New York City: The Deco (February 2020)



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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