As Eater reported last week, Washoku Cafe (on 37th btw. Mad+5th) has opened for business. They’re running at about 60% right now, with bento boxes, sushi, and drinks packaged and ready for sale. There is a coffee section in the front, but the hot food section in the back isn’t quite ready yet.
A look at some of the food is after the jump…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:30 am, December 15th, 2008 under 37th btw. Mad+5th, Japanese, Sushi, Washoku Cafe.
NYT Recommends Midtown Lunches to Tourists: This weekend the New York Times did a roundup of places to eat in the West 50s for people visiting Fifth Avenue, the Rock Center X-Mas Tree, and MOMA. They recommended Danku (on 57 btw. 5+6th), Menchanko Tei (on 55th btw. 5+6th), and Pop Burger (on 58th btw. Mad+5th). I think I speak for everyone here when I say SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... don't ruin our lunch spots. Those people seem perfectly happy at Sbarro's.
Posted at 9:13 am, December 15th, 2008 | 4 Comments
Candy Cane Cupcakes from The Treats Truck. Photo by NYCBlondieandbrownie
Posted by Zach Brooks at 4:45 pm, December 12th, 2008 under Midtown Links.
If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week we’ll post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap. This week our one and only Happy Hour Correspondent Mamacita (yes, the commenters managed to scare off our other contributor) hits up the Bull Moose, the perfect place for “a fat man looking for fried cheap eats.” Now that sounds like somebody I know…
At first glance the Bull Moose Saloon seems like a nondescript sports bar that happens to be owned by the same people behind Dave’s Tavern. As you enter to your left there are a few TV screens on the wall above the bar and a billiard table to your right. Little cafeteria tables stretch out in front of a kitchen that serves up all things fried and fatty (calm down Zach we’ll get to that.) But the big surprise comes when you walk upstairs and find a forlorn cocktail room with tables and tall glass windows offering a gorgeous view of… well… nothing really, mostly the side of the building across the street, and of course a large horned moose mounted on the wall. To add to the discord, the men’s room is at the main bar floor and the women’s room is upstairs and decorated with a striking shabby-chic antique vanity with a gilded Victorian mirror. The Bull is definitely a BYOA establishment: Bring Your Own Atmosphere. But what it lacks in ambiance it compensates in cheap beer and food.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 3:43 pm, December 12th, 2008 under Midtown Happy Hour.
Got this question today from “Lunch’er Miguel”:
“Since it is Christmas time, and I am Mexican, I am dying to buy a bunch of tamales from the tamale lady in front of the Mexican Embassy(on 39th btw. Mad+Park). But I just realized I haven’t been since early this year. She still around? Also, any idea if she sells by the dozen or is that asking too much?”
Coincidentally enough, I walked by the “Tamale Lady” in front of the Mexican Embassy this past Wednesday and have some pork tamal proof that she is still there (shown above). $1.50 and it was even better than I remembered from last time (with a huge chunk of slightly spicy pulled pork in the middle.) I’m not sure if she’ll sell in bulk, but I can’t imagine she wouldn’t if you set it up with her beforehand (I’m assuming you speak Spanish, which will be very helpful.) If that doesn’t work, I’d suggest hitting up any of the other places in Midtown that have tamales. Anybody done this before? Or know a good bulk tamales option in Midtown (or farther afield?)
Got something you’d like to “Ask Midtown Lunchers”? Email it to zach@midtownlunch.com
Posted by Zach Brooks at 1:15 pm, December 12th, 2008 under Ask Midtown Lunch, Mexican.
With the temperature starting to dip down, it’s not surprising to see places rolling out the hot soups and warm specials for the winter. Food trucks especially seem to be taking the lead… for example, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck just introduced Miso Soup to the menu. You can get it alone for $3, or added to an order of dumplings as a the perfect side dish.
In sweeter news, hot chocolate has returned to the Dessert Truck as a winter special, and the Treats Truck says they plan on adding their own hot chocolate very soon. Rickshaw & the Treats Truck are in Midtown today on 45th btw. 6+7th, and the Dessert Truck is in their normal spot on Park Ave. and 52nd.
But wait there’s more… chicken noodle soup (and homemade fudge) is after the jump.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:30 am, December 12th, 2008 under Dessert Truck, Papa Perrone's, Rickshaw Dumpling Cart, Treats Truck.
Speaking of Japanese bento places, Dainobu, the Japanese grocery store on 47th btw. Lex+3rd, is hoping to open for business on December 22nd. Seeing how close they are to Cafe Zest, they plan on distinguishing themselves from Zest & Zaiya by offering more hot food, served fresh, and a whole grocery section. They will probably end up being be most similar to Yagura, one of the other Japanese places that makes up the “trinity” on 41st btw. Mad+5th.
If you are into seeing construction in action, that shot is after the jump…
Is Washoku Cafe Open?: Eater has gotten word from a tipster that Washoku Cafe has opened, but nobody is answering the phone and the place seemed deserted. This is the new Japanese bento place on 37th btw. Mad+5th that for a time was selling bentos out of plastic tub on 50th btw. 6+7th (before one of their people may or may not have been arrested.) Anybody have any more intel?
Posted at 4:40 pm, December 11th, 2008 | 2 Comments
In my gravy covered hamburger steak induced coma I completely forgot to mention two semi-important things in the write-up of Hawaiian Island Grill (on 53rd btw. 2+3rd) earlier in the week. 1) You get a choice of white or brown rice with all the entrees… and that is brown rice in a few of the photos (take that, people who say I never eat healthy!) 2) There is no seating, you have to take your food to go. Easy fix for this? The food court in the Crystal Pavillion (on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th) that houses Pampano Taqueria & Sophie’s Cuban is a good place to take your food if you don’t want to go back to the office.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 3:00 pm, December 11th, 2008 under Hawaiian Island Grill.
Earlier this week I had an email exchange about the new changes at City Burger(on 39th just East of B’way) with Josh “Mr. Cutlets” Ozersky. Not only is he editor of The Feedbag, but he is also the self appointed president of the Pat LaFrieda fan club:
Josh: “You better get on down to City Burger… Went there with a few other people the other day. It is SICK! Really, really good now.”
Me: “I don’t know. [The black label burger] is a little pricey for my cheap-ass blood… but yeah, I’ll probably break down and try it this week. Have the regular burgers changed at all?”
Josh: “Listen to this! I like the regular burgers BETTER than the black label. They’re top-three burgers in town right now. They got rid of the grills and brought in griddles…started warming the buns… oh man I wish I had one now.”
That is a bold statement… top 3 burgers in the city?!?! (Not even just Midtown?) The truth has been narrowed down to 2 possibilities. 1) City Burger has significantly improved their burger. Or 2) The Abitino Brothers (who own City Burger) have some serious dirt on our good friend Mr. Cutlets.
Only one way to find out which is true…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:50 am, December 11th, 2008 under 39th & B'way, Burger, City Burger.
