My spouse and I visited
The Deco for lunch on a Monday morning in mid-February 2020. The Deco is open
daily for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner (it closes at 5:00 pm on weekends
and 7:00 pm on weeknights). We visited at 11:00 am when it was still very
quiet, but we can envision it becomes a bustling spot at lunchtime when the
nearby office workers stop in for a bite.
The Deco is a 9,000-square
foot dining hall/upscale food court located on West 39th Street
between 8th and 7th Avenues in Midtown South/Garment
District. It occupies the street level (technically a few steps up from the
street) of an office building on a street filled with tall buildings, most of
which have fabric shops on the ground level. Inside, eight food vendors line
the perimeter, with a fancy bar positioned in the middle. (The bar was not yet
operational when we visited.) Guests can sit at stand-alone tables, at tables
that share a banquette on one side, on lounge furniture, or at the bar itself
(when it opens). Décor is inspired by the 1920s Art Deo period; the stunning cobalt
blue bar with brass accents provides an attractive focal point.
Food vendors include
Antojitos Caseros (Mexican), Huli Huli (Hawaiaan rotisserie chicken), Mani in
Pasti (pizza), Mademoiselle (French bakery café), Little Tong (Chinese), Papa
Poule (French rotisserie chicken), and the still-to-open full-service Deco Bar.
We sampled dishes from the Beach Bistro 96 (Brazilian) and Nansense (Afghan),
including a fejoida bowl (a multi-component dish of rice, beans, meat, collards,
and cassava flour that reminded us of a trip to Rio de Janeiro that we had
taken years ago) and a kebab bowl (with meat, rice, vegetables, and bread). We
ordered and paid separately at each vendor (using a credit card), and each
seller brought our food to our table when it was ready (however, we think that
they must use a buzzer/beeper system when it gets more crowded so that guests
return to the counter to pick up their own food rather than sparing busy staff
to deliver food).
We enjoyed our experience
at The Deco, and we would return if we were in the area at the appropriate
time.
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