Midtown Lunch

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, in honor of this Saturday’s Vendy Awards, I’m turning the site over to EJ- who has recently become exclusively a “cart guy”.

Name: EJ

Age: 27

Occupation: IT (and blogger at cobblehillblog.com)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 45th & Broadway

Favorite Kind of Food: I’m an equal opportunity eater. If forced to pick one category though, I’d say pork. BBQ’d pork (preferably ribs from Dreamland in Tuscaloosa, AL).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: See above. I’d be a perfect judge for Iron Chef as there is very little that I don’t enjoy eating. However, if forced to make a list, it would probably only include eggplant. This year’s CSA also has me currently sick of green beans.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Recently I’ve become almost exclusively a cart guy. I usually bounce between the Biryani Cart (on 46th & 6th) and the Trini Pak cart (on 43rd and 6th). When I’m feeling a bit broke, the $3.50 falafel guy across from Kwik Meal fills the void, however my personal falafel week showed that the best falafel in town is definitely at Bread & Olive.

When I feel the need to eat healthier, I usually head to the somewhat generic Dunhill Cafe (on 45th btw. 6+7th). They have an affordable veggie plate, as well as a good fresh carved turkey breast sandwich. On Fridays, Minar (on 46th btw. 6+7th) has a great cilantro chicken which I’ve been including in the rotation a bit more frequently. I’m also looking forward to the cold weather, which gives me an opportunity to eat more soup at Cafe Edison (on 47th btw. Bway+8th).

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? When I’m busy or lazy, I generally head down to the cafeteria in our building. It’s overpriced and mediocre, but reliable for a turkey sandwich on a rainy day.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? You definitely get credit for El Rincon Del Sabor on 47th btw. 5+6th (note to self: it’s been a while since I’ve gone for the Wednesday chicken and spaghetti), and the chaat bar/naan sandwiches at Indus Express (on 48th btw. 5+6th).

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I always joke about getting a vacation house in Jackson Heights for the eating opportunities… Indian, al pastor tacos and tortas, korean fried chicken, great thai food, etc, etc. While I’m bummed at how the Mets season ended, I’m equally bummed about not being in Queens every weekend for good eating. A close second on the list would be Sunset Park, BK for similar reasons.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Okonomiyaki, is it available anywhere for lunch, or am I required to wait for Sake Bar Hagi (on 49th btw. 6+7th) to open at 5:30p?

Good question.  Anybody seen any Japanese fried pancake action in Midtown during lunchtime?  Post it in the comments for EJ.

And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office email me at zach@midtownlunch.com