STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Let’s talk power lunches — or early bird dinners. Whatever you call it, let’s find that sweet spot between respectful abbondanza and dining stylishly on a budget.
Staten Island still has gems like The Staaten and Casa Verde, where prix fixe meals deliver full plates and full hearts without draining your wallet. Some beloved programs — like those at Nino’s of Grasmere and Marina Cafe in Great Kills — were discontinued after COVID. But their tradition of generous, stylish dining at lunch and dinner lives on. At Marina Cafe, you can still grab burgers and enjoy half-priced drinks during weekday Happy Hours at the bar.
After checking with dozens of restaurants, these spots stood out for their friendly phone service and welcoming customer approach. Here are 18 worth trying.
Flames, flair, and festive bites—Arirang Hibachi turns birthdays and group dinners into unforgettable performances.Steve White for the Advance/SILive.com
Arirang — 23 Nelson Ave., Great Kills; 718-966-9600, partyonthegrill.com
Kids 12 and under eat free every Monday and Tuesday. Sign up for the restaurant’s loyalty program online to receive coupons, including a $5 discount on your first order. A $34 prix fixe dinner is available Monday through Thursday in The Tavern aka private dining area from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Blue is a stunning spot with a seafood-focused menu and a beautiful waterside view.Staff-Shot
Blue Restaurant — 1115 Richmond Terr., Livingston; 718-273-7777, BluerestaurantNYC.com
This waterfront spot offers a lively happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., featuring discounted bites, $5 beers, $6 wine-based drinks, and select cocktails. The prix fixe menu runs $45 or $50 from Sunday to Friday and includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, focaccia, coffee, and tea. For an additional $19.95 per person, guests can enjoy a 90-minute all-you-can-drink session with a select beverage menu.
Linen service and an outstanding seafood combination set the tone at Café Bella Vita, located on the second floor overlooking Last Chance Pond. With a cozy fireplace and elegant ambiance, it was the perfect setting on cold evenings.Staten Island Advance
Cafe Bella Vita — 1919 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 718-667-5656, CafeBellaVita.net
Originally known for its complete Italian-style meal special, this recently renovated second-floor, linen-cloth eatery — accessible by stairs or elevator — remains a gem. Lunch prix fixe ranges from $23 to $35 and includes an appetizer, salad, entrée (with protein, potato, and vegetable of the day), dessert, and coffee or tea. Dinner offers more flexibility, priced at $34, $40, or $50, with sides like potato, croquette, or pasta.
Canlon’s is famous for its corned beef, but it’s equally loved for classic American fare like hearty turkey dinners and Beef Wellington.Staff-Shot
Canlon’s — 1825 N. Railroad Ave., Oakwood; 718-667-3013, canlons.com
Canlon’s comfort food hits the spot at this old-school eatery, where a complete dinner includes soup or salad, entrée options, and dessert—think pumpkin or apple pie. Cocktails feature seasonal twists like pistachio or apple pie martinis. Prices range from $26.95 to $32.95, depending on the entrée — whether it’s fritters di mare or another house favorite.
At Casa Verde, Pollo Affumicato is served over pappardelle — a flavorful dish featuring breaded chicken cutlets rolled with smoked mozzarella and prosciutto, finished with Madeira sauce, mushrooms, and sun-dried tomato slivers.
Casa Verde — 3471 Richmond Road, Richmond; 718-980-1049, CasaVerdeSI.com
Lunch deals run Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., featuring a full meal: appetizer, soup or salad, and entrée starting at $24.95. During dinner hours Sunday through Thursday, prix fixe menus begin at $35.95 for pasta dishes, with slightly higher pricing for fish, beef, pork, or veal.
Cielo’s meals can be paired with a wide selection of wines from the restaurant’s extensive inventory.
Cielo — 1435 Hylan Blvd.; 718-668-2211, cielosi.com
In this handsome Italian restaurant, lunch is served Monday through Saturday from noon to 3 p.m., with two-course meals ranging from $15.95 to $25.95. A unique feature of this Staten Island eatery is its complete dinners, priced from $24 to $34 (and slightly more depending on the entrée), available daily — even on Sundays.
Linguini with clam sauce is made with fresh littleneck clams, and every dish features carefully sourced seafood.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Cole’s Dockside — 369 Cleveland Ave., Great Kills; 718-948-5588, colesdockside.com
Weekday prix fixe meals start at $24.99 for lunch and $35.99 for dinner, with early evening cutoffs. For parties of two to six, one bottle of wine is included; for groups of seven to twelve, it’s two bottles. Happy Hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. and includes the tricks and presence of “Magic Mike,” the bartending magician.
Among the standout entrées at Giuliana’s Ristorante in Great Kills is the Pork Chops Piccante — grilled chops served with cherry peppers and mushrooms in a white wine brown sauce.Staten Island Advance
Giuliana’s — 4105 Hylan Blvd.; 718-317-8507, giulianassi.com
It’s $18.95 for a three-course lunch — hours are noon to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Note that on Tuesday, lunch starts at 1 p.m. For dinner, it’s a three-course meal for $25.95, Tuesday to Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m., and Fridays, 3 to 7 p.m.
La Candela’s paella is served in a traditional pan, featuring a flavorful mix of seafood over saffron rice.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
La Candela Española — 3923 Amboy Road, Great Kills; 718-356-8798, lacandelasi.com
The sangria and the four-course prix fixe menu are available Monday through Thursday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. For $35, tastes of Spain and Mexico could include chorizo, baked clams, or enchiladas; soups such as Galician or black bean; entrées including Chicken Francese, Shrimp Scampi, or Paella Valenciana; and a sweet finish of flan or ice cream, plus coffee.
At Italianissimo, hearty steaks and other stick-to-your-ribs entrées are served with the potato and vegetable of the day, all enjoyed in a relaxed, linen-cloth setting made for lingering.
Italianissimo — 107 McClean Ave., South Beach; 718-442-4442, italianissimony.com
A formal four-course meal in a linen-cloth setting — appetizer, salad, hearty entrée with potato and veg, plus coffee and dessert — runs every day except Saturday. The deal goes until 6:30 p.m. for $26 per guest.
New to Sri Lankan fare? Get a taste of the cooking at the restaurant’s routine buffets. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)
Lakruwana — 668 Bay St., Stapleton; 718-420-0025, lakruwanarestaurant.com
Lakruwana offers a vibrant and immersive Sri Lankan dining experience, with ornate statues and traditional art that transport guests straight to South Asia. The weekend buffet goes from 12:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and is priced at $21.95. The flavorful feast includes curries, sambols, soups and rice dishes—an excellent value for the variety and quality. It’s BYOB, making it a budget-friendly option for a leisurely, flavorful meal.
From appetizers to eclectic entrées, The Local serves up satisfying bites to please a wide range of palates.(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si
The Local — 316 Manor Road; Castleton Corners, 718-816-6466; thelocalsi.com
Enjoy a three-course dinner — appetizer tray, entrée, and dessert — served with a complimentary glass of wine for $35. Available Monday through Thursday from noon to 9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m.
The Manor famed for its Sunday brunch with a bottomless option but also offers a Monday night bargain.
Manor Restaurant — 917 Manor Road; 718-698-4433, manorrestaurantsiny.com
The Manor offers a three-course prix fixe dinner for $36, served Mondays only from 4 to 10 p.m. The meal includes an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and a complimentary glass of wine.
Panini Grill has both weeknight and Sunday bargains.
Panini Grill — 538 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-981-2999, paninigrillsi.com
Dine in Monday through Wednesday from 4 to 9 p.m. for a $29 prix fixe dinner featuring three courses — appetizer, entrée and coffee. And on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., brunch is $35 per guest and includes an entrée, one mimosa or bellini, and a shared table platter of housemade muffins, fresh fruit, and hot zeppoli. A North Shore secret no more.
Patrizia’s in Eltingville presents pizza and delightful Italian food family-style or ala carte. But the best deals are the all-inclusive menus which include beverages. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si
Patrizia’s of Staten Island — 4255 Amboy Road, Eltingville; 718-317-6600, patrizias.com
A great spot for birthday lunches, dinners, and large gatherings — just be prepared for a lively, often loud atmosphere. The food is outstanding, especially the family-style menu with multi-course options including beer, wine, sangria and soft drinks priced at $65, $70, and $80 per guest.
Some might consider the salmon—broken down from the whole side of the fish—is the best item on the value-driven menu. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
The Staaten — 697 Forest Ave., West Brighton; 718-448-6000, TheStaaten.com
Weekday lunch at The Staaten, served Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is a beloved Staten Island tradition. For around $23, guests enjoy a full meal with soup or salad, entrée, dessert, and coffee or tea — plus fresh rolls and rotating daily specials like roast pork, salmon, or filet oreganata. Classic cocktails and warm hospitality from Jack Li Greci himself make this more than just lunch — it’s a celebration of community.
Taste of India II has been serving value-packed meals, notably lunch, for over 36 years. Silvestri
Taste of India II — 287 New Dorp Lane, New Dorp; 718-987-4700, tasteofindia2.com
Staten Island’s most enduring Indian restaurant earns its reputation with consistently excellent food and attentive service. Lunch specials, served from noon to 3 p.m. starting at $15.95, are hearty, delicious, and made entirely from scratch — a true standout in quality and value.
West Shore Inn keeps things fresh with rotating lunch specials and some of the borough’s best daily dinner deals.Courtesy of West Shore Inn
West Shore Inn — 3955 Victory Blvd., Travis; 718-698-9722, westshoreinn.com
West Shore Inn serves up some of Staten Island’s best weekly specials. From Steak Mondays with 50% off a second steak entrée, to Lobster Tuesdays featuring fresh whole lobster dishes, the lineup continues with a $98 Tomahawk for two on Wednesdays and Prime Rib Night every Thursday. Reservations are recommended to secure your table.
Dining and Cooking