Midtown Lunch

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… Read more »

The search for a good Chicken Parm sub in Midtown trucks on.  This week’s stop is Little Italy Pizza on 45th btw. 5+6th.  If you spend any time reading the comments posted to Midtown Lunch, then you know about Little Italy Pizza, and its neighbor across the street, Park Italian.  Both places have their fans, and detractors, serving up what amounts to two pretty mediocre chicken parm subs.

I’m not saying they are inedible.  I’m just saying mediocre.  A Chicken Parm Sub is going to taste good by default.  Any sandwich that consists of fried chicken topped with sauce and cheese is going to have its redeeming qualities.  Sure the sauce may be too sweet, the cheese may be no good, the bread may be soggy, or not toasted- but in the end it’s still a fried chicken sandwich.  It’s going to taste good enough to eat.  That being said, I’m not going to to tell you to go to Little Italy Pizza for the chicken parm.  It’s just ok.  The pizza on the other hand… now that’s a different story!

Awesome pizza porn, and a +/- after the jump… Read more »

The official announcement is coming on Monday morning- but for you…

• NY Dosas (W. 4th St. & Sullivan, Washing Sq. Park)
• Kwik Meal (6th Ave. & 45th St., Midtown)
• Super Tacos (96th & Broadway, Manhattan)
• King Falafel & Schwarma (30th & Broadway, Queens)
• Veronica’s Kitchen (Front St. & Pine, Downtown)

I thought for sure this was going to be the year of the Jamaican Dutchy… but it’s ok.  Midtown is very well represented by Muhammed Rahman and the Kwik Meal Cart, who we profiled a few weeks ago.

Support the Street Vendor Project by attending the Vendy Awards which will take place on September 29th @ Tomkins Sq. Park from 3-8pm.  Get more info at http://streetvendor.org/vendies.html 

• $25 And Under Hits Up Go Go Curry [NY Times]
• And yet, it doesn’t make the “Good Food Near Port Authority” piece [NY Times]
• Ed Levine Discovers the Chicken Mini Roll at the Kwik Meal Cart [Ed Levine Eats]
• One of the best Po’Boys in the City is on 9th Ave. [AMNY]
• Nosher Takes Hungry Man to Margon for Some Octopus Salad & a Cuban Sandwich [NYC Nosh]
• Fancy Tacos at the Toloache, the new Midtown Mexican [Grub Street]
• AG & Roboppy hit up Cho Dang Gol in Koreatown [Girl Who Ate Everything]
• More Korean Food Porn… this time from Kunjip [Gothamist]

Um… the title of this week’s comedy bit is “Dave Chappelle on Chicken and Watermelon”. Does it need to be said that you don’t want to listen to this full blast in your office?

[mp3]http://www.midtownlunch.com/blog/wp-content/chapelle.mp3[/mp3]

Check out Previous Belly Laughs.

***Update: Since this post was written, the price of this Buffet has gone up to $10.95***

One thing I’ve discovered since starting Midtown Lunch is that most of the time you get what you pay for.  Go to an Indian buffet that’s $9.95 and the quality of the food is not going to be as good as the $14.95 buffet.  Rangole (on 46th btw. 5+6th) was the best deal ever at $8.95, but the quality was a little lacking, and the atmosphere left a little to be desired.  And yet, I love the all you can eat buffets, so I was happy the place was there when I needed my fix.

When Rangole closed, I was forced to look south to Curry Dream on 38th btw. 5+6th.  $1 more than Rangole, it still suffers from many of the same problems.  Good, but not great, clean, but not really… and still, I am just happy it’s there.  (Fat man likey buffet.)  I could pay $10.95 for Sukhadia or even more for one of the expensive Indian Buffets in Midtown (there are plenty, like Utsav), but it is against the under $10 Midtown Lunch rule (read: I’m a cheap bastard, and will sacrifice quality for price).

With the opening of Spice Fusion on 8th Ave. btw. 47+48th, all of my Indian food prayers have been answered.  Not only is the buffet only $9.95, they have take out boxes for $6.95 and the food is not only good, it is borderline great!

What they have, and a +/- after the jump… Read more »

This past weekend, I was in Vancouver and had what is probably the greatest Hot Dog innovation since they were poked with sticks, dipped in corn bread batter and deep fried.  The Japadog!  Think Hallo Berlin Cart meets Cafe Zaiya…

You would think that New York City would be at the forefront of all hot dog stand innovations.  And yet somehow Vancouver totally beat us to the punch on this one.  A hot dog topped with Japanese condiments.  Simple and amazing.  How popular would one of these stands be in Midtown? 

I had the Oroshi, and wrote about it for Serious Eats.  Read about it here:   http://www.seriouseats.com/eating_out/2007/09/serious-sandwiches-the-japadog.html

I didn’t know where to eat lunch yesterday, and was inspired by this photo posted by flooznyc to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Photo Group:

Although maybe “inspired” isn’t the right term for it.  “Tempted by my darkest addiction” is probably more appropriate.  I was planning on grabbing lunch at the Jamaican Cart, but it was M.I.A., so I went to Yips (on 51st btw. 6+7th) as a back up, and got the same double shrimp dish I had seen in the photo above.

My photo, plus a few other lunch “inspirations” after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  After the commenting spree that Maressa endured last week, I’m surprised I could find anyone to be profiled.  Last week a request was made for a fat guy… so here’s Matt.  He doesn’t look fat, but he puts down the equivalent of *two* lunches a day. 

Name: Matt

Age: 22

Occupation: Licensing & Footage Researcher

Where in Midtown do you Work?: HBO Sports on 42nd & 6th.

Favorite Kind of Food: Italian – favorite dish: Frutti di Mare. I will eat anything that has the ability to survive in water, and to me there is nothing like a bowl of fresh homemade pasta with quality parmesan reggiano. Throw some mussels, littleneck clams, sauteed calamari, lump crab meat and shrimp over linguine with a nice fra diavolo sauce and I’m in heaven.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I will eat anything you put in front of me. Live to eat, not eat to live mentality. The only thing that bothers me is small portions. I have a very fast metabolism and am very active, so I eat a lot – usually ordering 2 dishes and averaging $12-15 a day for lunch.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: 45th street between 5th and 6th ave. This street pretty much hits all of my needs, and does so in an enjoyable, affordable way. Kwik Meal Cart by the corner of 5th ave – much less crowded than the 6th Ave cart – for chicken over rice and a lamb pita ($11.50). Park Italian for chicken parm hero and a side of baked ziti ($7.00, great deal). Note: Little Italy Pizza does have a great variety of slices, but their CP hero is nowhere near as good as Park’s. Manhattan Cafe is probably my favorite food-by-the-pound stop for 2 reasons – better quality, and the food that is supposed to be hot, IS hot, what a concept (I believe $8/lb). Bread & Olive isn’t amazing, but since this is Lebanese food, at least it’s got a little twist to it. Chicken kebabs and Zaatar ($11.00). Ambrosia for Bi Bim Bap, tucked away in the back of this deli and as Zach has reported, is probably the best version you can get of this dish without going to Koreatown (too far for me). $6.95 for Bi Bim Bap plus I’ll get a little something from the food-by-the-pound trays for a solid $10.00 meal.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: We have a cafe for employees in our building, and the majority of people go down there every day for the convenience and fairly cheap price. I’m usually on my own, but I don’t mind because eating should be an adventure.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: I know it’s been said before on other profiles, but I have to go with Margon. I was born and raised in Miami and know good Cuban food, but having this place a few blocks away has definitely made the transition to New York easier this past year. Their staples are great, but I have to highly recommend their guanabana batido (a smoothie made with guanabana nectar and milk). If you’ve never had guanabana before, you’re in for a treat.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Key Largo/Key West. Forget the sun and relaxed lifestyle, I’d work here solely for the abundance of fresh seafood coming in off the boats every morning. I could eat cracked conch and a blackened dolphin sandwich every day for the rest of my life.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? I don’t think it’s been brought up before, but are there any options in midtown for authentic Peruvian cuisine? Even menupages doesn’t have anything. Authentic ceviche, anticuchos, Huancayo potatoes, Peruvian empanadas, chili chicken, and all the goodness that makes Peruvian food so perfect. Thanks!

Actually, in April I asked the same question at the end of another profile… but didn’t find one.  I think we’re out of luck.  But, if you want to post a good place for quantity (i.e. 2 lunch Midtown lunch’ing spots where you can stuff your face for under $12) feel free…

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