PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Chris”

Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  This week, it’s Chris- author of http://www.eastvillageidiot.com/ and lover of burritos

Name: Chris

Age:
24

Occupation:
Communications Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?:
53rd & 7th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food:
Pretty much any type of burrito.  If it can be wrapped in a tortilla, I probably like it.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: 
Olives.  I don’t mind olive oil (it’s the only oil I cook with), but despite my Italian heritage, I just can’t get into olives. 

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown:
 The pulled pork sandwich from the Daisy May’s BBQ Cart.  I’m heartbroken that I’ll have to walk an extra three blocks in the dead of winter to get it, but it’s a winner.  I wish it came with some decent side dishes though.  The slaw is good, but the other items need slaw too!  When I come back from Daisy May’s, it always attracts a crowd in my office, since I have to sit at my desk and construct the sandwich.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  West 53rd St. Deli (btw. 6+7th).  Nothing special, but it’s close and the hot sandwiches are decent.  There’s usually a couple of specials for around $5 – a hot teriyaki or BBQ chicken wrap, chicken or meatball parm, and a quick burger that’s decent for the price.  The salad bar is fresh and full of crisp fruits and veggies, but the hot food bar is soggy, tasteless and absolutely awful.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com:  Yips.  I really don’t know why I hadn’t ventured across 6th ave.  It’s amazing how quickly you can get a lunch there.  The other day I was on the phone with a friend, and told her I’d call her back after I got my lunch.  I walked in the door, ordered, paid, and was back on the phone in 45 seconds.  It’s nothing authentic and nothing particularly special, but it’s the perfect quick lunch:  filling, cheap, and fast.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  I envy my roommate who works across the street from Madison Square Park.  The junior level analysts and assistants in his company do more standing in line at Shake Shack for their bosses than real, actual work.  Plus, for a business lunch Grammercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla and Blue Smoke are a quick walk away.

Chris’s suggestion for a new burger in Midtown, a preview of tomorrow’s lunchtime post, and how you can be the next Midtown Lunch’er… after the jump.

Anything else you’d like to say?  I went to Ted’s Montana Grill last week for the first time (51st between 6th & 7th). While it doesn’t fit the profile of a Midtown Lunch spot, the lunch prices are surprisingly affordable for a nice sit-down joint. It’s nothing special – it’s a national chain, after all… but with a big, juicy burger running around $10, it’s a solid choice if you’re in the mood for something in-between a quick bite and an expense account lunch.

I checked out Ted’s Montana Grill on Chris’ suggestion only to find that “around $10” means over $10 in every case but one (the plain burger with nothing is $9.95).  Then you add tax, tip and the joy of knowing your money is going into Ted Turner’s pockets… and it all adds up to a place I will not be visiting! 

Chris… you’ll want to come back for tomorrow’s post.  I brave another Midtown taco/burrito stand (on 53rd & Madison).  It may not be a great or authentic burrito… but it is most definitely anything “wrapped in a tortilla”.

To be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, and share your favorites with the eating public… just email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

1 Comment

  • Sorry Chris, I couldn’t disagree with you more in your description of Ted’s Montana. A recent trip there provided not a single positive note to leave on, with the exception of the fact that I had been out of the office for close to two hours at that point. As someone who is often put off when reviewers harp on bad service, I still feel sufficiently strong about this shortcoming to mention it. Basically, it took 1.5 hours to get four burgers to our table…after we had to wait 15-20 minutes for them to ‘stagger’ the orders…ostensibly so we wouldn’t have to wait well over an hour for our burgers. There’s more to this, but I’ll let that rest there.

    Now for the food. The food still had an opportunity to turn this into a positive experience. Once again, however, Ted’s disappointed. My medium rare burger came back more than well done…which is completely inexcusable at a restaurant dedicated to such fare. Furthermore, the onion rings that looked great on other people’s plates were actually so offensively salty that I couldn’t get more than two of them down. While I realize they are probably working out the kinks at this new endeavour, there are much better, and more competently staffed, sit-down burgers around.

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