May 23, 2018
Lunchtime in NoMad is an event in itself. Almost anywhere you walk in the neighborhood, you’ll find hundreds of excellent restaurants offering a vast array of options from quick bites to culinary delights. With all these choices, you could spend most of your lunch hour just wandering around, perusing the menus indecisively, only to grab a hotdog from the nearest cart just in time to rush back to the office. Opportunity lost.
No need to fret; we’ve compiled seven of the best lunch spots in NoMad where you and your coworkers can find a satisfying lunch without wasting time on the hunt. From the fast and (somewhat) cheap to the unique, be sure to check one of these places out on your next lunch break.
1. Inday
1133 Broadway
If you’re looking for healthy Indian cuisine served at fast-food speed, look no further. Inday’s counter-style service lets you choose three grains or veggies, two garnishes, a sauce and a crunchy topping served up in a bowl for $8.25—or add a protein for a couple dollars more. They’ve got a few “signature bowl” combinations, too, but most guests prefer to customize to their own liking.
2. Made Nice
8 W. 28th St.
Take the fine dining aesthetic of the world-famous Eleven Madison Park, put it into a casual lunch setting, and you have Made Nice, the counter-service venture of Daniel Humm and Will Guidara. With glorious menu items like carrot ginger salad, asparagus & cheddar soup, bahn mi sandwiches and chicken pot pie, you won’t believe you can get them to go.
3. Sweetgreen NoMad
1164 Broadway
If you’re not yet familiar with Sweetgreen—think of it as the farm-to-market version of fast food, made even faster by app ordering. Choose from a seasonally-changing variety of healthy salads and satisfying grain bowls, all assembled from locally and regionally sourced ingredients. But here’s a tip: Your money’s no good here. Sweetgreen went cashless last year, so bring a credit card, or better yet, just get the app.
4. PN Woodfired Pizza
2 W. 28th St.
Famed for their organic flours made from ancient, unrefined grains, PN Pizza lets you choose your own dough for the crust of your pizza—and you can definitely tell the difference. Lunch-goers can choose 2 items from their list of small bites, soups, salads and 7-inch personal pizzas for $18. (Worth it.)
5. Maui Onion
35 W. 26th St.
Hawaiian poke is taking NYC by storm—and here in NoMad, Maui Onion is where you get it. Choose from an array of signature poke bowls, or build your own by selecting a rice, protein, flavoring and extras.
6. La Pecora Bianca
1133 Broadway
Aside from the fact that this is some of the best nouveau-Italian food to be found in NoMad, La Pecora Bianca (translated “the white sheep”) offers both sit-down and counter takeout options. Grab a sandwich or salad to go, or if you have time for an extended lunch, have a seat and enjoy a bowl of their signature gramigna with sausage and broccoli rabe and a glass of vino—the way Italian food is meant to be enjoyed.
7. Luke’s Lobster
5 W. 25th St.
Okay, so this isn’t fancy, and it’s not Sweetgreen. But it’s good, quick, and a helluva lot tastier than the hot dog stand. Choose from a lobster roll, crab roll or shrimp roll, sourced from traceable, sustainable sources—or turn it into a salad. If you only have time to grab something to go—grab this.