Delegates’ Dining Room

Amazing. I went there for the first time (I just started working here) and was blown away at the beautiful view there was and how beautiful the set up was at each of the tables. When we sat down, we were brought a basket full of breads and these delicious, almost flatbread like baked cheese bread «sticks» to start off. There were three tables. The first one was the appetizer table and they had smoked salmon, smoked duck, crab bisque, different salads and sauces and more that I just do not remember. It was very fresh.
The second table had main course and there were were options with smoked cod, chicken and sausage, season’s vegetables, korean beef and a chef at the end serving a delicious baked salmon with mango sauce.
At the dessert table was all kinds of cakes, macarons, mousse, fresh fruit and others.
It was delicious, for the price ($ 35), all you can eat, it was pretty good. The waiters came by to refill our water constantly, but I was a bit disappointed that they never came back with the basket of bread again.
I think everyone should go there at least once to enjoy the atmosphere and have that great experience.

I can honestly say, this is another NYC gem. How often do you get to feel like a dignitary in this town? Sure, the food is not going to win any awards, but the experience is second to none. And the best part was the «private tour» by our escort after the meal — we didn’t learn about the UN or it’s history, but rather got an insiders tour and he showed kindness to my 85 year old dad which was beyond the call of duty. Oh, and it’s true, the desserts ARE NOT to be missed!

The Delegates Dining Room was a pleasant experience. If you are visiting the UN, I would recommend spending the extra cash ($ 35.00 per person for the buffet) at least once. Just to have the full experience. They had a great salad bar section, which included Mozzarella and tomato salad, various other cheeses, olives, lox, salad greens, beans and fresh vegetables, etc. You could have a full meal here alone. They also had a delicious Seafood Bisque soup. The main buffet was good. The food was fresh and tasty, however, I didn’t like quite a bit of the options. I understand they are catering to a lot of international folks, so I completely get it. I did think there would be more variety. I had the pasta with Shrimp, which was good. They also served Skate fish, Goat and Red Snapper. I tried the Chicken with Mole sauce, which was flavorful. I was hoping for some beef, but not on the day I was there. If you have a picky eater, I recommend calling and asking what will be served on the day you plan on being there. The desserts were excellent with lots of variety.
The view of Long Island City was nice. The servers were friendly and attentive.
My daughter and I had a great time, and I am glad we dined here. If you are on a tight budget, there is a café on the bottom level of the UN.

This location is more of an event rather than a place to go for a fabulous meal. Upon arrival you wait outside of the gate waiting for a personal escort to bring you through security that is exactly like security you go through at an airport. The personal escort brings you into the entry hall and hands you off to another escort, where you hand over identification and get a photo pass to continue further. I have been promised that my drivers license will be returned once I depart. Then you walk to an elevator that brings you into the dining hall. The dining hall has floor to ceiling windows that look into the East a River. A waitron brought over a basket that had a variety of breads which we could choose from. Our lunch was buffet-​style. There is a salad station, an entrée station, and a dessert station. None of the food was memorable, but like I said at the beginning, this is not some place to come for a great meal. The food is decent. The service is fine. It just feels cool to say «I am going to the Delegate’s Dining Room at the United Nations». We are going to take a guided tour of the United Nations after lunch. I am keeping an eye out for Angelina Jolie.

The food was delicious but not the best. Anyone can eat there but need a reservation 24 hours in advance. We went through security and had an escort. Great view of the Queensboro bridge, Roosevelt Island and LIC. It was a fun experience overall!

Hanging with the diplomats today.

Inconvenient.
The food is ok but the location is out of the way. The closest garage is blocks away and you’ve to wait to be escorted in. I tho making a reservation and get in with a photo ID is ok. Apparently no. The high ceiling and river view is ok: looking out to Long Island city isn’t something you’d like to write home about.

Fun experience. I was looking for something unique and different, and this fit the bill. Go for the experience and the views, not the food.
When I went with a couple of friends, the building was undergoing renovation. To get to the Dining Room after clearing security and checking in to the building, we walked outside around the grounds of the complex, alongside the East River. The added walk seemed like a hassle initially, but was actually a great addition. The weather was sunny and absolutely gorgeous. There were monuments and gifts from various nations dotting the campus, and a lovely garden with statues as we walked along the East River. We enjoyed great views of the Queensborough Bridge, Roosevelt Island, and Long Island City.
I was expecting a swanky, elegant Dining Room. It isn’t. I was expecting haute cuisine. It isn’t. It’s a buffet with items that can survive well in a buffet. The maitre d’ and staff were all very friendly and helpful. I was pretty disappointed to find American food on the day I went. I had hoped for something more exotic. For most of the delegates, I guess, American fare would be a different experience. They had excellent short ribs – succulent and melt off the bone. Mashed potatoes that were nicely creamy, shrimp and a couple of other enticing seafood dishes, roasted fingerling potatoes with French beans, salad greens with a choice of two different, equally tasty vinaigrette dressings, and delicious parsnips, among other choices. All-​in-​all a great range of choices, all quite tasty, and enough options that there were choices for all sorts of dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-​free, etc.). It’s hard to find items that hold up well to the rigors of a buffet, but the chef managed to do just that.
The biggest selling point, other than the unique location, is the view. We had a table by the floor-​to-​ceiling windows, and the views were spectacular.
Most people were dressed in business suits. There was a woman in a sari made of the most exquisite silk, and another woman in traditional garb.
The meal is $ 25 and they add a 20% gratuity. The staff certainly earned that. They were prompt and nicely solicitous whenever we needed anything. Still, I take offense at mandatory tips. If the price is really $ 30, then make it $ 30. Tips should be my way of signalling how well the staff did in making my whole experience enjoyable! But I digress… They also initially balked at splitting our bill, but ultimately acquiesced to the request.
In addition to the lunch buffet, they offer the option to hold private dinners and functions in the Dining Room.

After the renovation they are only open for private parties of 15 or more for lunch and 50 or more for dinner (weeknights) or 150+ for weekends. Call ahead to check availability.

All u can eat buffet that has quality cuisine. Food themes from different places of the world, so one month Malaya another month Swedish, etc.
Great outside view, even though somewhat of a spiffy cafeteria setting.

This place is not about the food but the dining experience. Amazing to go eat in a room with UN employees and get dressed up. Everyone should go here.

There are some security measures in place for dining here, but it’s to be expected. Lunching here is more about the view of the river, bridge, skyline — and (for some), the cachet of the UN versus a five star food experience. Although, my wild mushroom, roasted tomatoes and Swiss frittata were excellent and a special accommodation.

I have eaten lunch there 3 times while on business and it was AMAZING. Yes, I had to go through security, and even get sniffed by guard dogs but it was all worth it. This is such a historic place with a great dining area over looking the East River, it’ s one of Manhattan’s best kept secrets. Anyone can eat there if they call ahead and make reservations.
The food is chosen from different member countries and so is the wine. When I dined there I enjoyed Scottish fare on one visit and French fare on another.
Most visitors to the NY UN, don’t realize you can eat there. I urge all New Yorkers and Tourists to check it out. Truly one of the best deals in town!

Um, I ate a ton when I came here a few weeks ago. As far as buffets go, you could do a lot worse.
The buffet can be quite a mix and match-​fest, with the dishes representing different cuisines. It’s not the largest spread when it comes to entreés, but it was quite effective. The staff did a very good job of replenishing — this is key in buffets.
In terms of food, I heard good things about the osso buco from the people I was dining with. Personally I recall devouring plates piled with fillets of sole, roasted fingerling potatoes and brocolini. I then moved onto a very full range of dessert options — lots of pastries, fruits, and ice cream.
In terms of ambiance, the name is much, much fancier than the actual room itself so if you’re imagining a grand ballroom, lower expectations immediately. It’s more like a big hotel conference room with lots of light from floor-​to-​ceiling windows and a nice view of the East River. I think the UN has higher priorities than having a really fancy schmancy lookin’ restaurant.
There was a sign in the reception area that said, «Jackets Required» but a lot of families and people were dressed down, many in jeans. Identity crisis? Very confusing. The crowd is certainly as diverse a crowd as you’d expect at the United Nations. It’s basically an executive cafeteria.
All in all, a very satisfying meal.
On a sidenote, it was certainly interesting to see a little lounge area in the men’s restroom, which you access through a nondescript door by the entrance. This may be standard practice for the ladies (I’m basing that assumption from an episode of The Office when all the guys hang out in the ladies room while Michael Scott takes the girls to Steamtown Mall), but I was absolutely astonished by it. There was a little coffee table and four chairs just chilling out, a wall away from urinals and men doing number 2.
I wonder if any peace accords have been struck there…

This place is probably the best kept secret. It such a hassle getting in because you need to call them and make a reservation at least 24 hours before (I think it’s 24?!) You have to go through security and you have to get an ID pass. They keep you license/​passport with them when they give you the ID. You have to return the ID to get your stuff back.
But I think it’s still worth the hassle because the food is really good and it’s $ 25 for a person for the buffet. I went there for the Icelandic food festival with a couple of out of town friends and they were very impressed with the quality of food. I’ve only been there for food festivals I don’t know about the regular buffet.

What a disappointment the food was. Aramak, the international catering conglomerate, runs the kitchen, which is all you need to know, and explains why not one buffet dish was outstanding, and why most were poor. Service was lackluster. Yes, the view of Queens is nice but I’d rather eat somewhere else and then stand along the East River promenade for a while. Overrated is right!

I used to eat here all the time when I worked for the Greek Embassy (yes, the Russian-​Jewish girl from Queens ended up working for the Greek Embassy, bizarre, eh?) and I remember digging the food here. They had the BEST green tea ice cream one time, this was about 6 years ago, and I still recall it with amazing fondness, so either I have a bizarre memory, or it really was that good. You decide.
Yes, a little overrated, but I guess it would be a cool spot to take people from out of town.

Yeah, the food is not stellar but this place gets FIVE STARS because I want everyone to crash this joint.
Yeah, you have to call ahead. And you have to go through metal detectors. But you can pretend to be a diplomat while going through the building because you have a destination! Skip the wandering tourists and find the dedicated UN Delegates elevator.
The food is not the best (can I stress this again?) and you do get an international smörgåsbord. The dim sum dumplings were next to the shrimp bisque and that was next to some schnitzel.
But it’s the view of the room that’s gonna blow you away! Floor to ceiling spanse of Brooklyn. You feel like you can just jump into the water. Freakin’ amazing. Oh yeah, and this place has got HIGH ceilings. It looks like it’s also used as a ballroom. BIG BIG room.
And the clientele is pretty amazing too. Passing by one table, there were a bunch of snooty French speaking people. At another table were American Indians in full regalia, with leather clothes and feather headdress. The table right next to me were some of the most beautiful African women, wearing bright colorful tunics and headwraps. You can hear the din of so many different languages at one when you walk back to your table.
I don’t know anything else in the city like this. Great to go and have a leisurely lunch if you’re playing hooky midweek.
Weekdays, lunch only, $ 25, call ahead.

The UN Delegates Dining Room on the fourth floor of UNHQ is open to the public for buffet-​style lunch every weekday. Be advised that you do need to make reservations in advance. The lunch is $ 25 and when I was there, they were featuring a different cuisine every few weeks. I went for Korean week, and although the food was good and there was a lot of variation, I’m not sure that I would pay the same again when there’s better Korean food for less elsewhere. For a real deal, the UN cafeteria may be a little «boring» as my French friend would say but it does have $ 4 (!) plate lunches and an even better view of the river.