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5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

January 7, 2013 11:00 AM

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Reservations open today for NYC Restaurant Week Winter 2013,  an event which runs until February 8. The popular dining event will offer guests dining deals Mondays through Fridays — take advantage of $25 prix fixe lunches and $38.00 prix fixe dinners around the city. For the masses who work in Midtown, what better opportunity for a power lunch? By Laren Spirer.

 5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

(credit: Toloache/Facebook)

Toloache Bistro Mexicano

251 West 50th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 581-1818 ‎

See Also: NYC’s 7 Best Guacamole Spots | NYC’s 5 Best Bars For Latin Cocktails

Chef Julian Medina, who has competed on Iron Chef America, infuses modern flair into traditional Mexican flavors at this bustling Midtown West spot. Although you’ll surely be tempted by spicy yet sweet Oaxacan Mole Coloradito or Enchiladas Carnitas topped with tequila ancho chile salsa, you may want to save some room for a side of freshly made guacamole, or sneak in a margarita if your afternoon schedule looks light.

 5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

(credit: db Bistro Moderne/Facebook)

db Bistro Moderne

55 West 44th Street
New York, NY 10036
212-319-2400

See Also: NYC’s 7 Best Celebrity Chef Restaurants

This French/American hybrid brings together seasonal ingredients and classic French technique in one sleek package. Although billed as a bistro, it can’t escape the luxury that comes along with Daniel Boulud, so take advantage of the Restaurant Week prices. May we suggest the black truffle risotto?

 5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

(credit: La Fonda Del Sol/Facebook)

La Fonda Del Sol

MetLife Building
44th Street and Vanderbilt Avenue
New York, NY 10166
212-867-6767

La Fonda Del Sol is the modern incarnation of the 1960′s era restaurant that occupied the same location. Although its predecessor offered a pan-Latin menu, today’s version focuses on Spanish cuisine, and this time around you can dine in the sleek tapas bar or in the more sedate upstairs dining room. Chef Chris DeLuna’s Restaurant Week lunch offerings provide a culinary journey to Spain without straying far from Grand Central.

 5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

(credit: Esca/ Facebook)

Esca

402 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 564-7272

Those of you lucky enough to work in Midtown West should take full advantage of Dave Pasternak’s mastery of all creatures from the sea. This seafood master is an avid fisherman when he’s not in the kitchen, and he lets the fish shine simply as the star ingredient in every dish he creates. This jewel in the Mario Batali/Joe Bastianich empire is sometimes overlooked due to its location West of 9th Avenue, but it’s certainly worth a detour, just a short walk from Port Authority.

 5 Best Midtown Lunch Spots For Restaurant Week

(credit: Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro/Facebook)

Artisanal Fromagerie and Bistro

2 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
212.725.8585

Chef Terrance Brennan’s classic French bistro is a surefire bet for a luxe Midtown lunch featuring traditional French fare with seasonal touches in a setting that is a pure ode to Paris. The cheese plate option requires a five dollar supplement, but in a restaurant that houses a cheese cave, it’s worth every additional cent.

Laren Spirer is yet another lawyer (and freelance writer) obsessed with food and drink, who also blogs at Sweet Blog o’ Mine and tweets at @sweetblogomine.

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  • Li

    don’t waste time at Artisinal for restaurant week, this is good but it is there all week. The best for lower midtown is Riverpark (Colicchio) but out of the way – E 29th. Boulud’s restaturant group is by far the best represented and super experience. If you have time, it is worth the trip to Boulud Sud W. 65th and Cafe Boulud E.76th and Ai Fiori W 37th

  • Li

    don’t waste time at Artisinal for restaurant week, this is good but it is there all week. The best for lower midtown is Riverpark (Colicchio) but out of the way – E 29th. Boulud’s restaturant group is by far the best represented and super experience. If you have time, it is worth the trip to Boulud Sud and Cafe Boulud.

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