Time Out New York lists the best restaurants in the city to impress any client with top-notch midday fare (and spare your wallet with prix fixes and specials).

• Aureole
  Chef Charlie Palmer tapped rising talent Christopher Lee to run the Times Square incarnation of his 20-year-old American classic. Lee’s complex food strikes a fine balance between big-ticket opulence and homespun inclinations. The shabby-chic ethos can be seen in a foie gras starter, with buttery corn bread, smoked corn coulis and tart blueberries, and a surf and turf, which presents side-by-side renditions of butter-poached lobster and barbecued pork. Desserts show remarkable continuity with the food they follow: A panfried carrot cake could as easily be served as a savory side dish. 135 W 42nd St between Sixth Ave and Broadway (212-319-1660, charliepalmer.com). Mon¬–Sat lunch noon–2:30pm. Average main course $24, three-course prix fixe $34.
• A Voce
  Former chef Andrew Carmellini left a void so hard to fill, the owners imported someone from Chicago—Spiaggia’s Missy Robbins. From her traditional palette comes pastas like delicious quadrati, ricotta-filled packets tossed with savoy cabbage, butter and bacon batons. Tender sirloin slices were layered with caramelized endives and a drizzle of marrow-laced jus, with a gratin of soupy polenta served on the side. The after-work crowds can be overwhelming, but Italian-food fiends will be amply rewarded. 41 Madison Ave, entrance on 26th St between Madison and Park Ave South (212-545-8555, avocerestaurant.com). Mon–Fri lunch 11:45am–2:30pm. Average main course $28, three-course prix fixe $29.
• Casa Lever
  This hot spot, the latest outpost of the Sant Ambroeus chainlet, offers a jet-set spin on Italian café culture for an A-list clientele. Designer Marc Newson’s hermetic honeycomb space (it was once home to the spare Lever House) has been updated with red carpets and bright Warhols hanging from the sloped walls. But the scene, not the food, is the draw. Undercooked rigatoni, sauced in a too-sweet amatriciana with bland smoked tuna, was a washout, while a classic saffron risotto might’ve been close to perfection if the chef hadn’t neglected to add salt. Only desserts deliver reliable thrills: a striated limone cake layers white chocolate mousse, lemon curd, raspberry gelée and a praline crunch under a thin chocolate shell. 390 Park Ave at 53rd St (212-888-2700). Average main course: $34.
• Convivio
  Chef Michael White’s revision of Scott Conant’s L’Impero has brought the Tudor City spot to new heights. The emphasis is squarely on Southern Italy, with antipasti such as country bread slathered with chicken liver mousse and hauntingly good pastas—saffron gnocchetti arrive with crabmeat, sea urchin, chili flakes, scallion and garlic. Pastry chef Heather Bertinetti maintains the quality through dessert. Though we generally avoid chocolate cake, our server’s insistence that it was moist, not oversweet and flavorful proved correct. 45 Tudor City Pl at 43rd St (212-599-5045, convivionyc.com). Mon–Fri lunch noon–2:30pm. Two-course minimum $28, additional courses $12 each.
• Eleven Madison Park
  Eat Out Award–winning chef Daniel Humm mans the kitchen at Danny Meyer’s vast Art Deco jewel. His lofty intentions are best expressed in a three- or four-course tasting menu: A starter of la ratte potatoes features Hawaiian prawns and delicate rings of calamari spiked with lemon, and an entrée of Muscovy duck gets a floral note from lavender-honey glaze. In a classic Meyer show of hospitality, you’ll head out with a quartet of delectable petits fours. 11 Madison Ave at 24th St (212-889-0905, elevenmadisonpark.com). Mon–Fri lunch noon–2pm. Two-course prix fixe $28.
• Inside Park at St. Bart’s
  Though the dining room remains nearly empty, this ambitious restaurant—set cinematically within the namesake church—offers some of the city’s finest Greenmarket cooking. Chef Matthew Weingarten’s homey-elegant fare includes a nostalgic oyster pan roast—bivalves barely poached in seaweed broth, with celery root, leeks and bacon. Striped bass meunière is a gorgeous fillet drenched in brown butter, with crunchy fried capers and seasonal sides. Consider this a plea for your patronage: The recession shouldn’t claim a place this good. 325 Park Ave at 50th St (212-593-3333, insideparknyc.com). Mon–Fri lunch 11:30am–3pm. Average main course $18.
• Jean Georges
  Unlike so many of its vaunted peers, Jean-Georges has not become a shadow of itself: The top-rated food is still breathtaking. A velvety foie gras terrine with spiced fig jam is coated in a thin brûlée shell; a more ascetic dish of green asparagus with rich morels showcases the vegetables’ essence. Pastry chef Johnny Iuzzini’s dessert quartets include “late harvest”—a plum sorbet, verbena-poached pear and a palate cleanser of melon soup with “vanilla noodles.” Trump International Hotel & Tower, 1 Central Park West at Columbus Circle (212-299-3900, jean-georges.com). Mon–Sat lunch noon–3pm. Three-course prix fixe $26.
• The Mark
  This Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant was designed by Jacques Grange, the same person responsible for the Mark Hotel’s new modern French aesthetic. The dining room has been nicknamed “the Greenhouse” for its full skylight roof. The menu from Vongerichten and chef de cuisine Pierre Schutz (Vong) is designed with flexibility in mind, with dishes ranging from a traditional veal chop to the soba-like buckwheat fettuccine with shrimp, clams, mussels and sea urchin, and a selection of cakes served by the slice. The Mark Hotel, 25 E 77th St between Fifth and Madison Aves (212-606-3030, themarkhotel.com). Mon–Fri lunch 11:30am–2:30pm. Average main course $25.
• Megu Midtown
  Think of this midtown spin-off as Megu Lite. Located on the ground floor of the Trump World Tower, the 130-seat space is less than half the size of the Tribeca original. But this Megu is still extravagant: Twenty-seven-foot lanterns lord over the dining room and sushi bar. We liked a light miso clam chowder and greaseless head-on shrimp tempura. Chutoro tuna included a test tube and eyedropper holding various sauces—a culinary chemistry set. These features don’t come cheap, but the six-course prix fixe, at $70, is a relative bargain. 845 U.N. Plaza, Trump World Tower, First Ave at 47th St (212-964-7777, megurestaurants.com). Mon–Fri lunch 11:30am–2:30pm. Three-course prix fixe $24.
• Wolfgang’s Steakhouse
  Hissing platters of beef and a schlag-centric dessert menu bear resemblances to a certain Billyburg steakhouse. It makes sense when you consider that the owner of this midtown restaurant spent 40 years as a waiter at the landmark meatery. Things done the Luger way include the luscious aged-on-site porterhouse for two. Things done better: gorgeous decor (a Guastavino-tile vaulted ceiling), friendly service and a soft spot for pescatarians—well-executed choices include grilled Chilean sea bass and yellowfin tuna. 4 Park Ave at 33rd St (212-889-3369, wolfgangssteakhouse.com) Mon, Sun noon–10:30pm; Fri, Sat, noon–11:30pm. Average lunch $60–$80, lunch specials starting at $25.

TimeOut New York outlines the 10 best all-you-can eat deals in New York City. From BBQ to sushi to crab and even brunch, there’s sometime for everyone.

1. Hill Country Unlimited Texas BBQ, Mon 5–10pm: $25 We love Hill Country on a normal night, so imagine our gluttonous delight at the chance to fill up on endless ’cue. Tell your server you want the deal, and you’ll get a wristband that signifies you’re ready to gorge. Included in the special are smoked brisket, gargantuan pork ribs, dripping barbecued chicken and as many sides as you want (mac and cheese, red chili and baked beans cost an extra $2, but the gratis chipotle deviled eggs, bourbon-sweet potato mash and white-corn pudding suited us just fine). Unlike the regular Hill Country self-serve setup, the waiter brings the food to you. Caveat emptor: To cash in on this sweet deal, everyone at the table has to be in on it. 30 W 26th St between Sixth Ave and Broadway (212-255-4544).
2. Cabrito Endless tacos, Dos Equis beer and a movie, Mon 9pm until the credits roll: $25 Get your fill of some the most authentic tacos in the city while watching a movie (this week it’s Office Space), sipping $5 margaritas and gratis Dos Equis beer at this Mexican roadhouse’s weekly gorgefest. Once the show begins, any of the seven tacos from Cabrito’s regular menu are fair game—we dug into tortillas stuffed with spicy tongue and house-made chorizo. The orders come out hot, fast and, to ensure freshness, only two pairs of tacos at a time. We recommend arriving early enough to grab a seat at the bar for the best sight lines. 50 Carmine St between Bedford and Bleecker Sts (212-929-5050).
3. Aquavit Unlimited Scandinavian brunch, Sun noon–2:30pm: $48 The Sunday brunch at Aquavit is one of the city’s classier buffet meals. The striking Scandinavian spread includes more than three dozen attractively plated specialties—salads, seafood, hot dishes, meats, cheeses and more. We favored the vodka-lime pickled herring, creamy beet salad, thinly sliced cured salmon and tiny breakfast sausages called prinskorvars. Also part of the deal: Carlsberg beer or a Danish Mary made with Karlsson’s Gold vodka. Save room to sample the teeny ramekin of ris a la Malta, a Swedish rice pudding. 65 E 55th St between Madison and Park Aves (212-307-7311).
4. Tiffin Wallah Kosher-vegetarian Indian lunch buffet, weekdays 11:30am–3pm: $6.95 We waited 15 minutes before we could snag a table for the popular lunch at this casual Curry Hill restaurant. Thanks to the heavy turnover, the Indian vegetarian staples simmering in the steam trays were ultra fresh. We filled our plate (and some charming traditional metal bowls) with the creamy chana saag (chickpeas with spinach) and tomato-rich kadhai paneer masala (vegetables and cheese). Hot chapati (flatbread), fluffy basmati rice and savory medu vada (fried lentil doughnuts) were ideal for sopping it all up. 127 E 28th St between Park and Lexington Aves (212-685-7301).
5. Country Panfried Chicken Daily soul-food buffet: lunch $11.91; dinner $15.16 It’s hard not to overdo it on fried chicken when it’s prepared as well as chef-owner Charles Gabriel’s—cooked in a cast-iron skillet until the skin is a crispy shell and replenished in the buffet at a nice, steady clip. Though there’s much more to sample at this proper hole-in-the-wall, such as serviceable sides—including yams and collards—and heaps of other meats, like smoked turkey wings, the fried chicken outshines them all. Drink as much sweet tea as you like, but skip the store-bought-tasting layer cakes for dessert. 2841 Frederick Douglass Blvd (Eighth Ave) between 151st and 152nd Sts (212-281-1800).
6. Ulysses Brunch buffet, Sun 11:30am–3pm: $20 Usually when we’re at an Irish pub, we’re drinking till we can’t drink anymore. But at this homey FiDi pub, our goal was to eat until we say uncle. To describe the selection as varied would be an understatement—we blithely skipped from succulent corned beef to roasted brussels sprouts, on to fresh-made waffles and raw oysters and clams. It’s not all good (steer clear of the desiccated eggs Benedict) but enough of it is to make this worth the price of entry. Did we mention a free Guinness is included in the deal? 95 Pearl St between Broad St and Hanover Sq (212-482-0400).
7. Chez Oskar All-you-can-eat mussels with fries on Tuesday nights: $12 What better way to spend a mellow Tuesday evening than at a low-lit French bistro where polite waiters bring endless bowls of perfectly cooked mussels until we cried non plus? Diners have a choice between the garlic marinières with white wine and shallots, or the creamy moules à la moutarde with a mustardy broth and crème fraîche; both come with a plate of golden fries. We were pleased to find that ordering a second and third round was quick and easy, and while the supply of frites isn’t endless, we didn’t particularly need more. Enjoyed up with a bottle of Château La Morinière muscadet ($24), it’s an ideal meal. 211 DeKalb Ave at Adelphi St, Fort Greene, Brooklyn, 718-852-6250.
8. Funayama All-you-can-eat sushi, Mondays and Thursdays: $23.10 Usually we’d be skeptical about an all-you-can-eat sushi deal. But most of the rolls and nigiri on the regular menu at this sleek West Village sushi den are included in this steal, and the stuff is fresh and good, so how could we go wrong? The giant slabs of quality salmon and eel and the crunchy yellowtail roll should suit any sushi nonsnob. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it kind of is: Overorder, and the place will charge you $3 for every piece of sushi left on your plate. Sounds a bit like a scam, but at least they let us know up front. 24 Greenwich Ave at 10th St (212-989-2500).
9. Mercadito Daily unlimited taco deals all day Sunday and Monday, after 10pm Tue–Thu, and after 10:30pm Friday and Saturday at the Seventh Avenue location and 11pm at the Avenue B location: $23 All the tacos you can eat and $5 Dos Equis? We’re there. It doesn’t hurt that Mercadito happens to be among the best Mexican restaurants in the city. It’s open season on any of the excellent tacos for these of face-stuffing sessions, and they come four to an order (sides of fluffy Spanish rice and refried beans are included—not that you’ll need any extra padding, the tacos come hot and quick). The fillings we recommend: roasted pork with bits of pineapple, tender rosemary-marinated steak, and herb chicken with Manchego chips. These tiny places becomes packed well before the special starts, so getting there early is key. 100 Seventh Ave South at Grove St (212-647-0830) • 179 Ave B between 11th and 12th Sts (212-529-6493).
10. Clemente’s Maryland Crab House All-you-can-eat crabs every day: $29.95, cash only Take a pair of metal crackers to piping-hot Maryland crabs, dumped onto tables by the bowlful, at this no-frills Sheepshead Bay fish shack. The choices are simple: The crustaceans come seasoned with Old Bay or garlic, and the meal includes sides of corn and fries. Though the plastic bibs and flying crab gook don’t make this a natural choice for date night, it’s ideal for an adventurous group. Do you your best to extricate each last bit of tender meat from the tiny carcasses, and don’t worry if you’re a first-timer—the waitress will show you how it’s done. 3939 Emmons Ave off Plumb 3rd St and Shore Pkwy North, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn (718-646-7373)