A Financier Feasts: Midtown Italian Edition

By: Finance Foodie

It might be no surprise that one of the things I look forward to most each day is lunch, especially during the work week (sometimes, Foodie by Night seeps into Foodie by Midday). Working in Midtown Manhattan, I feel blessed that I can walk to a myriad of food options each day.

Midtown Manhattan

But where to go? Well I generally go for my favorite cuisine Italian. And as a Finance Foodie, naturally the financial markets dictate exactly which Italian destination - when I'm having a good day (read: making $$$), I get the urge to splurge. But when I'm on the wrong side of the trade, I go for the value orientated option (as they say: good food can be found at every price point). Below are my top go-to Italian spots for whatever the work day is throwing at me.

~*~*~*~*~

⏫⏫Generating Alpha⏫⏫

On the days where all my trades are going my way, I love to reward myself with lavish meal and Davio's has definitely got me covered. Appetizers like the Grilled Octopus ($18) with mango and watercrest slaw and pastas like the Tagliatelle Bolognese ($28) always get my mouth watering. Plus, the ambiance is elegant and the service is always friendly and informed - it's a great way to spend your lunch hour.

Octopus

Finance Foodie Money $avvy Tip - for those who have champagne tastes on a beer budget, the $29 Executive Lunch menu is a real steal of a deal. For just three Hamiltons, you can get an appetizer, entree and dessert. My favorite item? The super creative Persimmon Pop Tart with Honey Milk Gelato, which was truly excellent.

Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse
447 Lexington Ave
New York, NY 10017
davios.com/nyc
Price: $$$
Cuisine: Italian

~*~*~*~*~

⏩⏩Flattish⏪⏪

When I'm having a neutral sort of day but still want to dine at a place with proper silverware, I head to Barilla Restaurants at Radio City. Barilla Restaurants is a Midtown centric chain of fast casual Italian restaurants that really has taken the business lunch scene by storm. They serve good variety of pastas, pizzas and paninis (plus wine, which is a nice treat!) in a spacious and clean sit down venue - great for the days when you are sick of eating at your desk / on the go.

Pizza and Pasta!

I always leave in a better mood after indulging in Barilla's freshly prepared hot dishes like the Linguine Vesuvio ($12.95) or the Fusilli Montanara ($10.95) - sometimes I'll even splurge on dessert (the Panna Cotta ($5.50) is my top pick!). And another great thing? Even though it gets really busy during peak lunch hours, I've always gotten my food within 10 minutes.

Panna Cotta

Finance Foodie Money $avvy Tip - get the Barilla's Loyalty Card. You can earn points with every purchase and after you spend $55 dollars (basically 5-6 lunches), you get a $5 credit. And that's money you can take to the bank (or the markets)!

Barilla Restaurants (Radio City location)
1290 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10104
barillarestaurants.com
Price: $$
Cuisine: Italian

~*~*~*~*~

⏬⏬ Down day ⏬⏬

The 99 Cent Fresh Pizza slices aren't fancy scmancy (and the service/seating is non-existent), but for a dollar, you can get a piping hot fresh slice of cheese pizza that will fill you up and leave you satiated. For the price and convenience, this pizza is a real value play!  And as a value investor, I'm on board with that.

Dollar Slice

Finance Foodie Money $avvy Tip - there are a few dollar slice places in Midtown - unashamedly, I have tried them all and this location by far is the best versus the rest.

99 Cent Fresh Pizza
1723 Broadway 

New York, NY 10019
Price: $
Cuisine: Italian