Jack Maguire

Tag: restaurant

  • NYC Weekday Lunch Deals by Borough

    I have been doing research on this recently, going through menus and deal listings across the boroughs to find where the actual value is hiding. Here is what I found, organized by type.

    French Prix Fixe: More Than You Would Expect for the Price

    A French prix fixe lunch is one of the better known deals for people who work in Midtown, but most people do not realize how far the value actually goes. A fixed price gets you two or three courses during a midday window on weekdays. The rooms tend to be calm. The food tends to be real restaurant cooking, not a pared-down lunch version.

    Here are the spots that stood out in my research.

    RestaurantNeighborhoodDealHours
    Paname Petite BrasserieMidtown East (2nd Ave & 56th St)2 courses $23 / 3 courses $26Daily, noon to 3pm
    Boucherie West VillageWest Village (7th Ave South)3 courses $33Mon to Fri, 11am to 4pm
    Red Eye GrillMidtown (7th Ave)2 courses $32Weekdays only
    CopinetteMidtown East (1st Ave & 50th St)3 courses $34Mon to Fri, noon to 3:30pm

    Paname is the standout value on paper. Three courses for $26 in Midtown, with a menu that includes escargot, crab cakes, chicken paillard, and creme brulee. That is not a discounted menu. It is just an honest price for a French restaurant that wants to fill seats at lunch.

    Boucherie gives you the widest window, 11am to 4pm, which creates real flexibility for either a late morning or early afternoon meal. Three courses includes soup or salad plus a main like mushroom ravioli or croque monsieur.

    Copinette runs a strong three course menu with crispy tortellini, grilled branzino, and pappardelle ragu. Steak frites is available as a $15 supplement if you want to go further, but the base menu already looks like more than you paid for.

    Pizza and Italian Casual: The Everyday Lunch

    This is where the range gets wide. New York has hundreds of Italian spots running weekday lunch specials. Most of what I found lands between seven and fifteen dollars and includes a drink. The best of them are genuine meals, not just filler.

    Here is what the menus show across the boroughs.

    RestaurantNeighborhoodStarting PriceWhat Is Included
    Big John’s Pizza and PastaQueens Village, Queens$4.75Daily rotating hero or pasta special
    Sicily’s Best PizzeriaBushwick, Brooklyn$7.00Pasta or burger with fries, 11am to 4pm
    Michelangelo’s PizzeriaWest Brighton, Staten Island$8.50Wrap, gyro, hero, or personal pie with soda or water
    Dino’s PizzeriaRiverdale, Bronx$9.00Hero or pasta with mini wedge, soda, and fries or salad
    Plaza PizzaStaten Island$9.95Entree with drink
    Joe’s Pizza and PastaWoodhaven, Queens$9.99Pasta, entree, or panini with drink, 11am to 3pm
    Genesis PizzaFlushing, Queens$10.40Hot hero, pasta, or wings with fries and free soda
    Bklyn PizzaBushwick, Brooklyn$11.56Heroes and pizzette, 11am to 3pm
    Bari’s PizzaStaten Island$12.00Entree with drink
    Rosebank PizzaRosebank, Staten Island$13.50Wide selection with a can of soda
    Goodfella’s Brick OvenHylan Blvd, Staten Island$16.00Entree with side salad and beverage, 11am to 3pm

    Big John’s in Queens Village is the most remarkable thing on this list in terms of pure value. Their menu shows a different special every day of the week. Monday is meatball hero. Tuesday is chicken. Wednesday is eggplant. Thursday is sausage. Friday cycles back to meatball. Specials start at $4.75. In 2026, in New York, that number is striking.

    Dino’s in Riverdale posts a $9 all in lunch that bundles a mini wedge, a soda, your choice of fries or salad, and a full hero or pasta. That combination of price and completeness is harder to find than it should be.

    Genesis in Flushing lists hot heroes, baked pastas, or wings with fries and a free drink at $10.40 across the board. The menu is long and the pricing is consistent, which is usually a good sign.

    What Makes a Lunch Deal Worth It

    Not every lunch special is actually a deal. Some are just the regular menu with a fountain soda added at the same price as ordering them separately. Here is what separates a real deal from a dressed-up regular order.

    What to look forWhat to avoid
    The price is lower than ordering items separatelyA regular entree plus a soda at the same total price
    The special is available consistently throughout the weekSpecials that disappear seasonally or change without notice
    A drink is included, not just listed as an add-onA drink listed at an additional charge that erases the savings
    The window is long enough to eat without feeling rushedA 90 minute technical window with obvious table-turning pressure

    The pattern in my research is that the best deals come from restaurants using lunch to fill seats during slower hours. French spots use prix fixe menus to attract the midday crowd. Pizza shops run specials to compete with fast food. The ones that do it honestly tend to also be the ones where the food and the room reflect some actual care.

    My Current Top Picks by Category

    CategoryPickWhy
    French prix fixePaname Petite BrasserieThree courses for $26 in Midtown including dessert
    Budget ItalianBig John’s, Queens VillageDaily rotating specials from $4.75
    Midrange ItalianDino’s Pizzeria, Riverdale$9 all in with salad, soda, and a full entree
    Upscale casualGoodfella’s, Staten Island$16 with salad and drink from a brick oven
    Best time windowBoucherie West Village11am to 4pm, which gives you real flexibility

    This list will keep growing as I find more worth adding.

  • Three Martini Lunch – Manhattan

    What matters in a three martini lunch spot:

    You need to be able to get in early. You need to be near transit. You need a martini program that takes itself seriously. And you need a room that signals this is a real meal.

    After comparing research from multiple sources, I kept coming back to five places.

    Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse

    1221 Avenue of the Americas at Rockefeller Center

    This place opens at 11:00 AM on weekdays, which immediately puts it ahead of most competitors. The room is a three story space with floor to ceiling windows looking out at Rockefeller Center.

    The martini program is confident. They do classic dry and dirty martinis with quality spirits, and their bar menu has a lunch bundle that pairs a martini with oysters, Caesar salad, and fries for $39. That is a smart entry point if you want to pace yourself before ordering heavier plates.

    I would come here for the filet medallions or the tuna poke bowl. You can wear a suit without feeling overdressed, and you can get out quickly if you need to. The E train to JFK is close, and Penn Station is a short walk for Newark or Long Island connections.

    Cost for three martinis and a full meal runs $160 to $300 depending on what you order.

    Le Rock

    45 Rockefeller Plaza

    Le Rock also opens at 11:00 AM on weekdays, and it has the most developed martini program of any place on this list. They call it Martinis Maison, and it includes a Reverse Martini, a Gibson, a Vesper, a Dirty, and a 50/50. Each one is $24.

    This is a French brasserie, so the food skews toward steak frites, filet au poivre, sole meunière, and an omelette with caviar. The room has arched skylights and Art Nouveau touches. It reads as polished without being overly formal.

    Le Rock does not lean on steakhouse tradition. It is doing its own thing, and it does it well. Three martinis plus an entree and maybe a starter will run you $150 to $260.

    The location in Rockefeller Plaza makes airport access straightforward.

    The Dynamo Room

    2 Pennsylvania Plaza above Penn Station

    The Dynamo Room opens at 11:30 AM for lunch, Tuesday through Thursday only. That narrow window is worth noting.

    What makes this place different is the mini martini option. You can order a mini Gibson, Dirty, Vesper, or Cosmo for around $12, or go standard for $22. If you plan to have three martinis at lunch, the mini format lets you enjoy the ritual without losing your afternoon.

    The food is steakhouse leaning with a raw bar, hanger steak frites, and an express lunch menu. It sits on top of Penn Station, so if you are headed to Newark or JFK via train, this is the most convenient choice.

    Three minis and a meal will cost you $120 to $220.

    The Grill

    99 East 52nd Street in the Seagram Building

    The Grill does not open until 11:45 AM, so it misses the early window. But it is still here because it is the closest thing left to the original three martini lunch.

    This is the space that used to be The Four Seasons. The room is midcentury with dark wood and tableside service. The martinis come freezer cold in crystal decanters, made with a house blend of Plymouth and Tanqueray gins, vermouth, and spring water. They also do variations like the Tuxedo and the Kangaroo if you want vodka.

    The signature move is the prime rib carved tableside.

    The dress code is real. Three martinis and lunch will cost $250 to $400, and you should book weeks in advance.

    The Bar Room at The Modern

    9 West 53rd Street at MoMA

    The Modern opens at 11:30 AM daily. It is adjacent to the Museum of Modern Art, and the room is casual elegant.

    The martini here is made with a gin blend, blanc vermouth, and Alsatian kirsch. It is more composed than a classic martini. The food is seasonal contemporary American. You come here when you want sharp execution without feeling weighed down afterward.

    The dress code is business casual. Three martinis and a meal will run $150 to $260.

    How to choose

    If you need to be in and out by noon because of a flight, go to Del Frisco’s or Le Rock. Both open at 11:00 AM.

    If you are based near Penn Station and headed to Newark or JFK, go to The Dynamo Room and order the minis.

    If you want the most serious martini program, go to Le Rock.

    If you want the full classic experience and cost is not a concern, go to The Grill.

    If you want excellent food and drinks in a more contemporary setting, go to The Modern.

    A note on booking

    Book two to four weeks ahead for weekday lunch slots, especially Tuesday through Thursday. The Grill requires advance reservations. Le Rock and Del Frisco’s fill up quickly at 11:00 AM. The Dynamo Room only does lunch Tuesday through Thursday, so check the schedule.

    All of these places operate primarily on weekdays. Confirm hours directly before you go, because seasonal adjustments happen.

  • Dallas Casual Dining: The 2026 Consensus Picks

    Dallas Casual Dining: The 2026 Consensus Picks

    What three independent food experts would agree on if they merged their reports into one list of top recommendations.

    Barbecue

    • Cattleack Barbeque (Farmers Branch), Smoked Brisket. All three experts rank this at or near the top. Limited hours, salt-and-pepper rub, post oak smoke.
    • Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q (Allen), Al Pastor Pork Belly Burnt Ends. Two experts highlight this dish specifically. Smoked pork belly with pineapple and achiote glaze.
    • Pecan Lodge (Deep Ellum), Brisket and Sausage Platter. Got fresh attention in 2026 through the American Airlines partnership. The two-meat plate with mac and cheese is the go-to order.
    • Hurtado Barbecue (Dallas Farmers Market), “El Jefe” Platter. Brisket, ribs, sausage, and Mexican street corn. Built for sharing.

    Tex-Mex and Tacos

    • Fito’s (multiple locations), Taco de Trompo. All three experts name this one. Spit-roasted pork on a corn tortilla with onions and cilantro, full meal under $10.
    • Herrera’s Oak Cliff, Combo No. 1A. Cheese enchilada, tamale, beef taco, and bean tostada. Straightforward Dallas Tex-Mex.
    • Mariano’s Hacienda Ranch (DFW locations), Beef Fajitas. The consensus pick for fajitas, with fresh tortillas.
    • Las Palmas Tex-Mex (Uptown), Queso and Cheese Enchiladas. Multiple experts flag the garlic-herb queso as one of the best shareable starters in the city.

    Vietnamese

    • Ba Lee (Carrollton), Grilled Pork Bánh Mì. All three experts agree on this. In-house processed meats on a crusty baguette, around $6.50.
    • Phở Xóm (Carrollton), Phở Tái Lăn. A 14-hour bone broth with wok-fried beef in beef tallow and garlic. Northern Vietnamese preparation that’s hard to find elsewhere.
    • Lua Kitchen (Garland), Bún Chả Hà Nội. D Magazine’s 2026 standout for grilled pork and meatball noodles.

    American Classics

    • Keller’s Drive-In (multiple locations), No. 5 Double-Meat Cheeseburger. Every expert includes it. A 1960s carhop drive-in with poppy-seed bun burgers starting at $4.99.
    • Roots Chicken Shak (Plano, Legacy Hall), “The Big Bird” Sandwich. Chef Tiffany Derry’s duck-fat fried chicken sandwich, under $10.
    • Aunt Irene’s Kitchen (South Dallas), Fried Fish Sandwich or Black Box Seafood Boil. The $10 fish sandwich works for lunch. The $35 Black Box (crab, shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes) is the bigger commitment.

  • Wayla Thai Restaurant NYC

    I went to Wayla, a Thai restaurant in New York, on a Saturday night with a group of friends before meeting up with more people at a bar.

    Is Wayla Worth It?

    Go, but skip Saturday nights. The food is legitimately excellent. That fried branzino alone is worth the trip. However, the weekend crowd turns the whole experience into a chaotic numbers game that undercuts what could otherwise be a really special meal.

    A beautifully presented dish featuring a whole fried fish topped with fresh mint and garnished with vibrant vegetables, served in a restaurant setting.

    Wayla’s Saturday Night Chaos

    Wayla is down a flight of stairs, and the second you descend, you are hit with how packed it is. Dark and narrow with servers sprinting between tables, plus a frazzled host trying to manage a bottleneck at the entrance because some group ahead of us forgot to make a reservation. I gave my name and got shuffled through the main dining room, which is actually quite nice. It is cozy and railroad style while stretching way back through half the block. But that is not where I ended up.

    Emergency Tent Patio Setup

    They walked me outside to the patio where they have set up these plastic emergency tents. I am talking the kind you see at a marathon finish line for race EMTs. They are just randomly scattered around with no real cohesion to the layout. It felt like they were jamming in as many people as possible rather than creating an actual dining environment. I was not getting “charming outdoor seating” but rather “overflow holding area.” Not cozy. Not what you want when you are paying good money for Thai food.

    Attentive Service at Wayla

    The server was attentive from the jump. They took my drink order immediately and walked us through the menu while happily answering questions. That mattered because Wayla’s menu is extensive. There are lots of spicy options and lots of non spicy options, which I appreciate. Thai food can be intimidating if you are not used to the heat levels, and they have clearly thought about accessibility without dumbing anything down.

    The Whole Fried Branzino (Larb Pla Tod)

    I had looked it up on Perplexity beforehand, and everything pointed to the whole branzino (larb pla tod). I am usually skeptical of whole fish in restaurants because it is so easy to overcook, and you end up with dry, flaky nonsense. But this one is fried, and frying is more forgiving because the batter insulates the protein and keeps it juicy.

    When it arrived, the presentation was wild. The fish is arranged in this spiral, almost like it is protecting the meat. The bones are already removed, which is a huge relief because picking through bones mid meal is always annoying. The execution was spot on:

    • Light, crispy batter that was not heavy or greasy
    • Meaty, substantial fish with more texture than your typical fried cod or fish and chips haddock
    • Perfectly seasoned, still juicy and tender
    • Chunked into nuggets for easy eating

    But the real genius is the lime vinaigrette pooled at the bottom of the plate. You dip the fried fish into it, and it cuts right through the richness of the batter. Fresh, aromatic, and quintessentially Thai. That balance of crispy, fatty fish meeting bright, acidic dressing is what makes the dish special.

    Wayla’s Menu Quality and Price

    Food came out fast. Everyone liked what they ordered. The quality is undeniable, and you can taste where your money is going. This is not cheap, but it is not a rip off either.

    Best Times to Visit Wayla

    I would go back. I liked it. But I would be strategic about timing. Saturday night Wayla is too much. It is that specific New York restaurant feeling where you are just a reservation number rather than a guest. The chaos, the tent city patio, and the harried staff all add up to an experience that is more stressful than enjoyable, even when the food delivers.

    For a group of four heading out to meet more people afterward? It worked. It was a solid pre bar dinner. But I am not rushing back. That said, I can absolutely see myself craving that branzino in six months and making a Tuesday or Wednesday reservation to get the full experience without the weekend circus.

    The Wayla Experience

    There is this specific sensation at overpacked New York restaurants where the energy tips from “buzzy” into “suffocating,” and Saturday night Wayla lives right on that edge. You are sitting under a plastic tent that feels temporary and almost apologetic while servers sprint past and voices blend into a low roar. It is not unpleasant, exactly. It is just relentless. You are aware the whole time that the restaurant is operating at maximum capacity and that you are part of a tightly choreographed rotation designed to turn tables.

    But then the food arrives, and for a few minutes, none of that matters. That first bite of the branzino is crispy, hot, and perfectly seasoned. When paired with the sharp lime vinaigrette, you suddenly understand why people put up with the chaos. It is a reminder that even when the experience around the meal is compromised, the meal itself can still be worth showing up for. The memory I am left with is not the tent or the crowd or the stairs. It is the taste of that fish and the quiet satisfaction of knowing I had found something genuinely good in the middle of all the noise.