Sat lunch near Madison Square Park?

[meagan]

Any suggestions? We are going to a 3 pm concert in Madison Square Park (between 26th and 23rd/between 5th Ave and Madison) tomorrow. We will walk there from Penn Station. I don't know the area at all. We prefer very casual restaurants and love Japanese, Indian, Thai, Italian food. I guess we could always go to Chelsea, then walk over from there. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Meagan

[Blumie]

Le Zie, on 7th Avenue between 20th and 21st, is a great neighborhood Italian. I also really like Markt, a Belgian place on 6th and 21st. For a great place to pick up sandwiches and salads to bring to the park (in lieu of a 45+ minute wait at Shake Shack), go to Blue Dog Cafe on W. 25th between 6th and 7th (closer to 6th).

[RGR]

You didn't mention bbq, but just in case, Hill Country is along your route and very close to Madison Square Park. It's on 26th St., b/t 6th Av. & B'way.

http://www.hillcountryny.com

[Lucia]

I second Hill Country. Also Shake Shack is an obvious choice.

[RGR]

As long as they don't mind waiting for what could be a *very* long time to get their food at Shake Shack, it's a good choice. Hill Country, on the other, is usually not very busy during lunch time though I've not been to lunch there on a Saturday, only during the week.

[MMRuth]

I've enjoyed some weekend lunches at the Bread Bar at Tabla, right on MSP - it is casual, though not inexpensive:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/441230#2948101

http://www.tablany.com/

[maryelizabeth]

Not much to eat between Penn and MSP. Lots of good Indian in Curry Hill...Lexington Ave around 28th St. There's also a Japanese place, East, on 3rd Ave. between 26th & 27th st.