Omar's Mediterranean Cuisine

Ask anyone who works in the East 50′s how often they go to Omar’s, and they’ll probably get embarrassed about their answer. This is a very dependable Lebanese lunch option in the area, and it’s the kind of thing that will help you get through an otherwise sh*tty week. There’s a sit-down area if you have a full lunch hour to spare, and a take-out line that usually snakes out of the restaurant and on to 55th Street (and moves extremely quickly). The chicken shawarma pita is the first thing you should try here, but they also have platters with lamb, beef, and chicken that come with salad and two sides of things like tabbouleh, hummus, and eggplant salad. Plus, you get a tiny piece of baklava with every order. There’s also a location on 39th Street, if that’s more convenient to your Midtown lifestyle.

photo credit: Alex Staniloff