Midtown Lunch: Outdoor Eating Spots
May 23, 2008
With summer on the horizon, Midtowners should make every effort to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather at lunchtime. Here’s a list of some great public outdoor spots (and recommended nearby eateries), between Sixth and Seventh Avenue and 49th and 55th street, where you can let the sunshine wash away the workday blues.
Between 54th/55th Street and 6th/7th Avenue
Seven tables, various ledges, a fountain with ledges all around.
Recommended Nearby Eating (address at bottom of entries):
- Burger Joint
- Topaz Thai
- Tuscany Catering (Sandwiches & Pizza)
- Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Carnegie John’s
- Brooklyn Diner Burger
- Au Bon Pain (Across the street w/ their own outdoor seating)
- Midtown Lunch.com Recommendations
Between 53rd/54th Street and 6th/7th Avenue
Twenty three tables and several benches. Sun shines through high, glass-paneled cieling. Open 8AM to 7PM, Monday through Sunday. Remi, an expensive Italian restaurant, and its small takeout spot, Remi To Go, are both inside this atrium. The steam-table fare at Remi To Go looked overpriced and unappetizing when I peeked my head in.
Recommended Nearby Eating (address at bottom of entries):
- Burger Joint
- Topaz Thai
- Tuscany Catering (Sandwiches & Pizza)
- Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Carnegie John’s
- Brooklyn Diner Burger
- Midtown Lunch.com Recommendations
Between 52nd/53rd Street and 6th & 7th Avenue
Several benches. Pretty cool, not very sunny. Moda Restaurant and Lounge is within this atrium and just opened their outdoor bar and seating area which is open from 3:30PM to 11:00PM.
Recommended Nearby Eating (address at bottom of entries):
- Burger Joint
- Topaz Thai
- Tuscany Catering (Sandwiches & Pizza)
- Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Carnegie John’s
- Brooklyn Diner Burger
- Ted’s Montana Grill (Bison Burgers, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches)
- Midtown Lunch.com Recommendations
Between 51st/52nd Street and 6th & 7th Avenue
A lot of bench space. Airy but crowded and loud, especially due to traffic noise. Some small construction last time I ventured past, not very scenic.
Corner of 51st and 6th Avenue
28 tables and benches, rarely receiving direct sunlight except for closer to 6th Avenue. Noise and pollution from traffic and passersby hurt atmosphere.
Recommended Nearby Eating (address at bottom of entries):
- Tuscany Catering (Sandwiches & Pizza)
- Five Guys Burgers & Fries
- Ted’s Montana Grill (Bison Burgers, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches)
- Rockefeller Center Concourse
- Lenny’s Sandwiches
- Bella Napoli Pizza
- Belly Delly Deli Sandwiches
- Hale & Hearty $4.69 Large Salad
- Europa Cafe
- Midtown Lunch.com Recommendations
Between 49th/50th Street and 6th & 7th Avenue
By far the most spacious area in this entry. Benches and around 40 tables (135 seats). Very crowded and tough to get a seat during summertime peak lunch hours. There are sunny and shady spots and a fountain. Open from 7AM until 9PM April 1st through October 31st.
Recommended Nearby Eating (address at bottom of entries):
- Ted’s Montana Grill (Bison Burgers, Grilled Chicken Sandwiches)
- Rockefeller Center Concourse
- Lenny’s Sandwiches/Salads
- Bella Napoli Pizza
- Belly Delly Deli Sandwiches
- Hale & Hearty $4.69 Large Salad
- Midtown Lunch.com Recommendations
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May 23rd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Great recommendations!!
May 23rd, 2008 at 3:21 pm
shiiitttyyyy recommendations….siiiiiiiiiiiiike! great recs!
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Isn’t there another nice outdoor place right by there, I think it’s between 48th and 49th St, 6th/7th Aves? It’s the one with the wall of falling water.
May 23rd, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Steve,
Funny you say that. That was one of the areas that spurned this story but unfortunately it’s under a bunch of scaffolding now for an undisclosed amount of time. You’re correct about the address. Any other spots off the top of your head?
May 23rd, 2008 at 9:12 pm
AH! We’re on the same wavelength. I was thinking about doing a Goggle map of the outdoor/public spots. Another great one in Midtown West is between 48th and 49th streets, between Broadway and 8th.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Blondie,
You know what they say, great minds think alike. That’s solid. How do you make google maps?
May 27th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I don’t know. I hadn’t gotten that far.
May 27th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Blondie,
That’s hilarious. We’re one in the same, solid ideas, questionable execution. Let me know how that works out if you take the plunge.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
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