You can get great food at the lunch spots in New York City, including Italian classics, French bistro fare, authentic Mexican dishes, and much more.
It’s incredible to explore NYC and while doing so, it’s great to have some delicious food during lunchtime. The city has many restaurants where you can get all kinds of dishes for lunch, such as burritos, cheeseburgers, seafood dishes, sandwiches, and soups. Many of these places also have a beautiful interior design and some have an outdoor area where you can enjoy your food.
In this guide, you can find a large variety of amazing places for lunch in NYC!
Best Lunch Spots in New York City
Pastis
Highlights: You can get great French bistro fare here, including many types of sandwiches, and this place has a beautiful, classic interior Neighborhood: Meatpacking District
Pastis is a restaurant where you can get delicious French bistro fare for lunch. You can find Pasta in the Meatpacking District and the restaurant has a beautiful, classic interior that features a mosaic-tiled floor and vintage mirrors.
You can go here for lunch from Monday through Friday.
Pastis’ menu features many different salads, sandwiches, starters, entrees, and other types of dishes. Two of the best starters are the classic French onion soup, and the “Steak Tartare”.
For lunch, you can choose from many different types of sandwiches. A great one is the “Grilled Chicken Sandwich”, which also comes with black pepper, aioli, and bacon.
Another delicious dish on the menu is the “Trout Amandine”, which is served with brown butter and haricots verts.
Address: 52 Gansevoort St, New York, NY 10014
Fiat Cafe
Why you’ll love this place: At Fiat cafe, you can get delicious Italian dishes for lunch, including bruschetta, paninis, pasta dishes, and more Neighborhood: Nolita
Fiat Cafe, which is located in the Nolita neighborhood of Manhattan, is a cozy place where you can get delicious Italian food for lunch.
The restaurant’s menu includes a large selection of Italian dishes, including panini, bruschetta, antipasto, pasta dishes, and salads.
One of the best bruschetta options is the bruschetta with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and parsley, and another great one is the option that comes with caponata, celery, eggplant, onions, and olives.
A delicious salad that you can get at Fiat Cafe is one is the “Tricolore Salad”, which is made with radicchio, endives, arugula Parmigiano Reggiano, and lemon vinaigrette.
There are many types of grilled panini sandwiches to choose from. For example, you can get one that is made with red peppers, caramelized onions, zucchini, goat cheese, and basil pesto.
A delicious pasta option on he lunch menu is the “Ricotta Ravioli”, which is made with balsamic sage sauce and browned butter.
Fiat Cafe is also one of the best places for brunch in New York City.
Address: 203 Mott St, New York, NY 10012
Upland
Why you should go here: It’s a California-inspired place with a gorgeous interior that features many wooden elements, and you can get all kinds of dishes here, including seafood dishes and pizza Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Upland is a California-inspired restaurant with a seasonal menu that serves lunch on weekdays. The restaurant has a beautiful interior that features lots of wooden elements and there’s an open kitchen.
Upland’s lunch menu features various types of pizza, pasta dishes, seafood and meat dishes, and more.
One of the best pizza options is the “Sausage + Kale”, which is made with young pecorino, stracciatella, and Parmigiano.
You can also get the “Pappardelle” pasta dish. This dish is made with kale, spicy sausage ragu, and Parmigiano.
The “Upland Cheeseburger”, which is made with grass-fed beef, peppadew peppers, avocado, and American cheese, is a delicious option as well.
If you want to have a salad, the “Little Gem Salad” is a great choice. It is made with cucumber, avocado, walnut vinaigrette, and ricotta salata.
Address: 345 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010
Ai Fiori
Why you’ll love Ai Fiori: You can get a modern take on French and Italian dishes here and the restaurant has a beautiful interior with many colorful flowers Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Ai Fiori, which means “Among the Flowers” in Italian, is a great lunch spot in NYC with a beautiful dining room that features a lot of stunning, colorful flowers.
The restaurant serves a modern take on Italian and French Riviera dishes, and the restaurant’s lunch menu features caviar, various antipasti, pasta dishes, mains, and desserts.
When you go here, you can choose between a two-course or three-course prix fixe menu, or you can order the dishes that you like separately.
A great pasta dish that you can get is the “Trofie Nero”. It is made with Ligurian crustacean ragu, seppia, scallops, and mollica.
The “Cavatelli”, which is made with morel, fiore sardo, cured egg yolk, and English pea, is another great option.
You can also get the “Pollo” dish, which consists of pan-roasted chicken with fava bean, artichoke, and mint.
Ai Fiori has an extensive dessert list. One of the best options is the “Affogato”, which is espresso that is poured over vanilla gelato and Ramazzotti Amaro.
Address: 400 5th Ave #2, New York, NY 10018
El Vez NYC
Why you need to go here: This place serves delicious Mexican dishes for lunch, including tacos, quesadillas, and burritos Neighborhood: Battery Park City
El Vez NYC is a Mexican restaurant in Battery Park City where you can get authentic regional Mexican dishes that are made from scratch.
The lunch menu of this restaurant features all kinds of tacos. For example, you can get the “Birria Tacos”, which are made with chile braised beef, consommé, queso mixto, cilantro, and onion.
You can also get the “Brussels Sprout Tacos”. These come with roasted Brussels sprouts, almonds, cashew crema, and cotija cheese.
There are also different types of enchiladas to choose from. For example, you can get shrimp enchiladas with cremayo, seafood sauce, Thai basil, and red cabbage.
In addition to these options, the menu includes burritos, quesadillas, and many other dishes.
Address: 259 Vesey St, New York, NY 10282
Benoit
Highlights: This place serves French bistro dishes, including plates and sandwiches, and it has a beautiful interior that makes you feel like you’re in France Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Benoit NYC is a contemporary French restaurant where you can get traditional French bistro fare by chef Alain Ducasse. The restaurant has a beautiful interior design that makes you feel like you are in France.
The restaurant is located in Midtown Manhattan and serves lunch every day of the week.
Benoit’s menu features various salads, sandwiches, plates, and other types of dishes.
One of the starters that you can get is the “Escargots” dish, which comes with garlic and parsley butter.
One of the most delicious plates to get is the “Filet mignon aux Poivres”, which is served with a peppercorn sauce.
The “Benoit Cheeseburger”, which is made with caramelized onions and bacon, is another great option on the menu.
You can pair the dish you choose with one of the wines from Benoit’s extensive wine list. There are many champagne, blanc, rosé, and rouge wines to choose from.
Address: 60 W 55th St, New York, NY 10019
Hortus NYC
Great to know: Hortus NYC serves delicious modern Asian dishes and while having lunch here, you can also get great desserts, such as matcha tiramisu Neighborhood: Midtown Manhattan
Hortus NYC is a restaurant where you can get incredible modern Asian cuisine for lunch in New York City from Tuesday through Sunday. You can find it at 271 5th Avenue.
For lunch, you can get “Sotbap”, which is a traditional Korean pot rice dish for which rice is first soaked in water and then cooked directly on a stove.
One of the dishes that you can get is the “Cod Sotbap”, which is made with sautéed miso cod, scallion, fried quinoa, and a Sotbap sauce.
Another dish on the menu is the “Oyster Sotbap”. It is made with steamed daikon radish, egg yolk, Asian chive, and Sotbap sauce.
You can also get various types of Asian desserts while having lunch here.
For example, you can get delicious matcha tiramisu, which is served with vanilla ice cream, or mango bread pudding, which is made with golden raisins, dried mango, and mango yogurt.
Address: 271 5th Ave, New York, NY 10016
Little Owl
Why you should go to Little Owl: At this place, you can get delicious Mediterranean dishes Neighborhood: The West Village
Little Owl is a restaurant that is located in Manhattan’s West Village. The restaurant has a cozy dining room and a beautiful outdoor area where you can enjoy delicious Mediterranean food for lunch from Monday through Friday.
Little Owl’s menu features various entrees, dishes made with seasonal vegetables, and appetizers.
A great dish made with seasonal vegetables is the “Asparagus Risotto”, which also comes with truffled cherry tomatoes and crispy leeks.
The “Crispy Bell & Evans Chicken” is a great entree to get. It is made with garlic fontina mashed potatoes and natural sherry gravy.
You can also get the “Faroe Island Salmon” dish, which is served with potato rosti, braised napa, and champagne dijon.
Address: 90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
Buvette
Must-try: The “CRQ Forestier”, which is made with roasted mushrooms, gruyere cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes Neighborhood: The West Village
Buvette is a restaurant in New York’s West Village that was established in 2011. This place is a fusion between an old-world cafe and a neighborhood eatery. Besides the restaurant’s original location in NYC, the restaurant also has locations in several other cities in the world.
The restaurant’s lunch menu features a large variety of dishes, including sweet and savory ones.
An example of a sweet dish is the “Belgian Waffle”, which is a buttermilk waffle with creme fraiche and berries.
The “CRQ Forestier” is a great option for lunch too. It is made with gruyere cheese, roasted mushrooms, and sun-dried tomatoes.
One of the best meat dishes to get is the “Steak Tartare”, which is a dish that is made with raw chopped beef, cornichons, and capers.
Address: 42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014
Tavern on the Green
Why you will love this place: Tavern on the Green is located in Central Park and you can get delicious food here that’s made with seasonal and local ingredients Where to find this place: In Central Park
Tavern on the Green is one of the most famous restaurants in the city and you can find it in Central Park. It dates back to the year 1934 and it’s surrounded by the park’s nature.
You can get incredible dishes here that are made with local and seasonal high-quality ingredients.
The restaurant’s lunch menu features all kinds of appetizers. For example, you can get honey roasted figs made with goat cheese, beef, baby arugula, and honey-white balsamic dressing at Tavern on the Green.
One of the main courses that you can get is the “Salmon Burger”. It is served with sweet potato fries, cilantro fennel salad, and chili aioli.
The “Crispy Chicken Sandwich” is a great option to get as well. It comes with caper aioli and shredded lettuce, and is served on a toasted bun with fries.
Address: 67th St & Central Park West, New York, NY 10023
Harry’s
Must-try: The “Hanger Steak” Neighborhood: The Financial District
Harry’s is a family-owned restaurant that was established in 1972. You can find it in Manhattan’s Financial District.
The lunch menu of Harry’s includes various dishes, including steak, different types of soup, entrees, lunch specialties, and more.
One of the best dishes on the menu is the “Grilled Salmon Salad”, which comes with tzatziki, spinach, and chickpea purée.
Another great option on the lunch menu is the “Dry Aged Burger”, which is made with bacon and white cheddar and served with French fries.
The “Hanger Steak”, which is served with asparagus and a béarnaise sauce, is a great dish to get for lunch too.
Besides delicious food, the restaurant also has an extensive wine list.
Address: 1 Hanover Square, New York, NY 10004
Minetta Tavern
Why you should go to Minetta Tavern for lunch: You can get great French food here and the place has a gorgeous vintage interior Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Minetta Tavern is one of the best lunch spots in New York City that was originally established in 1937. The restaurant has a beautiful vintage interior that features a checkered floor and a lot of dark wood.
You can get delicious French dishes for lunch at Minetta Tavern, and this is possible from Wednesday through Friday from 12 PM to 3:30 PM.
A delicious dish on the restaurant’s menu is the “Moules Frites” dish, which is made with PEI mussels, garlic, white wine, cream, and parsley.
You can also get the “Lobster Roll”, which is made with radishes and lemon-dill aioli. It is served with pommes frites.
The “Minetta Burger”, which is made with cheddar and caramelized onions, and served with pommes frites, is great to get as well.
Address: 113 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
1803 NYC
Highlights: At 1803 NYC, you can get New Orleans food and the place has a large outdoor area where you can enjoy your food Neighborhood: Tribeca
1803 NYC is a restaurant where you can have delicious New Orleans food. New Orleans cuisine is a fusion of various cuisines, including Spanish, French, and Cajun cuisines.
The restaurant has a beautiful design that makes you feel like you are in New Orleans’ French Quarter, and the restaurant has a large outdoor area.
For lunch, you can choose from many different types of dishes, including burgers, entrees, soups, and salads.
The “Cajun Catfish Sandwich” is one of the best items on the restaurant’s menu. It is made with spicy remoulade and house-pickled cabbage.
Another great dish to get is the “Wild Black Sea Bass”. It is served with sunchoke chips and a Creole sauce vierge.
You can also get delicious “Louisiana Fried Chicken” at 1803 NYC, which is made with crispy fried half chicken, coleslaw, and mac & cheese.
The restaurant is also one of the best places for lunch in Tribeca.
Address: 82 Reade St, New York, NY 10007
Davelle
Why you should visit Davelle for lunch: You can get great Japanese comfort food here, such as the “Classic Miso Soup” Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Davelle is a traditional Japanese cafe where you can get delicious Japanese comfort food.
The lunch menu features 12 delicious dishes, one of which is the “Classic Miso Soup”, which is made with scallion and seaweed.
You can also get the “Croquet Curry”. This is a vegetable croquet with original ground pork curry.
Another dish to get is the “Mentai Spagetti”, which is made with shiso leaf, milk, and spicy cod roe.
Davelle’s “Original Ground Pork Curry” is one of the best dishes on the menu. It is made with grated vegetables, spices, and pork, and it is simmered for 5 hours.
You can have lunch at this place on weekdays from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM and on the weekend from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Address: 102 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002
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Lunch in NYC Tips
Some of the restaurants that I mentioned get very busy, so I recommend making a reservation in advance to avoid not being able to have lunch.
For example, two restaurants that I mentioned for which an advanced reservation is highly recommended are Tavern on the Green and Benoit NYC.
In addition to that, I recommend finding out if one of the lunch spots in NYC is near a place that you want to visit before or after having food. This makes it easier to plan your day. For this, you can use the map that I added to this article.
NYC Lunch Spots Map
As you see, there are many great lunch spots in New York City. Enjoy your food!