PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Margot”
Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Margot, a Media Planner who, judging by the way she’s shoving that lobster roll into her mouth, and her use of the term “wicked”, must originally be from New England. She also never met a sandwich she didn’t like- which makes her ok in my book.
Name: Margot
Age: 24
Occupation: Media Planner (Advertising)
Where in Midtown do you Work?: 49th St & 3rd Ave
Favorite Kind of Food: Sandwiches – because they’re incredibly diverse. They can be found at every meal of the day (even dessert – we’re talking ice cream squeezed between two cookies). Every country (sometimes state or even city) has it’s own version, which means I have the world to choose from. Frozen, cold, warm or piping hot – I love ‘em all. I just got back from Philly (CHEESESTEAK!!!) and did the taste test between Pat’s vs. Geno’s. I’m sorry but Pat’s wins hands down. Pat’s cheesesteaks even LOOK more appetizing. Now my friend Z tells me I have to hit up Tony Luke’s next time I’m in Phi-town because they are 100x better than Pat’s. Best NYC deli sandwich resides in Queens @ “The Sandwich King of Astoria” (Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli). “The Bomb” – $6 and big enough to feed 3 people – although they do not warn you of this. And I digress…
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Cilantro – *gags* Really it’s a genetic mutation of mine – it tastes like dish water, and if you have ever had your mouth washed out with a bar of soap for back talking your mother when you were little – well you can appreciate why I hate this foul herb. It’s really a shame because I love ethnic cuisine. Indian, Thai and Mexican are heavy on the cilantro. I am one of those people who hates to make a fuss and believe that you should eat what you’re given – so I’ll never ask for the cilantro to be taken out – I’ll just try to pick around it or order dishes I know won’t have it (ie: Chicken Tandoori, Pad Thai, Chicken Basil).
Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: It’s a toss up – if I’m really hungry and have the time (and energy) to walk down – I’ll head to Milant (39th btw. 3+Lex) for the # 8 #10 or #12 depending on what my stomach is demanding. If I’m just on the fence about lunch and/or in a rush I’ll head over to Mee Noodle Shop (2nd Ave & 49th) and order up some Cantonese wonton soup and an egg roll. Although their soup is awesome, their noodles are what they’re known for (my fav being the thin Cantonese noodles) – not to mention it is incredibly wallet friendly.
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Devon & Blakley (43rd btw. Lex+3rd) or Cafe Basil (47th & 3rd)- we have health conscience, typical sandwich/salad eating, too lazy to walk further than a block, stick to the same routine every day, willing to shell out lots of cash for mediocre food type of folks around this office.
Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Margon – Cuban Sandwich if I may :) It makes me drool just thinking about it.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Hmmm… it wouldn’t be about location, but about a flexible job that would allow me to travel all over the country and/or world so I could experience a different cuisine for lunch every week. Okay – but seriously – IF I had to choose one place – I would go with Portland, ME. I would never get sick of seafood for lunch (mmmm lobster). Just not possible – and on top of that it’s wicked gorgeous up there.
Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Best place for a pulled pork sandwich in the city – who has it? I hear mixed reviews about BBQ joints and everyone has their own two cents to throw in.
The only pulled pork sandwich worth eating in Midtown- after the jump…
As far as I’m concerned Daisy May’s is the only BBQ I’ll eat in Midtown, and their Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwich with Cole Slaw is top notch. I just can’t bring myself to step into the tourist filled Brother Jimmy’s, Virgil’s or Dallas BBQ- but I know there are some people who are down. Feel free to post your favorites in the comments below…
And, as always, if you have news, suggestions, or you want to be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er- email me at zach@midtownlunch.com
Posted: 8:38 am, September 11th, 2007 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
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37 Comments
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Awesome profile. I have to agree with DDR that Dinosaur is hands down the best local pulled pork but it’s way uptown. Hope you get a chance to get up to 131st street for it because it’s totally worth it. Otherwise, in Midown, there’s always Virgil’s if you can shoulder past the tourists, their pulled pork sandwich is very decent but kinda pricey. It’s a long walk from 3rd Ave, but maybe worth satisfying a craving for!
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Woo-hoo! Tuesday’s fresh eater thrown to the lions!
Let’s see…. cute…. not afraid to be seen murdering a lobstah roll…slightly quirky food choices… a little food issue thrown in to the mix….. Nothing to complain about here!
I second the choice of Dinosaur, but thats hardly midtown.
Forget Brother Jummy’s. Forget Dallas BBQ.
Virgils is just fine with me, I rather like their wings too. Their ribs arent half bad. Hill country and Blue Smoke and RUB are too far, except for maybe a 2 hour lunch.But I’ve never made it to daisy mays when they actually had any bbq. Do they run out often?
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i just tried dallas jones (tiny place down on houston & bedford) over the weekend. very pleasantly surprised. and we had it delivered and it was piping hot when we got it!
definitely a yankee if she’s drinking a pepsi.
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Daisy May’s is the best for BBQ, no doubt. Too bad there’s no cart near me and the main location is so far west.
I thought Virgil’s was pretty overrated. Some good coleslaw, but the pulled pork was kinda “eh.”
Actually I’ll admit to liking Brother Jimmy’s. I usually go to the Grand Central location. The South Carolina Pulled Pork (the one that comes with the spicy mustard flavored BBQ sauce), is actually pretty good. The Mac and Cheese is alternately mediocre and very good, depending on whether they give you enough of that crunchy top crust. The one time I went to Brother Jimmy’s on the UWS they had some pretty good wings too.
As for Dallas BBQ, its nothing special. But as far as portion sizes and price goes, its very hard to beat for BBQ.
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Oh forgot to mention RUB. I thought the RUB pulled pork was a little too dry when I had it. Good chopped brisket and good BBQ chicken though.
Still think Daisy May’s is the best bet.
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i’ve never been to daisy may’s, but i do have to say that i like blue smoke’s pulled pork bbq, and their sides hit the spot everytime – hushpuppies, mac n cheese in particular.
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not midtown but pies and thighs in williamsburg has this ridiculous pulled pork sandwich. drool.
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Next to riceballs, I love nothing more than a Vietnamese sandwich stuffed with CILANTRO.
I also rather like Brother Jimmy’s. Yummy cornbread. Unfortch, last time I went, I was told no dark beer.
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I like the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. I’m not sure how *authentic* it is, but my Chapel Hill friends like it, sooooo…
And WHERE was that Lobby Roll pix taken. My quest for the ultimate one has led me as far north as kenebunkport and as far south as annapolis….
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Great profile, Margot! Cute pic.
Dallas BBQ: never. Putrid food. Big margaritas, though. Hot clientele, too, if that’s your flava as it is mine.
Daisy May’s: so-so. Odd spices. I’ll eat it on occasion though.
Virgil’s: edible pulled pork. Very tasty brisket if had in a sandwich. Passable ribs. Utterly fantastic chix wings — the best I’ve had, anywhere — I will go there just for the wings. Best cornbread in town.
RUB: tasty pulled pork. Do I recall a nice bit of vinegar? Great duck.
Hill Country: KILLER brisket. KILLER pork chop — have them cut a center chop from the WHOLE rack they have (hopefully, sometimes they don’t have it).
Blue Smoke: good ribs, better brisket. So-so pulled pork.
Summary, for pulled pork: RUB.
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Delta Grill has the best pulled pork sandwiches in Midtown. The bread is far better Daisy May’s.
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Hey Margot – where in Astoria is Sal, Kris & Charlie’s Deli?
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Coriander.
Lobster roll me wanna be.
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Margot are you from Maine? Yay! Maine! Also I would like to know where this Astoria sandwich place is for lunch at my weekend job in that hood.
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PATS. don’t eat a misteak.
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For a “tourist” place, Virgil’s is pretty good. Not transcendent or anything, but their ribs and pulled pork really hit the spot if you have a BBQ crave.
Dinosaur is overrated.
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wow. you feel exactly the same way i do about sandwiches. this is why thats always my answer if someone asks if i had to eat one kind of food for the rest of my life i always say sandwich.
rock. now i want a lobster roll.
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For pulled pork: Dinosaur hands down (although the one in Syracuse is far superior).
When I don’t feel like trekking up there I go to Duke’s on 19th and Park.
I occasionally order it at cowgirl, yet cowgirl would be considered touristy too. Actually, find me a bbq joint in the city that is not touristy or gimmicky!Hill country’s brisket is out of this world, the pork ribs are very tasty as well (yet dry).
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‘Least ya dont eat flipper
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Wow. Hates cilantro, loves lobster, loves good sandwiches (Tony Luke’s in Philly really *is* great– their chicken cheesesteak is too), loves noodles, loves bbq…. I think I’m in love! Thumbs up for this week’s featured ML’er!
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Freckled thang going on thur.
Hmmmmmmmmmm bye bye Liv~~~
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Well hell – The one day I’m not in NYC b/c I had to go to a client meeting in Philly – and what happens? I didn’t get to check my favorite blog until 8:20pm at night AND I got profiled?!
First off – Zach – you made that sandwich look amazing – and I’ve had the ‘cue from Daisy May’s definitely happy they have a few carts around midtown :) They know how to keep a girl happy.
Reading through all the comments I’ll be brief…
-I actually prefer Coke as most New Englanders tend to as well (besides Sox fans who don’t make much sense anyway), but NE restaurants mostly serve Pepsi.
-Lobster Roll in pic from Morse’s Lobster Shack (Brunswick, ME). I also hit up Estes Lobster House in Harpswell that week which was phenomenal!
-Sal Kris & Charlie’s is on 23rd ave between 33rd & 35th St (no 34th st b/c of hell’s gate overpass), it’s really busy in the morning, at lunch, and when kids get out of school – huge line
-I’m originally from Vermont, little town with 1 paved road and 1 stop lightThanks everyone for all the input!! I guess I have my work cut out for me.. good thing BBQ is the best thing to eat in the fall/winter next to Thanksgiving dinner and Irish stew.
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Margot, what an interesting profile you have. I happen to love cilantro and think that it enhances any meal (especially the ones that I make from Simply Delicioso).
Also, in terms of BBQ, Daisy May’s is great but it’s such a hike! In terms of the food it’s awesome but in terms of the atmosphere, unless you’re wearing a flannel, dirty Lee jeans, and have a cigarette hanging from the corner of your mouth, save it for delivery. Call me a food snob if you will…
The grub there is scrumptious though, I have to admit. Especially the ribs, they are bone-suckin, finger-lickin’, give-me, give-me more good!
And that is my “dish”
xoxo
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Hey Rudy, I may eat Flipper, but I do leave poor Wilbur alone
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Blue Smoke mac n’ cheese – mmmmmmmmmm so good!
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This may be blasphemy to some of yous, but while we’re talking BBQ, I swear that ESPN Zone Times Square has excellent ribs. They are sacrilicious. I haven’t been in more than a year, but I’ve had them 4 times in all and they were consistently large, juicy, meaty, smoky with a nice sauce and very little grizzle. I am ready for the abuse this may inspire…do your worst. But if you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out.
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Ok DDR…as long as we are talking BBQ and wings, Blondies on the UES (93rd and 2nd) has the BEST wings, especially on Monday nights. It’s all you can eat for $12. Choose from honey mustard (the ultimate), honey BBQ (good but eeeextreeeemely messy), medium (solid) and hot (for spice lovers, this is great). Avoid, avoid, avoid at all costs the garlic wings! That’s my 2 cents…
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Excellent profile!!
{checks watch to see if it’s lunch break yet} -
the pulled pork sliders at hawaiian tropical zone are actually quite good
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Disher, just because you don’t like the PEOPLE in the restaurant does not make you a “food snob” … it just makes you a snob.
and plug for the food network? who are you? that spanish broad may be hot, but she doesn’t know how to cook more than a few meals, give me a break.
by the way there’s nothing wrong with lee, flannel, or cigarettes. i bet you smoke from time to time, but because you do it’s cool. am i right?
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wet_nap_not_required it sounds like you need to let out some frustrations (or get laid?)…glad that this gave you the proper release. keep on smokin’, does a body goood :) tootles…
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actually i’m a 3 piece suit type of guy and i find smoking appauling, but i won’t hold it against others or how they dress if that’s their choice. you don’t deny you’re shallow. as for getting laid, is that really your only come back? so sad, so sad. attack my libido because i called you a snob. ooo that hurts.
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3 piece suit? now that’s appauling!
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Hey kids stop bickering! Show some respect for the profiled ML’er. You two should both be ashamed for writing such garbarge during a cute freckle-faced girl’s time to shine!
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are you kidding! I LOVE Margot, she’s my girl.
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Actually the best two places to get wings in the city are at Dinosaur (they’re from upstate NY they should know how to do them right) where they don’t fry them, they pit-smoke them. Then for a traditional deep-fried Buffalo version hit up Atomic wings.
Great profile, Margot! Thanks for stepping up and braving the potential onslaught of idiotic negative comments.
My wife shares your hatred of the ‘tro…says it tastes like “Dawn” dish soap. Grounds for divorce, methinks.
As for pulled pork – Dinosaur BBQ is the best I’ve had.
Re Zach’s take on Virgil’s – their main dishes and sandwiches (including pulled pork) are awful, but they somehow have some of the best appetizers in the city – I’m pointing to you hush puppies, wings and biscuits n’ gravy!