U.S. Open: A foodie gem

Over the course of the two-week-long U.S. Open, more than 720,000 fans will pass through the gates at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center — most of them hungry.

Tennis fans have particularly sophisticated palates, and good eating is at the forefront of the tournament’s hospitality plan. “Food comes first,” said Rita Garza, senior director of communications for the USTA.

Offerings range from Morimoto sushi to dishes from “Top Chef Masters” contestants — with stadium prices, to match. Here’s our guide to U.S. Open eats.

Premium ingredients

“Local” and “artisanal” are not oft-used buzzwords when talking about stadium concessions, so it’s refreshing to see foods from top purveyors on the menu.

Look for: Award-winning Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese makes an appearance at Wine Bar Food; Niman Ranch meats appear on the plates, such as the barbecue pork bocaditos served at Mojito, a Cuban-themed, full-service, indoor-outdoor restaurant at Arthur Ashe Stadium; and burgers (starting at $8.50) sold throughout the grounds are made with Pat LaFrieda beef.

Healthy ... or not

Spectators at the U.S. Open don’t burn nearly as many calories as the athletes. Thankfully, healthful options are abundant.

Look for: The new Stonyfield Cafe in the Food Village features light, organic fare such as gazpacho and a balsamic blue-cheese chicken salad. At ACES restaurant in the Arthur Ashe Stadium, Morimoto sushi is the featured event. This is all in contrast to the mountain of pastrami ($13.50) at Carnegie Deli’s U.S. Open locations, along with the Italian sausages, Southern barbecue, fish and chips, and Ben & Jerry’s that will lure you into Food Village.

Casual fine dining

No need to dress up for even the fanciest restaurants. Tennis whites are always in fashion here. ACES (with a seafood and sushi-focused menu) and Champions Bar & Grill (a classic steak house) are hangouts for VIPs, players and everyone else with good taste — or at least courtside box-seat holders and luxury-suite guests.

Look for: Venture to one of the two Wine Bar Foods, where sophisticated fare such as a mozzarella and burrata salad ($11) and a killer selection of charcuterie pair nicely with a glass of Italian vino. 

Master chefs collaborate

Head to the South Plaza for the Master Chef Cafe, a project spearheaded by Chicago’s Tony Mantuano, a contestant on the most recent “Top Chef Masters.”

Look for: Dishes from Mantuano and other contestants including Rick Moonen’s shrimp hot dog, the Moon’N Doggie ($11); Jonathan Waxman’s roast chicken panini ($9.50); and Susan Feniger’s carne asada tacos ($10.50).

How to get there

The trip to Flushing is an easy one on the No. 7 line, and the MTA is running Manhattan-bound express trains following the night sessions.

But there might be no finer way to travel than by boat on the Delta Tennis Taxi, which is free of charge to ticket holders. It departs from Piers 11 and 35, cruising straight to Queens along the river. (For more info, visit nywatertaxi.com.)

On the big screen

If you can’t score a seat at the U.S. Open, the best place to watch is at Madison Square Park, where the American Express-sponsored big-screen simulcast returns. Join the ticketless masses and cheer on your favorite players without leaving Manhattan.