Aside from your everyday schedule of things to do, the holidays rush in a busier, more hectic time of year because of activities like shopping, parties, and planning and preparations for those parties. So when lunchtime hits, a natural inclination may be to quickly get the nearest convenience food, eat as fast as you can, and swiftly get back to work sparing no time.
Don’t—because visiting a special place for lunch can be just what you need to recharge, refresh, and restore, giving that second wind you need to take on the rest of the day.
So visit your favorite eatery, where you know the food, service, and atmosphere are reliably good, or you can try one of these great restaurants, possibly finding a new favorite. Enjoy!
On a side street in Manhattan’s West Village, Gusto Ristorante is a “must stop” for lunch. Serving authentic traditional Italian cuisine, Gusto chefs prepare affordable, quality-driven dishes. A great plus, the proprietors focus on sustainable ingredients from local and family farms and vendors. Almost everything is made in-house, including the pasta. Try the Raviolo al Uova fatti in casa ($12), or the Sicilian meatballs, Polpettine alla Josephine ($20). Located at 60 Greenwich Avenue near 7th Avenue.
Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto is not just a restaurant, gourmet shop, and stylish catering service, but also a veritable museum of Italian delicacies. With a welcoming atmosphere, Italian specialties from an enticing menu invite one to indulge and linger at Salumeria’s marble-top tables. Try their famous meatballs as well as a glorious insalata di pontormo ($9), along with fresh-baked focaccia. Don’t overlook the lasagna ($11), and pasta pepolino ($11), nor the healthy zucchini soup, zuppa di zucca ($10). Although menu servings are small, they are satisfying and are all agro-foods that are genuinely typical of their regions of Italy. Located at 283 Amsterdam Avenue, near 73rd Street.
When the mood for tea and dim sum strikes, the first location that comes to mind in any major city would be Chinatown. However, finding top-notch food can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Luckily, there is the hidden gem 88 Palace in Chinatown. Dim sum is their specialty, with such dishes like steamed shrimp with bacon rolls, ribs of beef, spring rolls, coconut yolk cream buns, pork sui mai, chiu chow dumplings, and beef rice rolls.
All dim sum dishes are $2 each. However, don’t be fooled by the prices, as at this location, low price does not mean low quality. Carts of dim sum are rolled around the restaurant, with the server going from table to table. It’s quite customary for regular customers to take their punch cards and walk right up to carts, asking for what they want, and for mixed parties to share tables on busy days, so don’t be alarmed. If it’s very busy, take their cue and do the same. Located at 88 East Broadway, near Forsyth Street.
Where do you eat lunch in NYC? Tell us about your favorite place and what your favorite dish is on the menu. Send email to: [email protected] Subject: Dining Editor - What’s for Lunch?
