Best Business Lunch Restaurants in Murray Hill
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Sarge's Delicatessen & Diner
Old-school deli where crinkle-cut fries share top billing with stacked pastrami.
Notable Picks
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Quick Bites Champions
A classic Jewish deli in Murray Hill dating back to the 1960s, Sarge's serves crinkle-cut fries that are treated as seriously as its towering pastrami sandwiches. The fries come out hot, salty, and generously portioned, making the diner a go-to when you want old-school New York comfort with a proper fry basket.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crinkle-Cut French Fries, Pastrami Reuben, Open-Faced Hot Turkey Sandwich with Fries
What Makes it Special: Old-school deli where crinkle-cut fries share top billing with stacked pastrami.
#2
Little Alley
8.7
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Hidden Gems Heaven
Business Lunch Power Players
Little Alley channels a modern Shanghainese tavern, turning out soup dumplings, Dong Po pork, and small plates in a lively but comfortable room. It’s a go-to in Murray Hill when you want regional Chinese flavors and a stronger wine-and-cocktail program than most neighborhood options.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pork soup dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), Dong Po pork with buns, Soft shell crab rice cake
What Makes it Special: Shanghainese cooking with stand-out dumplings and braised pork in a cozy bistro setting.
#3
Sushi Ryusei
8.6
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Sushi Ryusei is a refined Murray Hill counter where the chefs serve composed omakase flights built around pristine fish and precise knife work. The room is calm and quietly upscale, making it feel more like a chef’s studio than a busy neighborhood spot.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal omakase, Chu-toro and o-toro flights, Uni nigiri
What Makes it Special: Chef-driven omakase with quietly serious fish and technique.
#4
2nd Ave Deli
8.6
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Since 1954, 2nd Avenue Deli’s Kips Bay location has delivered classic Jewish deli breakfasts and brunches, from challah French toast to towering pastrami sandwiches. High-volume traffic and decades of regulars make it a benchmark for comfort-heavy, old-New-York morning meals.
Must-Try Dishes:
Challah French Toast, Matzoh Ball Soup with rye, Hot Pastrami Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Historic kosher deli where challah French toast and pastrami anchor brunch.
8.6
Le Parisien is a compact Murray Hill bistro where steak frites, escargots, and moules marinières anchor a tightly focused menu of French classics. Since 2010, regulars have used it for cozy dates, low-key celebrations, and neighborhood dinners built around bistro standards and a short, well-chosen wine list.
Must-Try Dishes:
French onion soup with Gruyère, Bistrot steak frites, Moules marinières with fries
What Makes it Special: Compact neighborhood bistro serving straightforward French classics since 2010.
#6
Leonetta
8.6
Leonetta spins flavors from around the Mediterranean coastline into a sleek, high-energy dining room with a serious bar program. The menu stretches from spreads and stone-fired pita to seafood and lamb, making it a flexible option for both cocktails-and-snacks and full celebratory dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Black Garlic Hummus, Rock Shrimp Cous Cous, Grilled Dorade
What Makes it Special: Modern Mediterranean cooking wrapped in a polished, scene-y room.
8.5
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Happy Hour Hotspots
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Park Avenue Tavern is a polished American tavern near Grand Central serving burgers, flatbreads, and pub-leaning plates alongside a deep drinks list. It’s a staple for business lunches, after-work drinks, and group dinners in Midtown East.
Must-Try Dishes:
NYC Burrata, Tuna Tartare, Chicken Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Classic Midtown tavern with self-pour beer booths and all-day service.
8.4
Franchia Vegan Cafe is a serene Park Avenue townhouse space serving Korean-influenced, plant-based dishes and an extensive tea list. Guests come for crispy appetizers, noodle and rice bowls, and mock-duck baos that feel more like composed restaurant plates than typical casual café fare.
Must-Try Dishes:
Crispy Scallion Pancakes, Peking Duck Baos, Penang Noodles
What Makes it Special: Townhouse-style vegan Korean cafe with a long-running reputation for calm, tea-focused meals.
8.4
Montagu’s Gusto is a Murray Hill cafe devoted to elaborate grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches built on focaccia, ciabatta, and filoncino heroes. With a sprawling menu that ranges from tandoori-spiced chicken to Latin-inspired builds, it’s a top pick for office lunches where you want something more composed than a basic deli roll.
Must-Try Dishes:
Viva La Gusto, Loving Murray Hill, Indian Tandoori Grilled Chicken Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Creative, globally inspired chicken sandwiches on high-quality bread with fast, delivery-friendly service.
#10
Wokuni
8.3
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Business Lunch Power Players
Hidden Gems Heaven
Trendy Table Hotspots
Backed by a Japanese seafood company, Wokuni runs a big, lively Murray Hill dining room built around sashimi, chirashi, and cooked seafood flown in from Japan. It works as well for omakase-style dinners as it does for groups sharing rolls, grilled fish, and sake.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bara chirashi, Sashimi omakase set, Grilled whole fish specials
What Makes it Special: Sea-to-table Japanese seafood with serious sourcing in a big room.
#11
Turkish Kitchen
8.3
Turkish Kitchen is a classic sit-down Turkish restaurant that’s been drawing Midtown and Kips Bay diners for years with a sprawling menu of meze, grilled meats, and slow-cooked stews. High review volume across platforms reflects a dependable option for both business lunches and lingering dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Iskender Kebab, Manti Dumplings, Shepherd Salad
What Makes it Special: Large-format Turkish menu with decades of steady neighborhood demand.
Worthy Picks
7.8
Vibes:
Business Lunch Power Players
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Comfort Food Classics
Docks Oyster Bar is a longstanding Murray Hill seafood restaurant with an Art Deco–influenced room, large raw bar, and a menu of chowders, grilled fish, and classic mains. Since the late 1980s it has drawn office workers and neighborhood regulars for after-work oysters, seafood-heavy dinners, and private events near Grand Central.
Must-Try Dishes:
Raw oyster selection, New England clam chowder, Grilled striped bass with lobster mashed potatoes
What Makes it Special: A roomy raw bar–centric seafood restaurant with decades of Midtown history.