I'm set to arrive next Friday into JFK at 10:50 (from SQ26) and then leave from LGA at 14:50 (US1957). I really wanted to go into Manhattan for an hour for lunch but I'm not sure I'll have enough time. By the way, I won't have any checked bags and I have a Star Gold card so I can use the "premier" security line at LGA if they have one.

What do you all think, and if you think it's possible, what sort of transport would you recommend? Taxis?

I'm set to arrive next Friday into JFK at 10:50 (from SQ26) and then leave from LGA at 14:50 (US1957). I really wanted to go into Manhattan for an hour for lunch but I'm not sure I'll have enough time. What do you all think, and if you think it's possible, what sort of transport would you recommend? Taxis?

It's definitely possible if taking taxis AND picking a place for lunch on the Upper East Side or the eastern part of Midtown AND if you are already checked through for travel without checked luggage for the onward flight from LGA. Even with checked luggage it may be possible but will be a little more of a rush.

I consider doing lunch in Queens sometimes, but often enough will go into Manhattan in a circumstance like yours, whether with coat-check-room-sized checked luggage or just cabin baggage.

Hmmm. If you exit customs/immigration by 12 Noon (worst case), and cab it to manhattan in 60 minutes (a possibility), you may have time for a slice of pizza if you have the cab wait for you, before rushing to LGA.

If you want to check in at LGA, you want to be there by 1350? If so, following GUWonder's advice, you'd want to leave Manhattan no later than 1320.

That will give you a minimum of 20 minutes for lunch. The best case leaves you 90 minutes. Good luck.

It's possible, depending on weather and traffic. Just set your mind that you will leave by 1:20 or earlier, depending on where you are and the weather (it's harder to get cabs in the rain) and go for it. Where ever you are at 1:20, even if it's on the way in still, tell them to go to the Airport.

Taxi is probably the best.

Hmmm. If you exit customs/immigration by 12 Noon (worst case), and cab it to manhattan in 60 minutes (a possibility), you may have time for a slice of pizza if you have the cab wait for you, before rushing to LGA.

If you want to check in at LGA, you want to be there by 1350? If so, following GUWonder's advice, you'd want to leave Manhattan no later than 1320.

That will give you a minimum of 20 minutes for lunch. The best case leaves you 90 minutes. Good luck.


I agree, this would be a big hassle not to mention expense for what might be a 30 minute lunch in Manhattan. The area of Astoria near LGA is actually quite cute and probably a good place for a nice lunch if you don't want to spend that time at LGA. But the central terminal at LGA has nice big places to stretch out, eat lunch with a nice cocktail/glass of wine, and have a good view of the airport taxiways and runways.

I second the suggestion of just going to Astoria. Lots of good greek food, in a casual atmosphere that is only 10 minutes to LGA. Figure an hour from JFK to there and you've got an hour-ish to eat before heading to the airport. Way better than trying to rush through to Manhattan.

By coincidence, Patrick Smith discusses the subject of food at LGA in his current column:

When you're hungry and between flights these days, it's almost impossible to avoid the shopping mall food court fare that dominates most terminals. One exception is the anonymous restaurant inside La Guardia Airport's Marine Air Terminal (MAT). It's a cafeteria-style place on the left-hand side of the old rotunda. They call it Rocco's, but there are no signs advertising it as such. In fact there are no signs at all. Thus it's hard to find, and the clientele is mostly airport employees. If you're entering from the street, head for the silver, art deco doors to the left of the Delta Shuttle awning. It's good greasy spoon food, with absolutely no corporate affiliation -- one of a dwindling few indie restaurants to be found at a major airport.

http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2007/08/10/askthepilot240/index1.html

You may end up with a 30 minute lunch and I cannot imagine any restaurant in NY where you can have a great meal in 30 minutes (Rachel Ray does not have a restaurant, right?).
You can try a cab to Howard Beach. Used to have some nice Italian places.

Having lived in Chicago as a kid, I might take the chance to have deep dish pizza in NYC - apparently there's a branch of Pizzeria Uno in Forest Hills which seems to be located on the way between JFK and LGA. It looks like I can get the Airtrain to the E subway and then go just five stops to Forest Hills, have lunch, and then get a taxi on to LGA. I guess I'll give up the idea of going to Manhattan unless my flight is significantly early arriving into JFK.

Forest Hills, Astoria, Jackson Heights .... all part of Queens.

The only thing is that you will have more trouble finding yellow cabs after your meal there than you would finding the plentiful "town car"-type hire cars with whom you should fix a price before getting in.

Having lived in Chicago as a kid, I might take the chance to have deep dish pizza in NYC - apparently there's a branch of Pizzeria Uno in Forest Hills

This isn't Chicago's Uno. It's a poor imitation and not even worth the trouble.

Having lived in Chicago as a kid, I might take the chance to have deep dish pizza in NYC - apparently there's a branch of Pizzeria Uno in Forest Hills which seems to be located on the way between JFK and LGA.

At the risk of setting off a New York Forum pizza war, if you want pizza, try either a small pie at Nick's in Forest Hills:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/qhvFdRNypRCdSg_inFe-2A

or slices at Pizza Suprema, which is across from Penn Station in Manhattan:

http://newyork.citysearch.com/profile/35191022/?brand=smx_restaurant-nc

To get to Nick's, take the AirTrain to Jamaica, and connect to the E train. Get off at 71st (Continental) Avenue/Forest Hills, and walk (about 10 minutes) to Ascan Avenue and Austin Street. (At the time you are traveling, the E train bypasses 75th Avenue station, which is the closest stop to Nick's.) To get to Pizza Suprema, take the AirTrain to Jamaica, and either take the E train to 34th Street/Manhattan (about a 30-minute ride), or the LIRR to Penn Station (about a 20-minute ride).

By the way, if you find that you are not short of time after lunch, it is possible to get to LGA from either Forest Hills or Penn Station by public transit. From 71st Avenue/Forest Hills, take a Manhattan-bound E or F express train one stop (six minutes) to Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights, and transfer (for free if you use a Metrocard) to the Q-33 bus, for a 20-25 minute ride to LGA. From Penn Station, take a Queens-bound E train to Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights (20 minutes), and transfer to the Q-33 bus.

If you decide to eat at Nick's, and time is short, there is a taxi stand at Queens Boulevard and 71st Avenue. Taxis can also be found cruising on Queens Boulevard. Travel time to LGA should be 10-15 minutes.