Midtown Lunch

To celebrate the new Jacques Torres location opening in Atlantic City, “Sweet Dreams” models (?!?) will be on 48th & 6th Ave. tomorrow (Friday) from 8 to 10 a.m. giving out free chocolate- plus a couple of thousand free one night stays at Harrah’s Waterfront Tower in A.C. Who knows what the fine print on those free hotel rooms will be, or how long they’ll last into the morning… but I’m down with the free chocolate. Jacques Torres is freakin’ good (who cares about Atlantic City, can’t we get one of these in Midtown!)  [Grub Street]

If there is one thing that Midtown is not lacking in, it’s the all you can eat Indian buffet- and while we don’t really have any buffets that are under $10 anymore, there are still enough $11 buffets to make the $15+ buffets not worth it (as far as I’m concerned).  So, I never paid much attention to Diwan, the upscale Indian restaurant owned by the same people who own Jackson Diner in Queens- which apparently closed last September (Diwan, not the Jackson Diner- obviously).  I am interested, however, in this bit of news:  Diwan’s manager of 15 years, has gone on to open his own Indian Restaurant on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd called Bombay Bistro… and their lunchtime buffet is $10.95.  So, with the buffet team in tow, I headed over to this newly opened buffet to take it for a test drive.

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A new day, brings another sandwich entry in the Midtown Sandwich Challenge. Actually… another *two* sandwiches. That’s right. The Jamaican Dutchy cart (on 51st & 7th) has created two sandwiches, and one of them is the first vegetarian entry in the challenge. Although the spirit of the challenge is to create something outrageous and unhealthy, that shouldn’t disqualify the sandwich from being vegetarian. And I commend the Dutchy for coming up with a sandwich that allows people who don’t eat meat to take part in our fun sandwich taste off. It also helps that the vegetarian sandwich is freakin’ good.

Check them both out after the jump… 

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Anybody who thinks you can’t navigate an all you can buffet with a two month old strapped to your chest, has never met me before.  I mean it’s either that or miss out on Bombay Bistro, a brand new Indian buffet on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd.  Clearly, not going was never going to be an option. Full report coming soon.  (Early adopters, just an FYI… the buffet is $10.95, but I think it’s been well stated on numerous occasions that I will go up to $11 for an all you can eat buffet.)

Related:
At Lunch Now: Midtown Lunch’s Buffet Team Has Doubled

What would we do without the precious Blondie and Brownie, who today have unearthed the cutesy side of Midtown Lunch’ing that few of us would dare trek into. I suppose I could see myself buying some of these Treats Truck valentine’s day cookies for my wife, but eating at McDonald’s for a Hello Kitty Watch? I don’t think so. (Spongebob watches… that’s a different story.) For those who are interested, the McDonalds on 42nd & Madison doesn’t have them, but the one on 47th btw. Mad+5th does. [Blondie and Brownie]

One of the best parts about the Midtown Lunch Challenge is how many street vendors are getting in on the act.  There was El Rey Del Sabor’s spicy Mexican cheesesteak, I hear rumors that the Jamaican Dutchy is introducing two sandwiches today, the Biryani Cart has something in the works, and there is this… from the 100% Healthy and Halal Cart on the NW corner of 55th and Park.  You may remember this cart for making one of the few salads I will actually eat in Midtown, and now with the help of Wined and Dined, he’s created a special sandwich just for us.

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Who knows how long ago this happened but I noticed today that Yorganic, the Froyo place in the Crystal Pavillion Food Court on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th, has closed. A combination of weather, the economy, and oversaturated market place could spell trouble for a lot of the Pinkberry knockoffs over the next few months. As long as they don’t touch my Red Mango on 8th Ave. and 45th I’ll be ok. (Yes, I like Red Mango. Sue me, it’s freakin’ good. I won’t go near Pinkberry though. Does that make up for it?)

Thanks to Lunch’er Chris for the Photo

I was pretty excited to get this email in the old ML Inbox recently, since the fried pork and plantains sandwich from Sophie’s was one of the inspirations for the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge:

“Today I noticed that Sophie’s has a new ‘Special’ sandwich called the ‘Pernil with a Kick’.  It is almost the same as the infamous Fried Pork w/plantain sandwich but uses the roast pork (pernil) and they add their green sauce.  The pernil is more moist than the fried pork version and the green sauce does have a nice kick.  It was good.  Very good.” 

Awww yeah. Bring it on.

Sophie’s Cuban (Multiple Locations)

• Crystal Pavillion Basement Food Court on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th)
• Lexington btw. 40+41st