Times Square has long been known as the Crossroads of the World for the scampering pedestrians traversing its expanse, which runs from 42nd Street to 52nd Street on either side of Seventh Avenue. Even during the pandemic’s darkest days, tourists continued to arrive, along with locals out for a stroll or on the way to work, even though the flow has been reduced to a trickle.
Certainly, the number of good and reasonably priced restaurants has declined during this era, but this process began way before the coronavirus arrived like an unwelcome hotel guest. National franchises, overpriced seafood restaurants, and gastropubs that want $20 or more for a second-rate burger have continued to proliferate.
But don’t abandon hope, all ye who enter here! Inexpensive and delicious eats persist, even though an estimated 80 percent of the area’s restaurants are currently closed, many perhaps forever. Here are 11 great restaurants still open. Some offer little outdoor seating, but Times Square is a pedestrian mall, complete with tables and chairs, so sit down and enjoy dining in what is still one of the city’s most famous and compelling locales.
A number of New York City restaurants have resumed outdoor dining services. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for outdoor dining, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the NYC Health Department’s website. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.
For more New York dining recommendations, check out the new hotspots in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and our guides to brunch spots, coffee shops, food halls, rooftop restaurants and Michelin-starred restaurants offering outdoor dining.
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