Delegates Dining Room Reviews

Price fixed lunch was a pleasant surprise. Three courses for $39 was a steal for high quality. I had the chicken curry soup (not spicy hot but tasty) and fish of the day (cod with a dill sauce & topping by a delicious flourless chocolate cake and coffee. I was surrounded by a Chinese table of 12 and a Brazilian table of 6 (one guy was in uniform). Many had badges on, I was there after a tour. Hint: make a reservation. Hint there are, as one might expect, many levels of security. Come a half an hour early & checkin across the street. Well worth the extra effort. Hint: order the house wine- one of the best Chardonnays for the price I have ever had ($9).

The Delegates Dining Room (DDR) is actually very good value for money. At just USD 27.50 for staff (and no tips are expected !) for an entire buffet (except drinks), it is actually cheaper than getting a starter, main course, and dessert in the cafeteria, and the quality is of course much better. The ambiance is good and friendly, with a lively UN clientéle. It is calm, making it ideal for business meetings. Service is godo too, although some of the servers don't speak English. Food is in buffet format, and the selection is good for the small price paid. Food quality is well above canteen standards, with different creations appearing regularly, although clearly not gourmet standard either, but food is essentially very good for a business lunch.

Such a fun and interesting experience getting escorted into the UN building to go and have lunch! The food isn't anything amazing, although it's not terrible by any means. Drinks are reasonably priced for the location and the views are wonderful. We enjoyed a walk around the foyer (Chagall stained glass window!!) and outside area before leaving.

This is an oasis of calm and quiet in the hectic UN. It is a very attractive restaurant, with a beautiful view. They have a prix fixed three course lunch. It is a real people watching experience. Suggest you make a reservation ahead of time.

When friends asked "where was your best meal in NYC" I had to say "the UN delegates' dining room". The buffet had a wide variety of salads, entrees (veal, lamb, chicken, seafood paella, salmon, cod, etc.), many interesting veggies and probably 15 desserts. I would like to have tried them all but that's too much! But I was very happy if not ecstatic with almost all of them. Lunch for two with wine, coffee and tip was about $100 but that's a value in NYC. (We didn't--couldn't!--eat another meal that day.) And it was kitschy eating next to people in African garb, others speaking German, etc. And if you've never had Peruvian peppers, try them. They're sweet and have an explosion of flavor, slightly spicy. Reservations are recommended. We were there before noon so we got in with them. We definitely will try to fit this into our plans the next time we're in the City.

As we were looking for a place to eat in the UN building before our tour, a clerk in the sovereign shop recommended that we check if they could seat us in the Delegates Dining Room. We were lucky that space was available and we had time before our tour. The fixed-price meal includes green, a few choices for an entree and the same for dessert. Our salads were generous and my calamari one included at least six piece of calamari. Two of us had the filet of beef which came out perfect and very tasty. The third meal was Sea Bass that was also very good. A generous portion of squash and asparagus was included. Pecan Tart was the desert. Service was excellent and they got us out in time for our tour. A very pleasant surprise for our visit to the United Nations.

For New York, this restaurant is expensive for lunch. But how often do you find a bountiful arrangement of different foods in the middle of NYC. The Buffet is on a grand scale since it is located in the United nations. The food is not just for the public it is for the ambassadors and delegations at the UN. The views are great and the atmosphere is pleasant.

I had eaten at the Delegate's Dining Room before this visit and enjoyed it. However, the food before had been satisfactory and not exactly the reason to eat there. This time was so different!! From the salad selections to the dessert buffet-every morsel was delicious!! Not only was the presentation and the service excellent, but the selection was outstanding. We had reservations on a Friday and the UN was extremely crowded so the process of being admitted was a little hectic. Our escorts could not have been more considerate or any nicer. They took very good care of us and got us into the dining room quickly. I have no idea if we were eating with dignitaries or not-the view is lovely and the food divine and overall it is a very unique experience!

It is absolutely a must do when being in NYC! The menu was delicious. Our big highlight of our staying in New York 🗽🇺🇸

Just perfect, if you're considering doing it, do it! Honestly, you will not regret it :) Great food with great service.

Did this on the spur of the moment and it was a wonderful treat. Lunch was 3 courses for 40.00. We had a ravioli dish that was divine, I had a greens salad that had a wonderful dressing, there was also a selection of bread a crisp bread with melted cheese was exceptional. There is more security to go up there, on the 4th floor and no jeans or sneakers. Service was excellent.

I've been to the DDR several times and have been disappointed twice. The expectation is greatly met when seated in the main room. When you end up in the overflow room, the view and ambiance is disappointing. The buffet is excellent and the variety is outstanding. The wait staff is very accomodating and pleasant. Overall the experience is great when you can have the whole experience with the view.

This is the best lunch in town for tourists and locals alike. The entire experience from the moment you cut the line to check in with security until the last escort you receive from the dining room is completely awesome. You are literally dining with international delegates in a proper dining room with great river views. For something completely off the beaten path, do this. You have to make a reservation a couple days prior - but the process is seamless. Definitely recommend!

Was happy to have a chance to eat in the delegates' dining room. The buffet has something for everyone, including people with allergies, special diets, etc. The staff were very helpful in making sure everyone's needs were met, in a most delicious way.

Not all what its was lived up to be. Food was just OK. Was there for the 3rd Annual Korean Food Festival. Food seemed very "Americanized." Location of the dining room was beautiful with great views across the East River - that was the best part about dining there. Also what bothered me was the mandatory 18% TIP automatically added to the bill. I really thought that was ridiculous, especially receiving some dirty silverware. I would not go back and waste my lunchtime treking across town to get to the UN for another AVERAGE experience.

When visiting the United Nations landmark building, it's a must to stop for lunch at the Delegates Dining Room. With sweeping views over the East River and Queens, the restaurant offers a great value for its all-you-can-eat buffet, with a variety of salads, appetizers, main courses, side dishes and an entire buffet of its own filled with irresistible desert dishes (cakes, petit fours, tarts, and even cheese courses)! The service is professional and attentive and the overall experience memorable.

Fabulously interesting. Worth the security clearances! Great lunch, beautifully prepared, professionally served, cost effective pre-fix. If lucky you may get the East River view. Bring government issued ID and/or passport. Must have reservation 24 hours before for security check. Start entry process across First Avenue at 45th street. Page will escort you everywhere. Sounds tedious but well worthwhile. Think about it you would not have it any other way! After, or before, lunch reservation consider doing an official guided tour. See Sputnik! Go to stores on lower level for UN stamps, etc. afterwards appreciate how important the UN is!

I usually stay away from touristy restaurants in the city, but my friend works here, so I decided to try it out. We had the buffet lunch. The restaurant had an amazing view of Long Island city, and it was very roomy. The salmon was delicious, and so was the fillet mignon. But the best part was the dessert, with macaroons, petit fours, and tarts, it was delicious, and great value, being that you could get up again for food. For a buffet too, it was very nice. Will definitely come again.

As native New Yorkers, we were hesitant to go to the UNs delegates dining, because we were afraid it was just a regular tourist trap. We were proved wrong. We went through quick security, and then hopped on the elevator to the 9th floor. The view is beautiful, overlooking the river, and Long Island city. Buffet styles, we got up to choose from the different arrays of food. I have to admit, I piled my plate high. Salmon, eggplant, ravioli, veal, salads, soups, and much more! We then ate, and then got up to get the main course! At the moment, they were serving fillet minion, with onion rings. It was all so delicious. My favorite part of the meal was definitely dessert. Macaroons, cakes, berries, tarts, petit fours, and almost everything you can think of was offered. For only thirty dollars, you get a delicious three course meal. I would and am definetely coming again!

We envisioned dining amongst U.N. delegates and dignitaries, when what we got was a sparsely filled dining room, with a few tourists and one U.N. employee taking her mom and dad to lunch. The buffet looked delicious and elegant. In reality it was barely warm and fairly bland. It was edible, but nothing was good. There was about six entrees to choose from plus a standing lamb roast, but none of it was good. There was a salad table, and while the lettuce was fresh, the random few ingredients left you with a fairly odd salad mix. The dessert table looked nice, but the desserts tasted like supermarket specials. The dining room has a view of the water, but not a particularly nice view. It was better than nothing. The service was lethargic. I think they were bored, and they stood around talking to each other, but rarely bothered to fill water glasses or clear empty plates. They never refilled my iced-tea nor did they ever come to check on us. To get more rolls, we had to walk over to them and ask for more. All in all, a huge disappointment.

I had heard there was a buffet but that it was discontinued because the room is being renovated. So the temporary walls are unadorned and there is no view of the East River. The food was adequate but very expensive The 3 course lunch included a beet salad with lots of greens and a few beet slices, an entree which was not spectacular and dessert. Drinks were not included and so we drank New York water.This $39 special came to $51 including tip and tax. Definitely not worth the money.

This is expensive, but it is also reasonably good value for money. Assuming you have a light or no breakfast, the quality of food available here is definitely worth going back time and again for refills. We were relatively restrained but still definitely felt that in terms of quality and quantity this was a good place to eat - for the food itself; when you add on the relative uniqueness of where you're eating and the process of going through security and having a quick look at the UN while you're there it's most definitely recommended.

I have been to the Delegates Dining Room for a nice lunch. The restaurant is spacious and the view of the river is awesome. Food is not excellent but still good and portions are generous. The main course I had was very good (fish of the day); the salad, instead, was not a really good one. Then I had a fruit salad for dessert, which was fresh and good, but very simple (as it should be). The best part of the lunch has been definitely the location.

I’ve eaten in the DDR preciously, and it was a buffet of international food. I enjoyed that because I could get a bit of many different items. The fare now is fixed price for 3 courses. . It was good, but didn’t seem to match up to the $40 pp price....except it is NYC.

We took the UN Tour, and had made reservations for the Delegates Dining Room for lunch. What a nice experience. A very attractive room, great view of Long Island City and the East River, and a very attentive and pleasant waitstaff. There is a security stop on the way to the Dining Room, but not overly difficult and certainly quite understandable. Lunch is a buffet, with more options than I have seen in a long time - all the ones we tried were very good. This is a well run restaurant - we heard the manager on the way out and he knows his business and demands the best from this people. The wine list was not long but very nice and we were not disappointed. We had a very cost-effective, very good, and very enjoyable meal. Recommended for your next NYC visit.

I wouldn't say that delegates and members of the state department will dine alongside of you, however, they likely will in the private dining room directly adjacent to it. Either way, that should not influence your decision to dine here. The food is well executed, seasonal, colorful and delicious. Vegetarians and carnivores alike will be pleased. The shaved brussel sprout salad, prosciutto and duck, sweet peruvian peppers, pear and jicama salad and certainly the fisherman's soup and excellent linguine and clams all worth mentioning. Don't forget to save room for dessert - mini apple crumb tarts, almond pear tart, pistachio cannolis, and a delicious assortment of cheeses await you. Do acquaint yourself with the dress policy on their website - business casual at a minimum and that includes footwear. MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE AMPLE TIME to pass through security. We waited 15min to be escorted to the dining room, something we hadn't anticipated even though we were already in the building for a tour. Safely build in 15minutes for this. If you attend an early morning tour e.g. 9:30 and plan for an 11:30 lunch make sure you, the party registrant, hold onto the picture photo id sticker you received earlier - do NOT discard or you'll need to return to security to get one. Dining room service is excellent and love the fresh basket of bread that they come around with that goes so wonderfully with the salted buttered. The view is not spectacular -you're only on the 4th floor and overlooking the East River with views of Long Island City - however, we didn't go for the views, we went for the experience and the excellent food. You are not obligated to take any tours - dining in the restaurants is completely independent and and we would return again. Expect to pay $34.95 pp - we discovered after the fact that this does not include soft drinks & coffee. Beer & wine are also available with your meal.

We had lunch at the Delegate’s Dining Room after a UN tour. It was a convenient and unique place to eat. There were delegates and UN employees dining at other tables, but I don’t really think seeing other people eating lunch while at work is anything special. The restaurant has a great view of the East River, Long Island City, and Queens. The menu was a 3 course price-fix that cost $52 per person with tax and the included tip. The food was mostly good and was a fair value for the price, but there are plenty of better places to eat in NYC. The service was fair. You will need to make reservations and arrive early to go through security.

This restaurant is situated inside UN headquarters with the benefit of an expansive view over the East River. The prix-fixe lunch menu is a good deal - including a starter, main, and dessert - comparable to other upscale dining options in the Midtown East area. However, there is nothing particularly spectacular about the fare. This is a place to go to for the experience, not specifically the food. Those who do not have regular access to the UN will need to make sure to book reservations in advance.

You need to make reservations ahead of time. The check-in process is simple and you can take the UN tour before or after lunch (separate reservations). I enjoyed the excellent food options and great service. But, looking out at Long Island while eating and listening to multiple languages around me was also fun.

One hidden and relatively unknown gem in New York. The views of the East River are fantastic, with very professional staff and an amazing menu, which changes often with national or regional highlights from time to time. We were here for lunch and were surrounded by diplomats speaking multiple languages. A booking is required (for security reasons), but well worth it.

I came here yesterday and was completely blown away! The food was incredible and there was such a large array! The staff continually brought out platters and everyone was so kind. The dessert was unbelievable! There were pies, cakes, petit fours, eclairs.... I was stuffed to the brim by the end! Plus, it's in the UN building! You have to go through security to get there. I hear they have an amazing tour that I will need to check out! Tip: the entrance you need to go to is between 45/46 streets on 1st Avenue.

The Delegates Dining Room is a buffet located in the UN building. It is a little pricy (about $40), but honestly, I would go to the UN just to eat there again. They change the menu frequenlty, so the same dishes I had may not be there again, that said, the roasted orange duck was to die for. I'm going back just for the off chance they might have that again. I tried everything and the only thing I did not like was the roasted lamb. I even tried the brussel sprout (which I normally don't like) salad - and even it was delicious. The view was nice enough. There is a lot of light coming through the east wall (all glass). Not that looking out on the East River and Brooklyn is exactly a spectacular view, but still, being up on the 4th floor is a better than street view. The staff was very friendly and it was not noisy at all.

We ate here with 2 of our children during a family vacation to NY. My husband and I worked at the UN in 1990 so had eaten here before a couple of times. I was expecting a buffet but on the day we were there it was a 3-course prix fixe menu with several options for each course. Everything was delicious and the service was impeccable. Our meal was expensive for lunch ($250 inclusive of tip and drinks), but it is an experience we will all remember. We were seated at a table right next to the window so we had excellent views of the East River. It was fairly quiet the day we were there, to get the full ambiance of being in an international setting it might be better to aim for a day when more meetings are going on in the building.

A dining room within the UN Headquarters. Dining room has a view overlooking Brooklyn side . Food was a set lunch at a fixed price. Apart from that the food was ok. Not something I’d go back too. But service was good. And it was just for the experience.

i was so excited about eating lunch in the delegates lounge... Because we had to be escorted to the lounge by security, although we arrived on time, we had to wait over 20 minutes to be escorted to the lounge. The service was variable with some being great and others unbelievably rude. The food was average although many gluten free options. I would give this a miss.

It was wonderful to have the opportunity to dine at the UN. Unfortunately, the day we were there not many delegates attended and the dining room was not that busy. We were hoping to have a more international experience. However, the city view provided for a beautiful backdrop. Service was elegant. We had the prix fixe menu. The food was good but not outstanding. Make sure you make reservations and be prepared to go through security screening. You will need to be escorted across the street after registration.

Nesseled in the very heart of the United Nations the Delegates Dining Room is the cantine of the global diplomatic corps. As to be expected the food is fantastic but pales in an international atmosphere enhanced by the panorama of the East River and the world beyond.

Picturesque! The scene of diversity of not only people, but languages and traditional dressing in the dining room.

We took the opportunity to dine in the Delegates Dining Room .Our waiter was not too good .The food was okay but not great'

We are a family of 4 in NYC for the week. We came here for lunch and I'd say that the experience of coming into the UN building was probably worth it for the kids. Wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone and, having paid $250 for the 4 of us ( incl wine and tip ), I would have preferred somewhere where we weren't made to feel privileged for being allowed into the room. Food was ok at best .