Lovely Day Introduce
In a city filled with endless dining options, a restaurant that not only offers great food but also a unique and comfortable atmosphere can feel like a rare find. For those exploring the Nolita neighborhood, Lovely Day stands out as a charming and beloved local gem. This isn't your average Thai restaurant; it's a place that feels deeply personal and inviting, with a cozy and homey vibe that has won over the hearts of its patrons for more than a decade. Lovely Day is the kind of spot where you can settle in, relax, and enjoy a meal that feels both authentic and comforting. It blends classic Thai flavors with a welcoming, slightly quirky aesthetic, creating a dining experience that is both satisfying and memorable. The restaurant's long-standing presence on Elizabeth Street is a testament to its consistent quality and a loyal following that appreciates its genuine character.
The atmosphere at Lovely Day is a significant part of its appeal. It’s described as casual, cozy, and even a bit romantic, with dim, homey lighting and a "super cute" interior that adds to its charm. The design, with its colorful tables and chairs and an understated, vintage feel, creates a comfortable and intimate setting that makes every meal feel special. This is a place that feels lived-in and loved, which makes it perfect for a variety of occasions, from a solo meal to a casual get-together with friends. The restaurant has also built a reputation for being a very welcoming and inclusive space, drawing a diverse crowd, including college students. It proudly identifies as family-friendly and a transgender safespace, ensuring that everyone who dines there feels comfortable and respected. The combination of its warm ambiance and inclusive ethos makes Lovely Day more than just a place to eat; it's a community gathering spot.
Located at 196 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012, USA, Lovely Day is perfectly situated in the heart of the Nolita neighborhood. This prime location makes it highly accessible for New Yorkers and tourists alike. Nolita, short for "North of Little Italy," is a vibrant area known for its chic boutiques, charming cafes, and a lively atmosphere. The restaurant's Elizabeth Street address is easily reachable by public transportation, with several subway stations and bus stops within walking distance, making it a convenient destination from anywhere in the city. For those who prefer to dine al fresco, the restaurant offers outdoor seating, which is a wonderful option for enjoying a meal during New York's pleasant seasons. The ability to easily access the restaurant, whether you're a local resident or visiting the neighborhood, adds to its appeal as a go-to spot for a delicious meal.
Lovely Day offers a wide range of services and dining options to cater to various needs. In addition to dine-in service, they provide takeout and delivery options, which is a great convenience for busy New Yorkers. The restaurant is a popular choice for lunch and dinner, but also serves all-day breakfast and brunch, including items like an "Irish Style Breakfast" and "Free Range Egg Sandwiches." For those planning ahead, the restaurant accepts reservations, and it is highly recommended to make one, especially on busy nights, as the place can get packed. The menu is extensive, featuring classic Thai dishes as well as unique entrées. It offers a variety of "Lovely Day Classics" like Pad Thai, Red Curry, and Coconut Curry Noodle, alongside other options like "Seared Salmon Over Green Curry" and "Grilled Salmon." The menu also caters to different dietary preferences with vegetarian options and healthy choices available. For those looking for a lighter bite or to share with friends, the "Small Plates" menu is a great option with items like "Chicken Satay," "Ginger Fried Chicken," and "Green Papaya Salad." The bar onsite offers a variety of beverages, including beer, wine, and great cocktails, while the coffee and tea selection is also a highlight, with the Thai Iced Tea being a popular choice. This combination of service options and a diverse menu ensures that Lovely Day is a versatile and accommodating dining spot for everyone.
Services Offered:
- Outdoor seating and dine-in service.
- Takeout and delivery for convenience.
- Breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner.
- Accepts reservations (highly recommended).
- Offers table service.
- Catering for events (available through online platforms).
Features / Highlights:
- Identifies as a Thai and organic restaurant.
- Known for fast service and great food.
- Offers great cocktails and a strong coffee and tea selection.
- Popular for lunch, dinner, and solo dining.
- Atmosphere is casual, cozy, trendy, and romantic.
- Accommodates a diverse crowd, including college students, and is family-friendly.
- Offers a wide range of menu options including healthy, vegan, and vegetarian choices.
- Accepts major credit cards and debit cards (Note: a customer review mentioned they only accept American Express and cash, so it is wise to be prepared).
Contact Information:
Address: 196 Elizabeth St, New York, NY 10012, USA
Phone: (212) 925-3310
What is worth choosing Lovely Day?
Choosing Lovely Day is about seeking a dining experience that is both comforting and authentically New York. The restaurant's long-standing presence and loyal customer base are a testament to its quality and charm. While some may find the menu to be more curated than overwhelming, it focuses on delivering well-prepared, flavorful dishes that satisfy. The customer reviews consistently highlight the delicious food, from the "juicy and flavorful" steak to the "very good" pineapple fried rice. The staff is often praised for being lovely, friendly, and kind, which contributes to the overall welcoming and positive dining experience. The unique, homey, and cozy atmosphere, with its dim lighting, sets it apart from more sterile or loud alternatives, making it a perfect spot for a relaxed and intimate meal. The fact that it offers a full bar with great cocktails and a delicious Thai Iced Tea only adds to its appeal. For those in search of a place that feels like a hidden treasure, a sanctuary from the city's fast pace, Lovely Day is the perfect choice. It's a place where you can enjoy a delicious meal in a truly special environment that feels like a lovely day, every time.
Lovely Day Menu
Lunch - Beverages
- Diet Coke $4.00
- Ginger Beer, Jamaican Stone, Fizz (12 Fl Oz) $3.50
- Fiz Ginger Ale $3.00
- Thai Iced Tea $5.00
- Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice $5.00
- Mexican Coke $5.00
- Fiz Seltzer $3.00
- Limeade $4.00
Lunch - Entrées
- Grilled Salmon Over Green Curry $25.00
- Seared Salmon $23.00
- Seared Wild Tuna Roll $23.00
- Flank Steak $25.00
Lunch - Condiments
- House Chili Sauce $1.00
- Spicy Chili Garlic Sauce $1.00
- House Made Peanut Sauce $1.50
- House Made Spicy Aioli $1.50
- Sweet Chili Sauce $1.00
Lunch - Soup
- Kabocha Pumpkin Soup $11.00
- Asian Herbal Soup $16.00
- Tom Ga Coconut Milk Soup $9.00
- Organic Miso Soup $6.00
Lunch - All-Day Breakfast
- Free Range Egg Sandwich $9.75
- Irish Style Breakfast $16.50
- Free Range Egg And Irish Pork Sausage Sandwich $10.75
Lunch - Lovely Day Classics
- Thai Chow Fun $15.00
- Fried Rice $13.00
- Pineapple Cashew Vegetables $15.00
- Red Curry $16.00
- Hobo Noodle $15.00
- Pineapple Fried Rice $14.00
- Coconut Curry Noodle $16.00
- Lovely Day Big Salad With Roasted Beets $16.00
- Spicy Green Curry $16.00
- Pad Thai $15.00
Lunch - Small Plates
- Green Papaya Salad $13.00
- Summer Roll With Fresh Herbs $12.00
- Young Market Greens $11.00
- Lovely Day Salad $11.00
- Julienne Vegetable Salad $11.00
- Chicken Satay $13.00
- Sautéed Chinese Broccoli $11.00
- Ginger Fried Chicken $12.75
- Edamame $7.50
- French Fries With Spicy Mayonnaise $9.00
- Long Beans $12.00
- Fried Tofu $11.00
- Side Of Japanese Rice $4.50
- Side Of Steamed Brown Rice $4.50
- Sweet Potato Fries With Worcestershire Sour Cream Dip $10.00
Lunch - Dessert
- Assorted Cookies $13.00
- Warm Homemade Flourless Chocolate Cake $11.00
- Pandon (Asian Leaves) Tres Laches $10.00
- Quinoa Choco Cookie $4.00
- Walnut Shortbread Cookie $3.50
- Homemade Peanut Butter Cookie $4.00
Dinner - Condiments
- House Chili Sauce $1.00
- Spicy Chili Garlic Sauce $1.00
- House Made Peanut Sauce $1.50
- House Made Spicy Aioli $1.50
- Sweet Chili Sauce $1.00
Dinner - Lovely Day Classics
- Red Curry (Dinner) $19.00
- Fried Rice (Dinner) $14.00
- Spicy Green Curry (Dinner) $19.00
- Pineapple Cashew Vegetables (Dinner) $18.00
- Hobo Noodle (Dinner) $18.00
- Coconut Curry Noodle (Dinner) $19.00
- Pad Thai (Dinner) $18.00
- Thai Chow Fun (Dinner) $18.00
- Pineapple Fried Rice (Dinner) $15.00
- Lovely Day Big Salad With Roasted Organic Beets $16.00
Dinner - Entrées
- Seared Wild Tuna Roll $24.75
- Flank Steak $26.75
- Seared Salmon $24.75
- Pork Chop $26.75
- Grilled Salmon Over Green Curry $26.75
Dinner - Soup
- Organic Miso Soup $6.00
- Tom Ga Coconut Milk Soup $9.00
- Asian Herbal Soup $16.00
- Kabocha Pumpkin Soup $11.00
Dinner - Small Plates
- Pork And Shiitake Mushroom Spring Roll $11.00
- Long Beans $12.00
- Side Of Steamed Brown Rice $4.50
- Side Of Japanese Rice $4.50
- Fried Tofu $11.00
- Chicken Satay $13.00
- Ginger Fried Chicken $12.75
- Sautéed Chinese Broccoli $11.00
- Green Papaya Salad $13.00
- Edamame $7.50
- Young Market Greens $11.00
- Julienne Vegetable Salad $11.00
- Lovely Day Salad $11.00
- Kimono Fried Shrimp $13.00
- Sweet Potato Fries $10.00
Dinner - Beverages
- Ginger Beer, Jamaican Stone, Fizz (12 Fl Oz) $4.00
- Mexican Coke $5.00
- Fiz Ginger Ale $4.00
- Thai Iced Tea $5.00
- Fresh Limeade $5.00
- Iced Sencha Tea $4.00
- Diet Coke $4.00
Dinner - Dessert
- Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake Slice $11.00
- Quinoa Choco Cookie $4.00
- Assorted Cookies $14.00
- Walnut Shortbread Cookie $3.50
- Pandon (Asian Leaves) Tres Leches With Crunch Buckwheat $10.00
Lovely Day Details
Service options
- Outdoor seating
- Delivery
- Takeout
- Dine-in
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great cocktails
- Great coffee
Popular for
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible parking lot
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Cocktails
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Hard liquor
- Healthy options
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegetarian options
- Wine
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Bar onsite
- Restroom
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cozy
- Romantic
- Trendy
Crowd
- College students
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
- Credit cards
Lovely Day Photos










Lovely Day Location
Lovely Day Reviews
pad thaiatmospheregreen currykitchensalmonATMmusicthe menufried chickendrinks
★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1I had the steak with mashed potatoes and asparagus, and it was so juicy and flavorful. The Thai tea was great too. The inside is super cute very homey with cozy, dim lighting. Only downside was the music being a little too loud I had trouble hearing the person across from me. But honestly, I don’t get the bad reviews. Our server was lovely and the food came out in about 20 minutes. I’d definitely come back.P.S— They only accept American Express & cashMAKE RESERVATIONS!!
August 08 · Gia BelleThe night I visited this place it was really packed so we had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated especially because we didn't have reservations. The experience overall was okay, to me it was not like any other Thai restaurant that I dine at, the menu is very limited when it comes to Thai selections compared to other places and the portions are not large. I ordered a large pineapple fried rice but the portion looked like a small but it tasted very good. The miso soup was also delicious along with the Chicken Satay and shrimp tempuratempura. The service was okay it was a busy night so there was limited interaction with our waitress. But the staff was friendly and greeted us with kindness.
May 31 · Vonnie WoodsAlways a lovely day at Lovely Day! Nice spot to come with friends or family. Must get the ginger fried chicken. Cozy and casual and one of the last spots in this area where anyone can fit in and a normal price point. Food always tastes fresh.
July 09 · Madison DurangoI enjoyed my meal here, the flavors were more herbaceous and umami than spicy. Very plant forward menu and I appreciated the portion sizes. Not the best ambience and service could have been better but I would go back!
July 01 · Nina KI had a lovely day… until I came here. They don’t warn you that they only take amex or cash, they have a small ATM at the back. It sais it on the menu, but when you come in just for a drink, that’s not exactly something you might see.I must say the waiter was quite unkind, until it came time to pay and ask for a tip, then suddenly a smile erupted on his face.This is the first time I take time to give a review on google but I just had to!
August 08 · zohar varadi
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