Midtown Lunch

Ressie Mae’s, the soul food place on 8th ave. btw. 39+40th with loose ties to Amy Ruth’s in Harlem has closed as of today.  I was just emailed these sad photos from Midtown Lunch’er “Jed”:

Apparently they were evicted after not paying their rent.  No word yet on what will go up in its place, but the landlord said he doesn’t want another restaurant in there.  Bummer…  I will miss you Fried Chicken & Waffles.

Do you have Midtown Lunch’ing news or photos.  Email them to zach@midtownlunch.com or post them to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Photo Group.

Every neighborhood in NYC seems to have a “Taste of” festival these days.  My favorite by far is the one in Chinatown which manages the perfect combination of price and variety.  Every dish is $1 or $2, allowing you to eat whatever you want without remorse.  It may not be a good indication of how good or bad a place is, but for $2, it’s not much of an investment.  If what you buy sucks, you don’t feel too bad- it only cost a couple of bucks.

It’s not a big surprise that the Chinatown one is cheap.  Chinatown is a cheap neighborhood.  In fact, I wonder if all the “Taste of” festivals fall into their neighborhoods respective stereotypes.  Do they make you feel un-cool at the “Taste of the Lower East Side?”  Maybe they only serve the beautiful people at the “Taste of the Meatpacking District” festival.  “Taste of Times Square” certainly lives up to its stereotype.  Super packed, full of tourists, really annoying and pretty overpriced.  Oh, and the food consisted of 5 places serving Ribs, and 284 places serving their version of pasta with red sauce.  Good times!

However, yesterdays Taste of Times Square was entertaining- and there were a few things worth mentioning.  Not much that would qualify as a Midtown Lunch, but entertaining nonetheless.  You had to buy tickets beforehand (a huge inconvenience), so I allotted myself 10 tickets ($10).  With most items costing between 3 and 5 tickets, you had to be pretty good about budgeting.

Coolest Part of the Festival: Utsav, the Indian place on 46 btw. 6+7th was actually cooking Naan right on the street in a giant clay pot. 

Pretty awesome.  Yesterday, a commenter mentioned you can get lunch there to-go for $8.  I think I might have to try that one of these days…

Biggest Rip-Off: Papa John’s Pizza.  One Slice – $3.  Are you kidding me?  You people must be high. 

The “Hey Look at Us!  We’re really a classy joint, despite our waitresses being in Bikinis” dish:  Pepper Seared Beef Carpaccio on Himalayan Rock Salt w/ Arugula Salad.  Didn’t I see David Burke use that rock salt on the Iron Chef?  Definitely my favorite use of Himalayan Rock Salt at any of the booths.  Although- I’m no expert, but doesn’t the food actually have to be touching the salt for it to impart any flavor?

Best Job of Admitting Your Food is Overpriced Halfway Through the Festival:  I guess Spotlight Live wasn’t selling many Tuna Tacos w/ Asian Slaw at $5 a pop.  A little impromptu price lowering may have helped.  The guy in the booth assured me that they “tasted better than they look”.  Way to sell the food buddy…

Dish That Almost Had Me Eating Food From a Restaurant I Would Never Eat At:  The Hush Puppies from Bubba Gump.  Those things looked pretty damn good… and at $2, they were a relative bargain.  Luckily I exercised self restraint, and my streak is still intact of never eating at any chain restaurants taken from over-rated 90s movies!

The most inexplicable line award:  The giant line at the Applebee’s booth.  Are you kidding me? 

Penne with red sauce #34 out of 485.  Rigatoni & Ziti were also an acceptable substitute.  Nothing says Restaurant Row like boring Italian food.

Biggest disappointment of the Day:  Speaking of boring Italian food, what was up with the Becco Booth.  Pasta with Red Sauce served by a guy wearing a “How Do You Like Your Sausage T-Shirt”.  I expected a little more from Lidia Bastianich.

Now… onto the food I ate- all of which happened to be good!  Pics and more, after the jump.

Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a Midtown Lunch’er for their recommendations of places to eat lunch in Midtown.  After 3 women in a row (two of them Mets fans), I asked for a Yankees fan who was a guy- and got one. Meet Justin, an Accountant/Yankees Fan- neither of which is apparent from his picture…

Name: Justin

Age: 26

Occupation: Accountant

Where in Midtown do you Work?: My main office is on 51st between Park+Lex, but I worked for months at 47th between Park+Lex.

Favorite Kind of Food: Pretty much anything that will shorten my life span. I love Pizza, fried foods, pork, and steak. I love Chinese, Indian, Italian, and all the Hispanic goodies that I have learned about on your site.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything vegetarian. It is not a meal unless an animal dies. Though falafel can make a great side dish.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: This is a tough one, I love a lot of different things and try to vary it up. During the winter I definitely hit up Menchenko-tei a lot. Mmmmm ramen, I fell in love with this stuff when I was in Tokyo. I also love my carts, nothing like a greasy combo over rice. There is a Jiannettos pizza truck right in front of my office, so if am still hungry a quick slice is always good. I mean I like so many things it is hard to say in this short blurb. Though I have to say my absolute favorite dish for lunch is probably roast pork (like all good Jews), and we have some great places to get it in Midtown- Sophie’s and Margon come to mind immediately

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: I don’t really have a go to lunch spot. When I worked a little more south I went to the food court in Grand Central since there were a lot of options… I didn’t say good options but options none the less. There was a deli between Park+adison on 48th (I think) that had a really good chicken Bi Bim Bop, for $10 I use to get a lot. Also again Menchanko-Tei , but you can’t really go there enough. Also Pizza Rustico, it has a great deal in the back where you can get a dish, two pastas, and two vegitables for $7. It is great variety for the price.

Place you discovered thanks to MidtownLunch: El Rincon del Sabor, Menchanko-Tei, Margon, Ho Yip, The Jamaican Cart on 51st (really good, but who has an hour to eat at a cart).

Dream job location, purely for lunch purposes?: Somewhere in Italy where I can get awesome dried meats, cheese, and wine at lunch, not to mention great pizza, and chicken parm. Though if I was going to stay in NYC I would go downtown between Chinatown and Little Italy, good chinese food, good italian, and soho options if you are willing to walk.

If you love meats, and the Jamaican Cart you should check out the Golden Krust on 3rd Ave btw. 43+44.  Great stewed meats, and Jamaican patties.  For a more Latin flavor, La Strada is definitely the place to go (56th btw. 3rd+Lex).  For those of you on West side, and looking for an alternative to Sophie’s & Margon- I still think the best roast pork is at Cafe Cello (46th btw. 5+6th). It’s been almost a year since I’ve written about this place, so a lot of people might have missed it or forgotten- but if crispy skin is your thing, than their roast pork is to die for.  Roast pork porn after the jump… Read more »

Overshadowed by the Big Apple BBQ Block Party this past weekend (and most other food festivals in the city), A Taste of Times Square is happening tonight from 5 to 8:30pm. on 46th St. btw. Broadway & 9th Ave.  According to their website, it’s:

Your chance to sample signature dishes and a variety of international foods from Times Square’s finest eateries…

If Hard Rock Cafe, Planet Hollywood, Papa John’s & Applebee’s are some of the “finest eateries” in Times Sq. than I think we’re in trouble.  I’m gussing our Times Sq. favorites (Kati Roll, Minar, Margon, Yum Thai, and all the food carts) got priced out…

I do love food festivals though, so I will probably do a quick walk through after work.  It will be a cheap way to try some of the places a little expensive for Midtown Lunch’ing purposes… like Utsav, Becco & Virgil’s BBQ.  Plus, I do love Snapple!

For more info, including a full list of vendors, go here.  There is no information about how much the food costs (they’ll be selling generic “tickets” at booths throughout the festival), but if it’s a true “Taste” of Times Sq. I’m guessing it will be overpriced and packed with annoying tourists.

Applebee’s Photo courtesy of cmax on flickr.

After last night’s Soprano’s episode, I’m sort of in the mood for some onion rings.  The best Onion rings I’ve had in Midtown (by far) are the ones at Del Frisco’s (49th btw. 6+7th)… but if you don’t have $11.95 to drop on a plate of fried onions (yes, a side order of onion rings is Twelve Dollars), my pick for best onion rings in Midtown would have to be Prime Burger on 51st btw. Madison & 5th.

A picture of those, plus the worst onion rings in Midtown… after the jump Read more »

K.C. Rib-Ticklers does sound really good today.

I’m embarassed to admit it… but this was my lunch yesterday.  I know it’s terrible to bring my lunch on the 1 Year Anniversary of this website, but truthfully, after looking back on a year of eating, I was feeling kind of fat.  Now before you say “Uh… Zach.  There are cheetos stuffed in that sandwich… how does that qualify as healthy?”.  They were baked cheetos.  BIG difference.  And it’s homemade tuna fish, so not as much mayo.  And yes, I do still put cheetos in my tuna fish sandwiches, and yes I am still 8 years old.  Tuna melts are acceptable, right?  Don’t cheetos qualify as cheese?  (…a crunchy version of cheese)

MIDTOWN LINKS

• I am so jealous this wasn’t me!  Amateur Gourmet sneaks into the Conde Naste Cafeteria.  (Why won’t anyone offer to take me!!!) [AG]
• Roboppy goes to Go Go Curry [Girl Who Eats Everything]
• The description of an amazing lunch at Insiemme… oh, and btw- it cost $170 [Chowhound]
• A good Sushi place on Seamless Web for the folks in Midtown East [Gaijin Girl]

After the jump- Authentic Texas BBQ in NYC, the best Cuban Sandwich in the world, Dinner with the winner of Top Chef 1, and more… Read more »

And they said it would never last… actually- maybe they said my body would never last. My wife is certainly worried about me. I try to convince her it’s not that bad, but unfortunately she has an entire year of posts to back up her growing concern for my personal well being.

I have certainly eaten a lot of fattening food over the past year. It’s especially tough when you decide not to eat anything healthy (what can I say? I hate Midtown salad bars.) What started out as an excuse to eat gross lunches and take pictures of all my food has turned into something bigger than I ever imagined. The fact that thousands of people would actually read something that came out of my vacant head surprises me every day, and is a testament to how starved people are for new (and good) lunch options in Midtown.

When I first started Midtown Lunch, the premise was that there were no good lunch options in Midtown. But it is pretty clear, after a year of doing this, that there are actually some amazing lunch options in Midtown- and new places are opening up all the time. And there is only one thing keeping you from those great lunches (while simulatneously keeping crappy Midtown delis in business)… laziness. There’s no excuse for eating a bad lunch. You’ve got plenty of options.

Here’s some of my favorite posts and pictures from the past year of Midtown Lunch’ing…

6.7.06 — The First Post Goes Up. “Navigating a Wasteland”

6.12.06 — My “love affair” with Chipotle Begins. Part of the reason I started Midtown Lunch was over my disbelief at how excited my office was for the opening of the new Chipotle downstairs in our building. It was very disheartening…

The falafel deal at Kosher Deluxe

6.19.06 — Week 3 of Midtown Lunch was dubbed “Falafel Week“. I reviewed House of Pita, Moshe’s, Kwik Meal, Bread & Olive, and Aron’s (R.I.P.). Kwik Meal was dubbed the winner, but it wasn’t until months later that I would discover the amazing Falafel deal at Kosher Deluxe.

6.27.06 — I review my first, and last, salad bar. The one at Variety Cafe. 3 weeks later they would be closed by the DOH, and I would never go back to Variety again. I know it’s hypocritical though. If one of the ethnic places I love got closed by the DOH (Hing Won, I’m looking in your general direction), I probably would still go back.

6.29.06 — The Kati Roll revolution begins. I don’t think I need to write anymore about this place. It’s the most read post on Midtown Lunch, by far.

More Chipotle madness, the plantain stuffed burrito, fried chicken and waffles, and my favorite Midtown Lunch post of all time- after the jump… Read more »

Tomorrow is the big day.  It is the One Year Anniversary of Midtown Lunch.  On June 7th, 2006, it all began, and the next day my first restaurant posting went up, about Hing Won on 48th btw. 5+6th.  At the time, Hing Won was my favorite place for Chinese food in Midtown.  Authentic Chinese food on the right, Steam Table “Chinese Food” on the left.  The best of both worlds.  Which means everyone in your office can enjoy it- from the guy who only eats Beef and Broccoli to the more adventurous eater, looking for an authentic Chinatown style lunch. Cheap, authentic, fresh, and delicious.

But more than the good food, Hing Won showed me there was a better way to Midtown Lunch.  While other people I knew were eating crappy Chinese food (Manchu Wok, I’m looking at you), my wife had showed me a place that most people in Midtown would ignore (because of the crappy exterior), if they even noticed it at all.  So with much excitement (I’m so busy looking for new places I don’t usually get to have lunch at some of my favorite old places), I returned to Hing Won- the place that one year ago was worthy of being the very first Midtown Lunch.

What I got, and the obligatory food porn, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a Midtown Lunch’er for their recommendations of places to eat lunch in Midtown. Today, it’s Sandra our third woman in a row (and second Mets fan).  Don’t we have any dudes (or Yankees fans) who are ready to step up to the plate?  Sandra comes from the hottest up and coming section of Midtown.  She’s been smack dab in the middle of new openings, including Ressie Mae’s Soul to Go, Mandler’s, and Popeye’s– and will soon get a Sophie’s Cuban, and another new place that we’ll let her tell you about!  

Name: Sandra

Age: 30

Occupation: IT Manager

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 8th Ave and 38th St (Midtown West reprazent!)

Favorite Kind of Food: Any kind of Asian or Latin cuisine. If it’s got either pork or plaintains, I’m sold.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Subway, crappy pizza, and $8 salads.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: My neighborhood is still “up and coming” in terms of good food options, but my go-to places tend to be Bento Nouveau on 39th and B’Way for good takeout sushi, Burritoville, and Pick a Pita. Occasionally I hit Mandler’s but I try not to make a habit out of it. That place will be the death of me. I’ve recently discovered on 39th between 8+9th a good Latin place that I think is just called “Spanish Food”. They have a good $5 lunch special of rice, beans, plaintains and whatever meat they’ve got that day. Also, Aceluck on 9th Ave between 39+40th is great for Thai and has a good lunch special that’s under $10.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Village 38, which is the generic deli next to my office. It stays in business purely because of those of us who are too lazy to walk more than 2 feet from the office.

Place you discovered thanks to MidtownLunch: Fashion Soup – I end up there at least once a week. Their soups are fantastic and they have really great empanadas. Midtown Lunch has also been great for finding out when new places are actually opening. I feel like I get the inside scoop. :)

Dream job location, purely for lunch purposes?: Astoria – in addition to the fact that it would be an ultra short commute (yay!), they have every cuisine you could possibly want and tons of outdoor cafes where you can sit and drink coffee for hours and just chill out.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Are there any good outdoor cafe-type places in Midtown West? I’d love to branch out past Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts for my coffee breaks.  And finally, I’m curious to know when the Sophie’s on 40th (next to Popeye’s) and the Golden Krust (next to Mandler’s) will be opening. Their coming soon signs have been tormenting me for months!

Well Sandra, you’ve give us some great suggestions to chew on.  The “Spanish Food” place sounds pretty interesting (I too am a fan of pork), and Bento Nouveau is a place I’ve been meaning to try out for awhile now.  As for the new Sophie’s, according to their website the location on 40th btw. 7+8th will be opening on August 15th.

Now to the big news…  Apparently a new Golden Krust is opening next to Mandler’s!  If you haven’t been to Golden Krust yet (there are a few Midtown locations), it’s a Carribean chain serving all sorts of curry and jerk meat dishes, plus the widest selection of patties in the city.  A picture of one, after the jump… Read more »