New York's Best Lunch Spots

Thai and American cuisine come together in a deliciously unexpected way at Thai DinerThai and American cuisine come together in a deliciously unexpected way at Thai Diner. With a menu full of inventive and playful dishes that are still approachable, this casual eatery is a standout in the crowded New York City food scene. Don’t miss out on the heavenly egg sandwich with cheese, sai oua herbal sausage and Thai basil wrapped in roti. One of my favorite brunch items in town!

One of the most celebrated fine-dining restaurants in NYC.This three-star Michelin restaurant offers a French and globally influenced menu with a focus on seafood. With Chef Eric Ripert at the helm for over two decades, the restaurant has become world-renowned for its exceptional hospitality and expertly executed dishes. If you're looking for an outstanding classic fine-dining experience in New York, Le Bernardin should be high up on your list.

Their signature dish, the colossal pastrami on rye, is often hailed as one of the city’s best.For over a century, this iconic restaurant has been serving up New York City’s quintessential Jewish comfort food. Their signature dish, the colossal pastrami on rye, is often hailed as one of the city’s best. Tourist trap or not, this is a pretty damn good sandwich. Other items on the menu include the corned beef sandwich, a rich matzo ball soup, and crunchy pickles.

I really like Frenchette in TriBeCa. It's like a home for me, with Jorge Riera and his team. Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson opened the place in 2018, and it’s still great.

JG Melon on Upper East Side is great for very drunk midnight burgers. It’s been around since 1972 serving burgers, chili, sandwiches, fries and cocktails. Payment by cash only. When you’re drunk this is the best burger place!

Wonderful wood-fired Italian Bold flavors, quality ingredients, and a kiss of smoke make this airy west-side restaurant a fantastic option for lunch and dinner. Pastas are perfectly cooked and sauced for strong impact. The wine list is also first rate. Great service, to boot.

This renowned pizza joint delivers a delightful blend of classic and creative pies.When it comes to pizza in New York City, L’Industrie reigns supreme. Nestled in the vibrant Williamsburg area, this renowned joint delivers a delightful blend of classic and creative pies. What sets them apart is their mastery in crafting paper-thin crusts using natural fermentation and high-hydration techniques.Don't miss out on the burrata slice. A beautiful interplay of temperatures as the cool burrata perfectly balances the tangy tomato sauce. If you're not able to score a seat at the bar, you can enjoy your slice in the bustling ambiance of the spacious sidewalk patio.

My Favorite Pastrami SandwichI love Pastrami Queen and it is not a touristy place. Hard core pastrami lovers will agree that it is excellent. They are located uptown.

Daniel Boulud's glorious new restaurant reimagines New York's most hallowed institutions.Daniel Boulud's second floor restaurant in the vertigo-inducing One Vanderbilt is a seafood-forward showcase of the master's fine dining technique. The "mer et terre" menu features tender scallops with cauliflowr (mer) and a wonderfully comforting roasted chicken (terre).

Perfect place for special occasionsMy friend and I had a feast at this beautiful place with decadent food. I’m not kidding you, everything was so delicious. There’s steak tartare was the best I’ve ever had. Boiled shrimp platter, caviar, pastas, crab salad, desserts, everything was so good, we just wished our stomachs were bigger so we could finish everything. But we did take some stuff to go. Word on the street is that this is the perfect place to celebrate New Year’s Eve, as the rooftop would give you a clear view of the ball dropping.

Down in the LES, a great spot for a larger table, sharing crab, dumplings, whole suckling pig and roast duck. BYO too.Popular and very reliable spot, especially with the hospitality industry for any group or smaller occasion and level of hunger. The go-to for orphans Christmas, and lots of messy fun. Whole roast duck buns, live seafood tanks with crabs and other delights, dumplings, noodles and BBQ meats or order ahead for whole roast suckling pig to share with your BYO wine and table.A great spot for a quick solo lunch or sprawling dinner with friends. Use your napkin.

The food is excellent. Top notch, friendly and intuitive service.Happy to see that Marea NYC lives up to its sterling reputation. The bustling dining room is elegant without being overly fussy, boasting a well-curated soundtrack that is eventually drowned out by the hearty discussions being had at the tables around us as the evening wears on. The food is excellent - we really can’t fault the dishes we tried, from the golden uovo to the rib eye. We were lucky enough to catch the end of corn season - if you’re a corn lover, order everything corn related on the menu, you won’t be disappointed. Above all else, however, the service is what stands out. Truly top notch, friendly and intuitive - and no doubt the reason why Marea has plenty of regulars. A slice of the finer life in NYC.

Iconic bistro of SoHoBaltazar has been my favourite in SoHo for almost 20 years, and in the full restaurant you may think everybody else thinks the same. It is always totally fully booked, A French bistro with an American twist, it is an extremely charming place. You can also sit outside but inside is the true charm of bubbling, almost noisy discussion. Famous for its oysters and typical French casual bistro menu. A classic institution - a must in SoHo. Book well in advance.

Seriously delicious and creative Mexican restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Oxomoco is a Michelin-starred restaurant. And not without merit. Actually, in many ways, Oxomoco is the kind of restaurant I would want to see more of on the guide: Relaxed restaurant with friendly service mixed with innovative and tasty cooking. The famous tacos are a heavenly mix of fresh quality ingredients and perfect cooking. Service experience is friendly and helpful. Being a vegetarian, I had beetroot tacos and sweet potato tlayda - both fantastic. My party also had the meat and fish dishes and loved everything. Swordfish tacos were apparently the ”best Mexican food ever tasted”. Even the humble guacamole impressed - I don’t usually like the ”innovative” version on staples. But here, avocados with smoked cherry tomatoes and queso fresco really worked great.