New York City has uncountable great restaurants that it would take a big budget to really explore the dining scene here. Thankfully, many of them also offer great deals during lunch with a prix fixe menu or special lunch sets.
NYC may have popularized the “power lunch” idea at upscale restaurants, but these days all kinds of restaurants offer lunch deals, from three-starred restaurants to small mom-and-pop shops. Here are some places worth checking out that offer a specially-priced prix fixe menu or sets for that power lunch of the day.
Grilled fish at Estiatorio Milos
(Estiatorio Milos)Estiatorio Milos
Estiatorio Milos has been a Midtown staple since 1997 and it now serves its well-known Greek cuisine as a three-course prix fixe menu for $49 per person on Mondays-Fridays. The restaurant doesn’t skimp on the course options, either. The choices for the first course include half dozen oysters, charcoal broiled octopus, salmon tartare, and more, while you can get a whole grilled fish for your main course.
I couldn’t help myself and opted for the $20 supplement to get lobster pasta. The pasta is actually a traditional Greek pasta dish called Astakomakaronada and considering it came with a whole lobster from Bay of Fundy, the $20 extra charge was worth it.
NARO
NARO at The Rockefeller Center comes from the team behind Atomix, which was named the best restaurant in North America, so it’s certainly worth checking out if you’re in the area. The restaurant serves contemporary twist on Korean classic dishes. NARO is offering a two-course lunch for $39 or three courses for $49. The options include beef tartare, black cod in doenjang sauce, oyster mushroom rice bowl, and more.
Cold noodle set at Her Name is Han
(Fiona Chandra)Her Name is Han
This cozy Korean restaurant offers traditional Korean lunch sets called lunch bapsang, consisting of a main dish, rice, soup, salad, and some side dishes. Her Name is Han’s lunch sets start at $19, making it a popular and affordable option for workers and residents in the area. Choose from marinated short ribs, grilled mackerel, bulgogi hot pot, and more. Her Name is Han is open for lunch daily. The dining room is small, so I recommend making a reservation.
Quenelle de brochet at Le Coucou
(Fiona Chandra)Le Coucou
A Michelin-starred French fine dining restaurant, Le Coucou is certainly isn’t cheap, but that’s why lunch is a great time to try the restaurant if you’ve been curious about it. Le Coucou’s lunch prix fixe menu still commands a high price, but it’s an opportunity to try the food at a much more affordable price compared to dinner.
Lunch starts at $81 per person for two courses, while the four-course dinner costs $240. I personally love the quenelle de brochet, a quenelle of pike mousse served with lobster sauce. Thankfully, Le Coucou is open for lunch Monday-Saturday, so you can save this one for the weekend.
Le Bernardin
If you’re looking for a bit of a splurge, head to Le Bernardin, which has held three Michelin stars for more than 20 years. Thankfully, they’ve kept their lunch prix fixe menu over the years. Lunch currently is priced at $139 for three courses and includes a wide selection of the excellent seafood dishes Le Bernardin is famous for, from tuna with foie gras to grilled hiramasa. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday-Friday.
Dining and Cooking