Midtown Lunch

Alright… it’s Friday- so it’s the last of our week long Profiled: Midtown Lunch’ers!  I’ll be back from Thailand on Monday… no doubt with some new opinions of Yum Thai.  Today’s Lunch’er is Sarah… our first (but probably not our last) Midtown Lawyer!!!

Name: Sarah

Age: 30

Occupation: Attorney

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Rockefeller Center

Favorite Kind of Food: Well, it’s hard to say- but whenever I feel like ordering in it’s always Sushi or Thai… so maybe- Asian food?

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Black Licorice.  Is that a food?  I also hate fast food… but that’s not totally true.  I like french fries, and Popeyes, and Ranch 1.  I guess I just hate McDonalds.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Depends who’s paying.  If I am, than Menchanko-Tei.  The Hakata ramen is my favorite.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: It’s definitely Cafe Duke.  I always get the salad bar (and load up on the free bread in the bowl!)

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Kati Roll and Sapporo

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Anywhere there is not a giant Christmas tree.  If I had to choose a specific place to work it would be Bali so I could eat at yummy food carts for lunch (but I don’t want to say that because than people will move there and ruin it)

What did you ask Santa to bring Midtown Lunch in 2007? Hidden lunch spots that tourists don’t know about (and you don’t have to walk by any tourists to get there)… preferably a cheap Vietnamese place.

That’s it for this week!  Thanks to all our Profiled: Midtown Lunch’ers for picking up the slack this week while I ate my way across Thailand.  To be a Profiled Lunch’er email me at zach@midtownlunch.com  Back on Monday!

I’m in Thailand until next Monday, so all week long I’m turning over MidtownLunch to the lunch’ers.  Every day this week you’ll get a new Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er with their recommendations for eating in Midtown.  PLUS as an added New Year’s Bonus, the profile will include their dreams for Midtown Lunch 2007!  Today’s Lunch’er is Helen… or as some blog & flickr junkies might know her as bloozorez.

Name: Helen

Age: 27

Occupation: Clinical Research Associate (and I write a blog http://bloorozez.blogspot.com/)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Right by Grand Central

Favorite Kind of Food: I hate this question!  How do you ask a foodie that?  Sushi, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai, noodles, Salads drenched in dressing…

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I don’t have one.  If you’re talking condiments, it would have to be mayo.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Menchanko-Tei

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Cosi, Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck, Stella’s Deli, Old Bridge Deli, Hale & Hearty, Menchanko-Tei, Oms/b, Yuka, Cafe Zaiya, Sophie’s, Amish Market, Chipotle, Famous Chicken Place, Pita Girl, Mandoo Bar, Earl’s, K-Town, Burritoville…

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Hurry & Tasty Curry & Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Further downtown… because there is more hole in the walls.

What did you ask Santa to bring Midtown Lunch in 2007? More Korean & Thai!  And preferably hole in the wall type places, but it’s Midtown- so I know that’s asking too much!

I agree on the whole Thai thing (especially since places like Yum Thai will probably be ruined for me by the food I’m eating right now in Thailand), but you’re 10 blocks away from Koreatown.  I feel no sympathy for you on the Korean tip.  (Mandoo bar was in your “goto” lunch places for god sake!)

I’m in Thailand until next Monday, so I’ve decided to turn over MidtownLunch to the lunch’ers. Every day this week you’ll get a new Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er with their recommendations for eating in Midtown and their dreams for Midtown Lunch 2007! Today’s Lunch’er is Tom… a born and raised New Yorker who is sick of people bashing the food in Midtown!

Name: Tom (although I think that might be an Alias)

Age: 23

Occupation: Finance

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 46th & 5th

Favorite Kind of Food: Bread.  Bagels, pumpernickel, toast, sourdough, pretzels, white, hot dog buns, potato, hearty Italian, wonder, baguette, pancakes and waffles.
 
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Mayonnaise

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Utsav Indian Buffet on 46th btw. 6+7th.  It is more expensive ($15) than other Indian buffets, but well worth it.  They always have lamb korma, which is ground spicy lamb-kind of like sloppy joe’s, great naan, and TWO desserts! I love the carrot kulcha… it tastes like carrot cake.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Food World on 46th btw. 5th & Madison.  It is one of the everything under the sun places.  They do a good burrito, a nice salad bar, as well as the standard grill station.  The salad bar is $6.99, and you get 6 things (including 2 meats).  They also have many cheeses (blue and parmesan), spicy chicken, tuna, beats, eggs and much more with tasty dressings to compliment them.  I like the caesar.  The standout is the make your own Mongolian BBQ station, which is great.  They even have a flat screen TV out from so you can see all the food being made.  The big let down is the pasta bar.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Margon.  Mmmmmm.  Cubanos/Dominicanos

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Here in New York City!  I’m tired of all these picks of the week bashing on this city.  I am a native New Yorker, born and raised.  This city has the most options of any city in the world, and they are all open late.  Try, just try to get Chinese food at 3am in D.C..  It is impossible and you will cry.  Here, no problem.  (Although I do wish I could get some good Texas Red Chili)

What did you ask Santa to bring Midtown Lunch in 2007? I asked Kwanza Karl to bring me a Gyro machine for the office and a half smoke from Ben’s Chili Bowl (Washington DC). Failing that, I would settle for a shorter line at Kati Roll and a real Scottish style Fish and Chips shop, where you can chase your scrod with a deep fried Mars Bar.

Anything else you’d like to ask our readers? Anybody know any good Ethiopian places?   Or picadillo, the Cuban style “Sloppy Joe’s” ground beef dish?  Or tamales?  I like the bodega on 14th & A, but it’s a shlep.

My recommendation for Ethiopian, and Texas Red Chili (which I’m sort of surprised Ed doesn’t know about)… after the jump.

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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…)