In some ways, it's probably not a great time to be Zagat. Although the review service covers a wide range of restaurants, it's pretty much a requirement for fine dining. After all, while one might be willing to take a chance on a $10 meal, when it comes to spending serious bucks, it's a good idea to get some insurance. At the end of the day, Zagat is a pretty good tool for ensuring that the big meal isn't a big disappointment.

The thing is, when the economy is down and everybody is trying to cut back on expenditures, expensive restaurant dinners are often the first things to go. As the restaurants go, so do the restaurant guides, and one has to imagine that Zagat is feeling the pinch. Luckily, the publisher has had an online site for a few years; for a small fee, users can take advantage of pretty much every scrap of information in the Zagat universe, including thousands of restaurant reviews from cities across the country.

To sweeten the deal (and help some fine eateries weather the recession) the company now offers Zagat Presents, a series of discussions, tastings, and previews at several of the guide's rated restaurants. The events, which are often priced at below market rates, offer Zagat.com members the opportunity to enjoy a night on the town even when they are watching their pennies. Moreover, Zagat ensures that the evenings will be unique by working with chefs and restaurants to design off-menu meals that showcase the restaurants' versatility and potential.

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Zagat Presents evening at New York's Inside Park restaurant. The menu, which centered around German and East European cuisine, offered a playful combination of flavors and textures that challenged a few of my preconceived notions. The beverage pairings were exciting, the food was outstanding, and I walked away with a slightly deeper appreciation of the potential of German food. If Zagat can do that with every event, then I think they've found the secret to surviving the recession!