In Midtown West, chains proliferate, but if you look beyond your usual humdrum lunch suspects, there exists a wider range of options: for everything from a quick 20-minute bite, to a sit-down with a magazine (maybe even a glass of wine), to that classic institution, the power lunch. In fact, along with the Financial District, Midtown is tops for power lunching. Read on for our recommendations of where to lunch in Midtown West, whatever the circumstance.
Grab And Go / Fast Casual
PARK ITALIAN GOURMET At this traditional Italian deli with an unassuming exterior, you’re in for some of the City’s best old-school Italian fare. No frills here, just good food with real ingredients imported from Italy. There are hot and cold counters, and a selection of classic hoagies; you can eat in or take out, and most items are $10 and under. Try the chicken parmigiana, or meatballs, smothered in the housemade gravy ($10), or shells alfredo with sausage and peppers ($8). Hot and cold sandwiches run about $9-10 and can be garnished with oregano and mayonnaise upon request, or fresh mozzarella for a dollar extra.
Park Italian Gourmet is located at 60 West 45th Street, (212) 382-0580
GO! GO! CURRY! You’ll be equally in love with the flavorful and cheap comfort food at this Japanese curry hole-in the-wall, as with the kitschy and casual atmosphere. Go! Go! Curry! specializes in bowls consisting of katsu, which is panko-encrusted fried chicken or pork, or shrimp tempura, served with umami tonkatsu sauce, thinly shredded cabbage, and rice. The bowls, which are all named after baseball terms—the Walk, the Single, the Home Run, etc—are already hearty, but there’s an option to add cheese or an egg for a few bucks more. If you’re extra hungry, try the Grand Slam ($12.50), which comes with pork, chicken, shrimp, and an egg.
Go! Go! Curry! is located at 273 West 38th Street, (212) 730-5555; gogocurryusa-ny.com
GREEN SYMPHONY A calm, healthy vegetarian-focused eatery just a few blocks from Times Square almost sounds too good to be true. At Green Symphony, you have a wide array of vegetarian dishes to choose from, including gluten-free options, and you can even pick up a few groceries, too. There are even some meat dishes, all made with antibiotic-free and organic meats. Create your own salad for $7.25, or pile your plate high at the hot and cold buffet bars.
To ensure your belly is peacefully full for the rest of the day, order the Dalai Lama bowl ($8.50), which comes with organic brown rice, chopped greens, spinach, carrots, shiitake mushrooms, kimchi, seaweed, sprouts, dumplings, and sesame-ginger tamari sauce. A delicious snack or affordable lunch is the avocado delight sandwich ($4.50). As well, you’ll find delicious and creative smoothies, house-made dumplings, freshly squeezed juices packed with boosters to get you through any sick season, and healthy vegan baked goods.
Green Symphony is located at 255 West 43rd Street, (212) 391-4747; greensymphonynewyork.com
MARGON Cheap and tasty Cuban food is the star attraction at this mom-and-pop restaurant. There’s the classic roast pork Cubano sandwich ($10) that comes with a soup or rice and beans, as well as more adventurous options like oxtail stew with rice and beans ($11), octopus salad ($8 - $31), and daily specials. The space hasn't got much in the way of decor, but they do sell beers like Corona and Modelo for a kind of DIY power lunch. Pro tip: call ahead to have your order ready for pick-up.
Margon Cuban Restaurant is located at 136 West 46th Street, (212) 354-5013; margonnyc.com
Sit Down
(Courtesy of the Quin hotel)
THE WAYFARER Classy and contemporary but relaxed, The Wayfarer is a great choice for a longer lunch whether with a friend or coworker. The menu has a strong focus on seafood, with various inspired sushi platters ($14 and up), making it ideal for a light but protein-packed lunch. Also, The Wayfarer has a great burger that will satisfy your craving for juicy red meat ($22), and a really solid lobster roll ($29). There’s a beautiful salmon and arugula salad with Humboldt Fog, an artisanal goat’s cheese from California ($25), on the lighter side, as well as more upscale dishes like dry aged NY Strip steak ($48) and filet mignon ($49).
The Wayfarer is located at 101 West 57th Street, (212) 691-0030; thewayfarernyc.com
PATSY'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT This traditional Italian red sauce restaurant has not changed much since the days when Frank Sinatra used to come here via his own private entrance; the food is still comforting and flavorful, the service can be slow-paced, and there are no frills beyond the white tablecloths—beyond the finely dressed staff, of course. A great way to try Patsy’s is to order the 3-course prix-fixe lunch for $35, including salad or the daily soup, a hot entree served with potatoes and vegetables, and dessert accompanied by coffee or tea. They've even got an old-school dessert cart.
Patsy’s Italian Restaurant is located at 236 West 56th Street, (212) 247-3491; patsys.com
(Measure)
MEASURE A few years ago, a more casual, New York version of London’s storied Langham hotel opened in Midtown with a high-end restaurant upstairs, and a more casual lounge space on the ground floor called Measure. Recently, Measure introduced a $29 “Express Power Lunch” that includes your choice of a tasty and creative salad (Greek, Thai, Niçoise, Garden, Kale with seasonal fruit, Caesar or Quinoa) as well as delicious tomato soup and a pastrami sandwich on a pretzel bun. It’s satisfying and quick, and will keep you fueled throughout the rest of the day. If you need a pick-me-up, there’s an option to add a Stumptown cold brew coffee (either Regular or Nitro) for just $5; or have one of the contemporary, on-point cocktails served in frosted glassware. There are newspapers available if you’re still catching up on the day's events.
Measure is located inside the Langham Hotel at 400 5th Avenue, (212) 613-8667; measurenyc.com
Power Lunch
BETONY Fancy molecular gastronomic food, insanely good drinks, great wines, excellent hospitality—Betony has all the ingredients for a modern-day power lunch. Chef Bryce Shuman’s adventurous cooking is matched by an ambitious cocktail program, which features housemade “milk punch” (a clarified dairy-based elixir with deep roots in American history, $17) and other intrepid concoctions. Dining at Betony is a multi-sensory experience, as the beautifully plated dishes command attention (and Instagramming) just as much as their actual taste. A two-course prix-fixe lunch ($38) is a wonderful way to enjoy Betony’s cutting-edge offerings before committing to an entire dinner.
Betony is located at 41 West 57th Street, (212) 465-2400; betony-nyc.com
(21 Club)
21 CLUB Dating back to the Prohibition era, 21 has long been on the power lunch scene for Fortune 500 types and celebrities alike. There are two rooms: the more formal Bar Room and the bar/lounge area up front. In Bar Room, you can choose from either a two-course or three-course prix-fixe menu ($34 or $42). The food is seasonal new American, featuring dishes like grilled quail with Brussels sprouts and Faroe Island salmon with braised collards, roasted tomatoes and herbed butter, on the prix-fixe only. A la carte options are slightly more casual, though no less pricey, such as: duck foie gras ($22), rabbit with hen of the woods mushrooms ($37), and steak frites ($56).
If you’ll indulge during a weekday lunch, the extensive wine list here features excellent by-the-glass options and a serious bottle list with both affordable and high-end wines from the around the world; there’s even a section called “Opportunities” where you can find rare and expensive bottles. And be advised that the cocktails at 21 are admirably stiff.
21 Club is located at 21 West 52nd Street, (212) 582-7200; 21club.com
THE BACK ROOM AT PARK HYATT NEW YORK Park Hyatt’s Midtown Manhattan restaurant offers signature cocktails, fine wine, excellent hospitality, and delicious food in a relaxed yet elegant setting. The food emphasizes seasonality and local, sustainable producers. The elegant Back Room offers plush leather chairs, and a view of Carnegie Hall from above through floor-to-ceiling windows, while the more casual Living Room is an upscale lounge; both serve the same a la carte menu at lunch.
Try new American classics, like lobster bisque ($13), roasted Amish chicken accompanied by seasonal vegetables ($24), or one of the dishes featuring high-quality local meats, like the American Wagyu beef with a whiskey jus ($36). There are also tartines, sandwiches, and a burger ($22 and up), and generously portioned, interesting salads, like the kale Caesar, which comes with bottarga, capers, and sunflower seeds ($13).
Park Hyatt New York is located at 153 West 57th Street, (646) 774-1301; newyork.park.hyatt.com
Rachel Signer is a food and wine journalist based in Brooklyn. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.
