Nestled in the basement of the Takashimaya department store on 5th Avenue and 54th Street is the Takashimaya Tea Box Cafe. Come during lunch hour or the late afternoon and the cafe is bound to be filled with lunching ladies and, on occasion, their male counterparts, smartly attired in business suits.

On the savory route, order the Daily Bento—a visually appealing (and tasty!) meal. The bento is always followed by dessert, which, on our most recent visit, was a single bite wedge of tangerine jelly set in the fruit skin itself. The jelly is of the softer sort, verging on creamy with a bright citrus bite. A clean ending to a simple meal.

Takashimaya

693 5th Avenue, New York NY 10022 (b/n 54th and 55th Streets; map)
212-350-0100