Downtown East (Grammercy, Union Square, East Village, LES, Nolita), Downtown West (Tribeca, Soho, Flatiron, Chelsea), or all over the place (Manhattan deck has hoods as far south as Tribeca and far north as UWS/UES. Each card in the pack is a $10 gift certificate for a minimum purchase of $20 at the featured restaurant (as long as you don't try and use it during a promotion that the restaurant is having). And that's it! It *is* that easy!
My friend and I both go to our Downtown West packs for our dinners--it gives you a smaller subset to consider when that inevitable conversation of "Want to go to dinner?" "Sure, where?" "Oh, I don't know...somewhere around here." "But where?" "I don't know!" happens. Every restaurant we've used it at has had no problem in accepting them (though we have befuddled a few waiters here and there, but the manager always knows what's going on). You can use them for lunch, brunch, or dinner.
The only downside is that the deck can get outdated--you'll go to use a card at a restaurant, only to find it closed. So far, we've had about 6 closed restaurants in the deck, but we've also been able to go to lots of new restaurants we would've never considered too. Plus, while I love living in New York, don't we all sometimes feel overwhelmed by the food choices we have every now and then? :)
This makes for a great gift to a new resident of our fair city too (get them this and the NY: NFT book and they'll be singing your praises!). -
Review from Jules Y.
Elmhurst, NY
5/1/2008
This may just be the most awesome thing ever created. I've gifted and received this two christmases now and each time it's been a big hit. I'm a big foodie so this is perfect for me as it clues me into new, more low-key restaurants that I otherwise would never pay attention to.
If you're interested in getting the deck, they usually have stands during the Christmas season in the major Holiday Markets - Central Park / Bryant Park and Union Square. $30 for a deck of 52. Such a great deal.
I can never finish all 52 cards so I end up giving each as a 'mini' gift / party favor too. Whenever I give someone a greeting card, I'll throw in a Diner's Deck card for a restaurant that I think they would be interested in and it wows every time. -
Review from Jessica F.
New York, NY
12/13/2008
Peter has been a long-time advocate of the Diner's Deck, and even gave the decks out to patients one year. This handy, economical gift has been a part of our dating, engagement and marriage....I feel as though City Shuffle has been part of our relationship, and it only made things better. I don't think we would have been out to dinner nearly as much without it. Peter now buys the regular Diner's Deck, and some of the more specialized neighborhood decks, and we honestly use them all the time.
Each deck of cards, like playing cards, is 52 coupons for restaurants. Each card is $10 off. Most of the restaurants are places you have actually heard of, and probably have already gone to, like Prune. Yes, Prune is part of Diner's Deck. Each card tells you the neighborhood where the restaurant is, the kind of food, a brief, useful description of the overall atmosphere, and a price range. The deck is so small, you can keep it in your purse or backpack for last-minute planning. We have found, given where we live, that we use the lower Manhattan csrds right away, and found ourselves giving away the uptown cards to people who live there. We have one friend on the UES who really scored! Anyhow, now we use the two downtown Diner's Decks (I can't recall what the correct names are off the top of my head) which is very handy. By the third time you use one of these things, you have paid for the cost of the deck, and since every card is a coupon, you can really score points by handing these out to friends or co-workers who live in areas you tend not to get to.
Sign up for the newsletter they have and you get emails from places who are part of the deck that will give you perks on top of the regular deck discount, such as free desserts, or appetizers, etc.
It is a pretty good idea, and you will find yourself really using these cards a lot more than you think. Each card is good for a calendar year, and there are usually no annoying restrictions on when you can use it, other than the meal (some are to be used only at lunch, most are for whenever). I recommend it. -
Review from Christina M.
New York, NY
12/10/2008
They call this the Secret Santa solution, and I totally agree. As a Yelper, I was, of course, immediately mesmerized by the idea of a deck of 52 restaurants, each representing a $10 gift certificate to dining venue it describes. What? So Cool! Of course, no one would appreciate this gift more than me, but I couldn't justify buying a deck for myself in this hard economic times. My solution? I bought two. Whoa whoa. "What is she talking about," you may ask.. The thing is, II went for the promotion! While talking to the man behind city shuffle, I learned that he's running a special holiday promotion. When you buy two decks of restaurant cards, you get the third deck of bar and lounge cards for free. I bought two decks of cards as gifts: Manhattan Restaurants and Downtown and Bklyn Restaurants, each for $30. I then got the deck of Bars and Lounges in the deal though it usually goes for $20.
I love the cards because I will give them as gifts to the foodies in my life and they will love them. I love my deck of bars because I can learn about new places and have an excuse to try them out. The cards tell you the "favorite" drinks, appetizers, bar snacks that the place makes, so I will definitely check those out and have more to yelp.
If you want to buy the cards you can google city shuffle or go to the Union Square Christmas market City Shuffle booth so you get the special deal. The guy is really nice.
The only caveats: 1. The cards only last one year 2. You must spend $30 in order to use the $10 off 3. You cannot use the card in combination with any other discount (including another city shuffle card).
