Midtown Lunch

Yesterday Eater felt the need to single out Empanada Joe’s with their own “Adventures in Shilling” post, pointing out many positive comments that could have only been posted by people with a financial interest in the new chain succeeding. We just got our own Empanada Joe’s location (the second in the chain) on 8th Ave. btw. 43+44th, and I believe they have been doing a little shilling on Midtown Lunch as well. Take this comment for example:

Critically panned? Not by all the happy customers I saw when I tried it out. Personally, I’d rather pay three-something for an item from a nice clean restaurant than two-something from a street vendor whose cart has been God only knows where. Liked all the empanadas I tried: the Argentine beef, the Dolce sausage and peppers and the pina colada. It’s definitely a nice change of pace. See you in line.

I can’t be entirely sure that this comment was a shill, but there are some hints. “All the happy customers” is not something a normal person would necessarily notice, and “See you in line” is not something you would usually say to a bunch of strangers on a website. But the biggest proof may be in the food itself. I tried Empanada Joe’s the other day… and while I will stop short of saying it’s terrible- it’s not exactly going to engender an army of enthusiastic commenters.   Read more »

Alright.  We get it.  The best fast food chinese places in Midtown are dirty.  It’s ok.  WE DON’T MIND. Right?  I found this sad scene at Ying Du yesterday (on 38th btw. 7+8th) one of my favorite chinese places in Midtown.  It was certainly not a surprising sight (we all know it’s dirty), but it’s still kind of upsetting. Anybody who eats at Ying Du (or Hing Won for that matter) kind of knows what they’re in for.  We’re adults. Maybe we should move to the L.A. system of putting letter grades in the windows. If you are clean, you get a big A.  If you’re not, you get a B or a C (actually, I don’t know if I ever saw a C).  Then, let the consumer decide.  “How much of a risk do I really want to take eating lunch at this place?”  I guess what I’m saying is, can’t the Department of Health just let Ying Du be? Unless there was evidence of roaches in the food area.  Were there roaches? That’s just gross.

Just in the nick of time… TONY is reporting that the new AQ Kafe (on Broadway and 58th St.) is opening “this week”, and a quick call to the store yielded this info:  they are planning to open on Monday morning. Of course, as you know “plans” don’t always work out as… uh… planned.

Yesterday was supposed to be the grand opening for Obika, the Italian Mozzarella bar in the atrium on 56th and Madison– but as Eater reported yesterday, and today, the place is not open. I love cheese just as much as the next guy, and I’ll probably check it out the day it opens just to be sure- but from all the press it’s gotten I’m starting to think this is definitely not going to be a Midtown Lunch…

Thanks to Lunch’er Bossman for sending along the photos.

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Kate, a Times Square gal who loves stuff wrapped up in other stuff- as long as you hold the dipping sauce. (She’s also agreed to submit our first Friday happy hour post… and from the look of the photo, she is clearly qualified.)

Name: Kate

Age: 25

Occupation: Cog in the wheel of a major media corporation

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Times Square. Eh.

Favorite Kind of Food: I really love anything that’s wrapped up in another something and then cooked. So that means empanadas, dumplings, pierogies, and battered deep fried Oreos. I also enjoy a good curry.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Mayonnaise, mustard, ranch dressing, tahini sauce. Condiments in general I guess.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The pizza place next to Dean and Deluca on W 46th btwn Bdway and 8th has a killer Grandma Slice. (I think it’s called Patzeria Perfect Pizza) I also frequent Green Symphony (43rd btwn Bdway and 8th) for their awesome buffet of warm stews and samosas. I also like Piece of Chicken (45th btw 8+9th) or Burger Joint (on 56th btw. 6+7th) if I’m feeling particularly greasy.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? As I am a very lone luncher, my book tends to absorb most of my lunch hour. I’m guilty of just picking up a yogurt or granola bar from Cranberry Deli (45th and 6th) more than a few times a week. I also love to go up to Empanada Mama (9th and 51st), though I know that’s considered out of bounds.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Ahhhh, the Sullivan St Bakery (on 47th btw. 10+11th), 99 Cent Pizza, and Madeliene ‘the crepe lady’ (on 49th btw. B’way+8th)

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I would work in the East Village because if I could eat at Veselka everyday, my life might very well be a success after all.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where’s the Mac and cheese at yo?

So, as you may or may not know- occasionally profiled lunch’ers will send in two photos. And less often than not, both will be so good that I feel required to post a second photo of the lunch’er. That photo (oh yeah, and a mac and cheese rec) after the jump…

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Our good friend Danny from Food in Mouth visits the original Lazzara’s Pizza location and discovers that the chicken parm has gone from $8 to $9. “Even though it was a filling lunch, I still wonder about whether it was worth it. At nearly $10 and with other chick parm subs that cost less, I wonder if there are other options.” Anybody up for Labeleca today?

It’s looking like the new AQ Kafe on Broadway btw. 58th and Central Park won’t be a second location of Marcus Samuelsson’s casual Scandinavian eatery… it will be the only location.  The original AQ Cafe in the Scandinavia House on Park btw. 37+38th is gone, replaced with the more expensive Smorgas Chef.  If the menu from their three other New York City locations (one is in Midtown East on 49th and 2nd Ave.) is any indication, this is not an improvement for Midtown Lunch’ers.  Well, at least we have the new AQ Kafe coming soon… but that is probably little consolation for the swedish meatball lovers in Midtown south.  Thanks to Lunch’er Wayne for passing along the photo.

The Teriyaki Boy location on 46th btw. Lex+3rd has closed, and the owners are converting it into a Japanese restaurant and noodle shop. Not sure if it will be more Cafe Zaiya or Menchanko Tei, but either way it will be at least 3-4 months before it reopens. Teriyaki Boy super fans can still get their fill of cheap (in every sense of the word) teriyaki chicken over rice at the West side location (on 7th Ave. btw. 48+49th), but a quick warning… if you’re used to the much cleaner 46th street location, you may not be so down with the 7th Avenue spot.

Because of the craziness at the UN this week, there are a ton of street closures wreaking havoc on Midtown East today. According to the comments, the Mexican Cart on 60th and 3rd was super late setting up, and I got word in an email that the Dessert Truck couldn’t park at their normal spot on Park Ave. and 52nd Street. Any other problems? Feel free to post in the comments. I’m guessing there will be similar issues on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Jamaican Olympic hero Usain Bolt will be making the Midtown talk show rounds this week, and if admiration is worth anything, he should totally visit the Jamaican Dutchy Cart (on 51st and 7th.)  Not only are there articles hanging on the side of the cart, but the Bob Marley videos that normally play on the flat screen tv have been replaced for the past month with a loop of Usain Bolt’s Olympic triumphs.  O’Neill, the owner of the Dutchy is hoping to meet the man by stalking one of this appearances- but I think Bolt should come to him! (Perhaps for a plate of jerk chicken and stewed peas?)  He’ll be on The Late Show w/ David Letterman on Wednesday (which films right around the corner from the Dutchy!), The Daily Show on Thursday (which is on 54th & 11th), and Regis and Kelly on Friday. 

How awesome would it be if one of the shows worked the Dutchy into their Usain Bolt appearance?  They do that kind of crap all the time on Letterman, right?  Anybody work for CBS (or Comedy Central or ABC) that could make this a reality? I’m sure if you made it happen, O’Neill would give you free jerk chicken for life! Plus, I want a photo of Usain Bolt standing in front of Midtown Lunch’s favorite Jamaican cart. It’s a no brainer people! Let’s make this happen…