Omar Mediterranean Cuisine
East Midtown-Turtle Bay, New York City
Restaurant in New York City, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Dress
Casual
Why go
Book Omar Mediterranean Cuisine for a practical Midtown East lunch or early dinner, especially with a small group that values convenience over ceremony. It is a better fit for office-adjacent Mediterranean dining than for a high-stakes celebration or formal private-room plan.
About Omar Mediterranean Cuisine
Omar Mediterranean Cuisine is a New York City venue with a casual dress code and hours that run from late morning into early evening on weekdays, with shorter Saturday hours and Sunday closure. The safest way to plan around it is as a direct, low-pressure option rather than a venue to frame around ceremony, awards, a chef-driven format, or private-dining specifics.
The clearest planning detail is timing. Omar Mediterranean Cuisine is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, and closed Sunday. That schedule makes it easier to consider for daytime or early-evening plans than for a late-night meal. If price tier, seat count, private room, menu format, chef credit, or accolades matter, check those details directly before making plans.
A casual New York City option for simple plans
For group planning, keep the recommendation modest. The dress code is casual, and it is best considered when the group wants a simple New York City meal and does not need a highly formal room, a published tasting format, or a venue with awards attached. For capacity, private rooms, service format, or event setup, check directly.
If you are comparing other New York City dining options, you can also look at Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen, Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte, P.J. Clarke's, Shun Lee Palace, or Solera. Treat those as separate planning alternatives.
Plan around the posted hours
The useful planning move is to match the visit to the schedule. Weekdays run from 11 AM to 8 PM, Saturday runs from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, and Sunday is closed. If reservation difficulty, takeout, delivery, allergy accommodations, pricing, or detailed menu information matters, check directly before making firm plans.
Bottom line: choose Omar Mediterranean Cuisine in New York City when a casual, practical visit fits the posted hours. Skip it if the occasion depends on private dining, a late seating, a named chef, awards, a specific menu format, or other details that need to be arranged in advance.
Planning details
- Location
- 154 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
- Website
- omars.nyc
- Phone
- +1 212 207 8302
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Omar Mediterranean Cuisine positions itself as a contemporary take on Mediterranean cooking in Midtown East, trading tuxedoed formality for ingredient-driven, vegetable-forward plates that draw on the Levant, North Africa, and southern Europe. The write-up frames the restaurant as part of a broader citywide shift away from hummus-and-pita shorthand toward kitchens that emphasize provenance and seasonal produce. In that context, Omar reads as modern and approachable—a neighborhood option that nods to regional traditions while fitting into an urban, ingredient-conscious dining scene rather than the formal tasting-menu circuit nearby.
Best For
Omar suits a practical Midtown rhythm: reliable, accessible meals for the professional lunch crowd and a more casual, theater-friendly evening audience. The copy explicitly points to a daytime clientele of office workers and an after-work mix that includes hotel guests, theatergoers, and couples seeking dinner. That makes it a strong choice for business lunches, pre-theatre dinners, and low-key date nights where guests want solid Mediterranean cooking without the ritual of formal tasting menus. Its location on East 55th Street favors convenience and familiarity for nearby workers and visitors.
Ordering Tips
The venue lists Omar's Signature Mixed Grill, Chicken Shawarma, and a Veggie Platter as highlights; these are sensible starting points. Consider sharing plates: the Signature Mixed Grill showcases the kitchen's approach to char and seasoning across proteins, while the Veggie Platter speaks to the restaurant's vegetable-forward tendencies. The Chicken Shawarma offers a classic, recognizable anchor if you want something familiar. Given the menu focus, ordering a mix of grilled and vegetable dishes to pass around will convey the restaurant's regional range without locking into a single cuisine.
Venue details
Ambiance
Casual and welcoming atmosphere popular with office workers and locals for hearty, flavorful meals.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Small
Signature Dishes
- Omar's Signature Mixed Grill
- Chicken Shawarma
- Veggie Platter
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 154 E 55th St, New York, NY 10022
Planning details
Location
Also consider
Also Consider
- Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen, Chinese, $
- Shun Lee Palace, Chinese, Chinese
- Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte, French Steakhouse, French Steakhouse
- P.J. Clarke's, Bar, Bar
- Solera, Notable alternative
Restaurant context
How It Compares
Omar Mediterranean Cuisine is the practical Midtown East choice when convenience and a lighter Mediterranean direction matter more than a defined dining format. Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen is the clearer value pick thanks to its listed $ price tier, especially for a casual meal where cost is the main constraint.
For a more structured sit-down plan, Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte is better if the group wants French steakhouse focus rather than Mediterranean flexibility. Shun Lee Palace works better for a classic Chinese meal with a more traditional dining-room feel, while P.J. Clarke's is the safer call when drinks and bar energy matter as much as food.
If Omar is unavailable or the group wants another Midtown option without committing to Chinese, steakhouse, or bar formats, Solera is the clean cross-shop. Omar's advantage is ease and location; its limitation is that the available detail does not support treating it as a splurge or formal private-dining anchor.
Explore New York City
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Omar Mediterranean Cuisine guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Omar Mediterranean Cuisine
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Price | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omar Mediterranean Cuisine | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
| Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen | New York City | Chinese | $ | 2025 Michelin Bib Gourmand2024 Michelin Bib Gourmand |
| Shun Lee Palace | New York City | Chinese | , | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2025 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Ranked · #4882023 OAD Top Restaurants in North America Recommended |
| Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecôte | New York City | French Steakhouse | , | 2026 OAD Casual in North America Recommended2024 OAD Casual in North America Ranked · #693 |
| P.J. Clarke’s | New York City | Bar | , | 2025 OAD Cheap Eats in North America Ranked · #409 |
| Solera | New York City | , | , | No published awards |
How Omar Mediterranean Cuisine compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Omar Mediterranean Cuisine good for solo dining?
It can be considered for a solo visit if you want a casual New York City option during the posted hours. If seat count, counter setup, or service format matters, check directly before planning around a specific solo-dining arrangement.
What should I wear to Omar Mediterranean Cuisine?
The dress code is casual. Neat casual clothing is the safest choice unless your own plans before or after the meal call for something more formal.
What should I order at Omar Mediterranean Cuisine?
Use the venue name as general context, but check the current menu directly before relying on a specific order.
What are alternatives to Omar Mediterranean Cuisine in New York City?
Other New York City options to compare include P.J. Clarke's, Shun Lee Palace, Le Relais de Venise L'Entrecôte, Solera, and Kung Fu Little Steamed Buns Ramen. Choose among them based on your own timing, group needs, and current details.
Is lunch or dinner better at Omar Mediterranean Cuisine?
Plan around the hours rather than an assumed meal period. Omar Mediterranean Cuisine is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 8 PM, Saturday from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, and closed Sunday.
Is Omar Mediterranean Cuisine good for a special occasion?
Only if the occasion is casual and does not depend on private dining, awards, a specific service style, or a formal format. Check directly for those arrangements.
