Madison Square Park is a haven for office workers needing a lunchtime escape, but it’s also a destination for foodies who want to experience some of the city’s best dining. Eleven Madison Park (11 Madison Ave. at 24th Street, 212-889-0905) and Tabla (11 Madison Ave. at 25th Street, 212-889-0667) — which includes the streetfood café, Bread Bar — are located on the east side of the park. Tabla and Bread Bar excel at breadmaking. A healthy, vegetarian lunch of a laccha paratha or garlic naan with the Bar’s chickpea masala (curried chickpeas) is delicious and quick. During the spring and summer, Danny Meyer’s take on fast food is available at the Shake Shack, which serves hamburgers and more within the park itself.

The Comfort Diner (25 W. 23rd St., between Fifth and Sixth avenues, 212-741-1010) is a neighborhood favorite when the need for homestyle food strikes. Huge desserts, breakfasts and the upscale version of the classic BLT—plump with bacon and filled with fresh lettuce and tomatoes, unlike the soggy specimens found elsewhere — are a hit.

And speaking of BLTs, Laurent Tourendol’s self-named empire has a Madison Square foothold with the steakhouse BLT Prime (111 E. 22nd St., between Lexington Avenue and Park Ave South, 212-995-8500). While BLT Prime has the classic Porterhouse for two, it also specializes in the “BLT cut,” a double sirloin steak. The restaurant also has a deft touch with its hangar steak, a chewy cut that’s filled with flavor.