Best Restaurants Near Grand Central Station
Midtown Manhattan can be a desolate land of overpriced, mediocre food and crowded restaurants full of tourists and commuters. But every New York City neighborhood has its food gems, and Midtown near Grand Central Station is no exception. Here are the best restaurants a ten-minute walk or less from Grand Central. By Adrienne Smith.
Grand Central Oyster Bar
89 E 42nd St
New York, NY 10017
www.oysterbarny.com
Grand Central Oyster Bar is located in, unsurprisingly, Grand Central Station itself. The oyster and cocktail bar is a shining star among Grand Central's food court. Dine on Oysters Rockefeller, New England clam chowder or the 30+ oyster options beneath the vaulted, tiled ceilings. Show up Monday through Wednesday for a happy hour from 4:30-7 p.m., offering $1.25 oysters and $5 beers.
Katsu-Hama
11 E 47th St
New York, NY 10017
(212) 758-5909
www.katsuhama.com
Just five blocks up Madison Avenue from Grand Central Station, Katsu-Hama feels worlds away. Walk past the casual Japanese eatery's narrow takeout sushi counter and through the back curtains into the bustling restaurant. Get the famed pork katsu: a juicy pork loin cutlet, breaded and fried until a shatteringly crisp crust appears. A few dishes offer katsu variations like the Oroshi Katsu with grated radish, scallion and ponzu dipping sauce. All katsu comes with miso soup, rice and pickles.
Salvation Taco
145 E 39th St
New York, NY 10016
(212) 865-5800
www.salvationtaco.com
British chef April Bloomfield, of hearty NYC gastro-pubs like the Spotted Pig, raised eyebrows when she opened a taco joint with partner Ken Friedman. But while Salvation Taco isn't a traditional Mexican restaurant by any means, the food is inventive and well worth the six-minute walk from Grand Central. Sample as many of the small plates as you can. Start off with guacamole and the tostada with seared pig cheeks, ear and pork belly and market peppers under the snacks menu. Order roasted cauliflower with mixed grains and curried crema tacos for $15, at three per order.
Xi'an Famous Food
24 W 45th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 786-2068
www.xianfoods.com
The first Flushing outpost of this Asian noodles joint took New York City by storm. Xi'an Famous Food now has several locations across the city, one of which is just above Bryant Park. Midtown has been all the better for it. Reasonably priced noodle dishes like the Spicy Cumin Lamb Noodles burst with flavor and spice. Hand-pulled noodles are tossed with chunks of lamb and a cumin-packed, oily sauce.
DB Bistro Moderne
55 W 44th St
New York, NY 10036
(212) 391-2400
www.dbbistro.com
Recently-renovated, Daniel Boulud's casual fresh bistro is a longstanding Midtown fixture with a sleek new look. Come hungry: the whopper on Boulud's menu is the $35 DB Burger. A sirloin burger is stuffed with braised short ribs, foie gras and black truffles. A Parmesan bun and pommes frites tops off the rich meal.
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Adrienne Smith manages Lifestyle & Entertainment content for CBS Local. Follow her on Twitter.