A man was shot in the leg while having dinner in New York during an armed robbery, according to police.

The victim was eating outside at the Philippe Chow Chinese restaurant on East 60th Street when the incident happened.

Sources from the city’s police department told NBC News that the situation started as a robbery where a 31-year-old man had his Rolex watch stolen.

However, a second man refused the robber’s demand and put up a struggle, which is when the gunfire started at around 10.30pm on Wednesday.

The victim, 28, was taken to hospital with a “non-life threatening” wound and is expected to recover.

A waitress told the New York Post: “The guy said he wasn’t going to give him his watch.”

“They shot him once.”

She added: “It was public in front of everybody. And when he said no, they just pulled out the gun. It’s absolutely terrifying.”

Police say that no arrests have been made, but two men in their 20s fled the scene in a blue sedan, travelling eastwards.