Midtown Lunch

I’m in Thailand until Monday, so I’ve decided to turn over MidtownLunch to the lunch’ers. All week long, Profiled: Midtown Lunch’ers and their recommendations for eating in Midtown. PLUS as an added New Year’s bonus, the profile will include their dreams for Midtown Lunch 2007! (I posted mine the Friday before Christmas… unfortunately David Chang hasn’t gotten back to me yet). Today’s Lunch’er is Lisa… a very homesick Texan who may or may not have gained 10 pounds since starting to read Midtown Lunch!

Name: Lisa

Age: Old Enough

Occupation: Magazines (and the blogger behind http://homesicktexan.blogspot.com/)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 44th & 3rd

Favorite Kind of Food:  I’m an equal opportunity eater that enjoys most everything- but I’m especially fond of cheese enchiladas, cheeseburgers, and any food that’s green, red or orange.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Food that’s been sitting under a lamp for hours… and stuff made with MSG (I’m allergic)

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: If I had my druthers, I’d eat at Goodburger every day.  I always order a cheeseburger with mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickles with a side of fries, and extra mayo for dipping (I love mayo!)  Some people complain that the burger is too small, but for me it’s just right.  Before Goodburger opened we’d go to Blarney Stone, but I can’t eat a whole one of those without getting seriously ill.  I’m also a big fan of street meat.  There’s a cart I frequent on 45th & 3rd Ave. (across from Sparks Steakhouse) and no matter how many times I go I still have to beg for extra hot sauce.  The cart master always says “Are you sure?”, and I always reply “Yes, I’m a Texan!”  I’ve tried a lot of carts in the area and this one is the “safest” one.  No gastro-intestinal issues yet!

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Goodburger.  See above.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Oms/b.  While I’d always known about this place (it’s across the street from my office), I never went there until I read your review.  Expensive, but tasty.  And the Japanese are so brilliant at packaging and presentation.  I’m never sure if I want to eat it, or just take a photo of it.  I’d also like to try the Mexican Cart with the Sombrero (even though it wasn’t a favorite of yours).  I was also hoping to go to the Diamond Dairy.  I love hidden away secret spots.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? )The Piedmonte Italy.  I spent a week there at the end of October and oh boy, the Italians know how to do lunch.  Nary a deli, salad bar, or American fast food chain to be found.  Instead we ate in restaurants and cafes where we were served these ludicrously long, multi-course meals all washed down with glasses of Proseco, Barbaresco, Barolo and Sauternes.  Not to mention the ubiquitous white truffles in autumn.  And after all that good eating, you get to take a nap!  The Italians know how to live…

What did you ask Santa to bring Midtown Lunch in 2007? I would die and go to heaven if Taco Cabana or Whataburger came to Midtown.  I read that Taco Cambana is now owned by a company based out of Albany, so it should be too difficult for them to open a Manhattan branch!!!  And why not more Shake Shacks?  Sure, I enjoy Goodburger, but if Shake Shack was in Midtown, I’d probably go there every day.  Sorry Goodburger, I like you a lot… but you’re no Shake Shack.

Anything else you’d like to say? I’ve gained 10 pounds since August, and I’ve been reading Midtown Lunch since August.  Coincidence?  I think not!  You should try and wrangle some sort of Midtown Lunch gym discount for your readers!

Good idea.  You hear that, Gold’s? Or Sports Club L.A.?  (Those are names of Gyms right?  I’m not positive since I’ve never stepped foot inside one of those places in my life…)