Hello,
I'm going to a convention at the Jacob Javits in NYC in about a week. I need lunch recommendations. One day I'll be going by myself and don't mind traveling out of the area for lunch (I know there's not too much in the Javits area). I wouldn't mind taking the subway to Chelsea or the West Village for lunch, as long as it's doable (I'll have about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half for my break). This may not be reasonable as I'm not sure how long a subway ride to these areas would be.

The other day my Mom is coming to meet me for lunch so I'd prefer to stick to close to the Javits area or near Penn Station.

Thank you for any suggestions!

Not only is the Javits area a wasteland, it isn't serviced by subways (the closest being the A/C/E at Penn or Port Authority), so your timeframe is most likely not doable.

No wonder the mediocre food court at Javits is so popular -- they've got you!

blah... I was afraid of this. I may just have to walk to the times square area for mediocre lunch at an extravagent price... ugh. I'm not sure I could bring myself to eat at the convention center.

Any dinner suggestions for someone going solo? Possibly somewhere in the West Village or SoHo as I plan to go there directly after the conference one afternoon for some shopping. Maybe somewhere with a bar?

Just returned from trade show there
& while I have not eaten at these two
restaurants you could walk - albeit
fast - to get there:
Cascina - 647 9th Ave (45 & 46 Sts)
Zanzibar - 645 9th Ave.
Javits is on 11th so that it a 2 Avenue
long walk to either.

Tupelo Grill on 33rd, between 7th and 8th.

Nick and Stef's -- same location.

Fun place with good food is HK at 39th and 9th.

Twelve minutes or so straight up 11th to Daisy Mae's Barbeque at 46th.

While I'm a fan of Tupelo, the original poster has only 75-90 minutes, not enough time to get to & from Tupelo and enjoy lunch there.

I attend a few shows a year at Javits, and unfortunately I almost always end up eating within the complex.

The Landmark Tavern has always been a good stand by for that area - 11th and 46th street, I've had lunch there with my Mom, it's a more "upscale" Irish tavern. It's just re-opened and has always been a nice casual restaurant and reasonably priced (for NY that is) place.

A wasteland? Excuse me.

Just take a walk. It's what we do in New York. There's no need to get on the subway or even go to Times Square for lunch or dinner.

I live in this neighborhood. In a couple of weeks, on May 20 and 21st, The Ninth Avenue International FOOD FESTIVAL will attract one million people to 9th Avenue. They come to eat.

Here's how to get there.
Javits fronts on 11th Ave. Go out any exit, cross 11th Ave. and continue straight 2 blocks to 9th Ave. East-West blocks in Manhattan (you'll be walking east) are farther apart than North-South blocks, so that 11th to 9th is a bit longer than a walk from say, 35th to 37th would be. For perspective, 36th St. to 46th St. equals one-half mile. Cross to the other side of 9th (I suggest this because a couple of blocks up there's a tricky pedestrian crossing on the west side of 9th where traffic heads to the Lincoln Tunnel and New Jersey; it's just simpler to be on the other side. You can always cross back if something catches your fancy). Now make a left; you will be heading uptown so street numbers will also go up: 36, 37 etc.

Just walk up 9th & you'll find genuine cuisine: Italian heros (as we call them in NY), at Manganero's Hero-Boy, Thai food, Sicilian seafood salads from the fish markets (take-out and go sit somewhere), several casual cafes like the Amazonia Café for smoothies, sandwiches, salads or Market Café near 38th or HK on the 39th St. corner. Try Cupcake Café (39th on the diagonal corner) for dessert if you have room. A little farther up you'll find Moroccan at 40th St., and Mediterranean at 44th St., Poseidon Greek Bakery at 44-45th, a Turkish restaurant-- even 24 hour coffee shops. These are on the avenue. There's lots more on side streets. You'll find Caribbean, brick-oven pizza, seafood, brasseries, & bars with big TVs & bar menus. I cannot begin to name them all; I know I've left many out. I strongly doubt that you could find more variety & quality anywhere else. Just take a walk!

thank you so much for your suggestions everyone! M11 - I'm going to miss the food festival just short by one weekend unfortunately! Thank you for the directions and all the interesting and great sounding food that you suggested, that was exactly what I was looking for. I don't mind the walk at all, in fact I prefer to walk and only take the subway if I have to. 1/2 a mile is nothing! I'll be walking to the convention center every day (1 mile) from my hotel. Walking is no problem for me! Thanks for your help.

Hey, I just found out that on Thurs. and Sat. of the convention I'll have an hour and 15 for lunch, but on Friday I'll have 2 and a half hours for lunch - yay!! That means I'll have time to pretty much go anywhere I would think. Any suggestions for that day, any favorite restaurants for lunch?

On Sat., you might want to try this place for brunch

http://44andx.com/menu1.html

On Fri. I'd head to the meatpacking district by taxi. Maybe try Pastis or 5 Ninth.