The Lunch Quadrant: Columbus Circle
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<strong>Lunch Box:</strong> This Ninth Avenue hole-in-the-wall lunchcounter offers a <a href="http://www.menupages.com/restaurants/lunch-box/menu">slew of soup and sandwich specials</a> in the $7-$10 variety. Not the cheapest sandwiches in the city, but some of the best in the area and what you get is more than filling and made with quality ingredients. Pro tip: they'll add avocado to any of the $7.55 sandwiches gratis. The same folks also have a similar burrito spot, Burrito Box, across the street. There is a tiny table and counter inside you can eat at if you aren't on the go.<em>886 9th Avenue, (212) 969-9642</em>
<strong>Bouchon Bakery:</strong> This Time Warner Center restaurant/bakery/take away counter from celebrity chef Thomas Keller has a seating area, but your best bet is just to order directly from the counter. You can't go wrong with the pricey sandwiches ($11-$15) and the chicken soup ($11.50) is something your grandma only dreamed about. If you don't want a sugar coma, you probably want to keep away from the sweets though. There are a few tables by the counter you can eat at, or you can go and sit in the Whole Foods cafeteria downstairs.<em>10 Columbus Circle 3rd Floor, (212) 823-9366</em>
<strong>AQ Kafe</strong> Scandinavian fare is the name of the game at this casual spot formally affiliated with celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. Think Le Pan Quotidian but a touch less stuffy. Initially pretty cheap the prices have climbed steadily since the space opened two years ago, but you can still get a solid sit-down meal for less than $15, not always easy in this area. Solid choices include the Sweddish meatballs ($10.95), Grav Lax sandwich ($11.95) and a classic Smorgasbord ($12.95).<em>1800 Broadway, (212) 462-0005</em>
<strong>Nougatine at Jean Georges:</strong> Who needs <a href="http://gothamist.com/2011/01/12/winter_restaurant_week_reservation.php">Restaurant Week</a> when one of the best restaurants in the city already offers an amazing three-course lunch for $26 all year? Though the lunch often gets all reserved up, there is often space at the counter if you just show up. And if you want to get really fancy, the straight-up Jean Georges restaurant (really just the next room over) has an even fancier two-course lunch prix fixe for $32. We have dreams about that tuna tartar.<em>1 Central Park West, (212) 299-3900</em>