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. My request last week for a St. Paddy’s day themed profiled luncher went unanswered… so you’ll have to settle for Doug, a technology and investment firm guy who can’t understand why anybody would say they don’t like Thai food.

Name: Doug

Age: 24

Occupation: Technology and Investment Firm

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 45th btw. 6+7th

Favorite Kind of Food: Thai (seriously, the guy who “couldn’t handle Thai” is insane; it isn’t even that spicy or heavy), Indian, Mexican (authentic, i.e.: I hate Chipotle), porterhouse steaks, anything with duck, Italian appetizers (mussels, clams, bruschetta, mozzarella), any type of fried rice, couscous, pork and chicken dumplings, turkey chili, brussel sprouts, sushi, any and all types of breads, roast beef, waffles, chocolate chip cookies and muffins. I am also on a constant search for the best hamburger in the city. Right now, J.G. Mellon is probably in the lead.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I really dislike celery and broccoli. I’m also not a huge fan of Korean (kimchee makes me gag) or German food.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Chicken over rice with a side of pita or falafel with extra white sauce from Kwik Meal (on 45th & 6th). Chicken tikka masala with extra white sauce (I have an addiction) from Biryani Cart (on 46th & 6th). Half rotisserie-chicken with rice and beans and mashed potatoes on the side from Tio Pio (on 36th btw. 5+6th). Make sure to pick up extra green sauce. Any oven-baked flatbread sandwich at Café Duke (on 51st btw. 6+7th). Thai fried rice with pineapple and chicken from Wondee Siam (out of bounds on 9th Ave.). I’ll also head to Dishes and get the by-the-pound buffet, but its ridiculously expensive. Just load up on coconut-encrusted chicken fingers and forgo any rice or noodle to get more bang for your buck. Recently started hitting up Minar (on 46th btw. 6+7th) for their two meat, one veggie lunch special.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? I eat Kwik meal 2-3 times a week and Biryani Cart for dinner often. Too much? Not sure there is a thing as too much Kwik Meal. I used to go to Café Duke on a daily basis, but I moved offices. Their udon and chicken parm oven-baked flat-bread sandwich are great.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Tio Pio was a huge discovery. $7.75 for a half chicken and two huge helpings of any side is just plain awesome. Minar was also thanks to Midtown lunch.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I guess it’d be right here. Where else do you get this kind of variety? I like variety more than any one type of food which is why I’m constantly on this website.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? How can midtown have so few Thai places when the rest of the city has one on literally every street corner? What is the best Thai take-out place (I have no problem ordering and picking up from a sit-down) in mid-town. Ninth ave. is too much of a hike (but worth it for Wondee Siam and Yum Yum Bangkok).

I’ve never tried the chicken parm on flat bread at Cafe Duke… I may have to hit that up. Anybody have a Thai food rec for Doug that’s not on 9th Ave? I’ve got nothing…

And as always if you want to be next weeks’ Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nomninate), email me at zach@midtownlunch.com.