Comments on: PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Laren Spirer”

By: SMD

SMD — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:52:15 +0000

I am not a Conde Nast employee, but work in the 42nd/Bdwy building and eat in the caf frequently. The food is subsidized, so you can get a good sandwich, burger & fries or huge stir fry for $5-6. The salad bar is also better than most. The variety goes in cycles, and they’ve been on repeat for awhile now – hoping that it will get better now that spring is here and there are more fresh produce options. Overall, the quality of the food is great.

FYI, the management company that runs the CN caf also runs the Google caf.

By: Midtown Lunch » PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Tam”

Midtown Lunch » PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Tam” — Tue, 01 May 2007 14:55:11 +0000

[...] Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a Midtown Lunch’er for their recommendations of places to eat Lunch in Midtown. Apparently last week’s lunch’er wasn’t good enough! Things like “Not much helpful information”, and “least informative lunch’er… ever” were posted as comments. And here I was thinking that all you people wanted was a pretty face. This week I’m bringing out the big guns! ”Tam” is the one who turned me on to the Chikubu Friday Ramen Special. Unfortunately, it closed before I got a chance to check it out! We’re losing her to the Finanacial District (traitor!), so I’m turning the site over to her for some final suggestions… [...]

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 21:07:08 +0000

I agree… that was the least informative lunch’er of the week that this blog has ever done. She can’t pick a favorite food, the places she enjoys no longer exist, and the place she “discovered” on this site – she hasn’t even been to.

I’m looking forward to something better next week.

By: robert

robert — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 18:48:12 +0000

What happened to the Cafeteria in the basement of the McGraw Hill Building (Ave. of Am. & 49th St.)?

Yeah… it’s been gone for over a year. That’s the building I work in… -zach

By: Laren

Laren — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 17:27:43 +0000

Here are a few more suggestions (since I wasn’t as prolific as the public seems to want): Taksim, on 2nd between 54th & 55th, for falafel sandwiches and middle eastern fare, and Grand Sichuan, on 2nd btw 55th & 56th — great for group lunches. I have gotten some co-workers hooked on their sauteed pea shoots and I love their spicy dan dan noodles.

By: JP

JP — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:31:57 +0000

Our building has a cafeteria, Reuters building on Times Square, subsidized, but the menu gets old very quickly and the quality is comparable to a midtown deli. My friend works at the Hearst building on 57th, their cafeteria is supposed to be pretty good.

By: Yvo

Yvo — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:28:20 +0000

My company has a cafeteria and it’s subsidized. Not as cheap as Jasmine’s though. It’s 4.25ish for a hot entree and two sides. Sometimes we have huge holiday specials where we can have black cod or lobster or steak blah blah…. I’ve taken pictures before but only posted them on my personal blog. Whoops. (And though I post a few pictures of myself here and there, I don’t want my “true identity” revealed nor my name linked with my company.) Ah well.

By: Rootbeer

Rootbeer — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:04:27 +0000

You gotta be more specific, Teen Wolf — Conde Nast also has a cafeteria in their building at 750 3rd Avenue. Unlike the Gehry cafeteria at 4SQ, though, that one is cold, overpriced, and depressing.

By: Teen Wolf

Teen Wolf — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 14:28:26 +0000

stan’s comment is pretty harsh…but I have to agree. To answer your cafeteria question: CondeNast! Have you never been there? It’s at 4 Times Square (42nd and Broadway). You’ve gotta know someone to get you in the building. But, once you’re in, it’s (comparatively) cheap and delicious. The atmosphere is nice too if you like pretentious glass and steel (Frank Gehry) architecture coupled with hot girls who work at fashion magazines. Try to go on a Wednesday for pasta day. Or get the stir fry (any day).

I’ve heard about that one!!! Anyone want to take me??? :-) -zach

By: stan

stan — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:49:29 +0000

not much helpful information in that post. it’s a nice idea to solicit opinions from the masses of midtownlunchers, but how about some more screening to make sure they have something interesting to say. . . . Laran’s “pretty good” inhouse caf. doesn’t help me with my lunch selection. thx

Really? I didn’t even realize people read the suggestions. I thought everyone just liked to use it to find potential dates. -zach