Where best to take back your lunch?

We asked Steven A. Shaw, director of culinary Web site eGullet.org and author of “Turning the Tables: The Insider’s Guide To Eating Out” for the best secret spots in the city to enjoy your feast away from your desk. Of course, there are obvious meccas, from the city’s great parks to the food court that is Grand Central Terminal. But thanks to New York’s aggressive program of “incentive zoning,” there are more than 500 other public spaces in or around major buildings in which you can chow down. Happy eating!

1. 180 Maiden Lane, the Continental Center: “Tremendous amount of public space both outdoors and covered.”

2. 60 Wall St.: “The JP Morgan building has a large, comfortable arcade with plenty of tables.”

3. 17 State St.: “Outdoor public space and a public indoor exhibit space with tables.”

4. 825 Eighth Ave., Worldwide Plaza: “The area between the office tower and the residential tower is a true oasis in Midtown. I used to work there and put in a lot of sandwich time in that plaza.”

5. 590 Madison Ave.: “The IBM building has a famous sculpture garden and a little food kiosk, though it’s probably best to bring food from elsewhere.”

6. 550 Madison Ave., Sony Plaza: “My wife, Ellen Shapiro, actually wrote an entire book on her laptop computer while sitting at the tables here after conducting interviews nearby.”

7. 55 E. 52nd St., Park Avenue Plaza: “Through-the-block arcade with plenty of tables.”

8. Citigroup Center, 153 E. 53rd St.: “The architecture of the multilevel public space here is actually a tourist attraction. Also, rare among public spaces, there are bathrooms.”

9. Paley Park, 3 E. 53rd St., between Fifth and Madison avenues: “One of the smallest parks anywhere, but it’s absolutely charming and peaceful, insulated from urban noise by the rushing of its waterfall.”

10. Lincoln Center, Columbus Avenue between 64th and 65th streets: “On nice days, the fountain can feel like the center of the universe.”