PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Sarah DiGregorio” & Choice Eats Tix Giveaway
Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. We’re just one week away from Choice Eats 2009- the Village Voice’s annual food event featuring restaurants hand picked by VV food writers Robert Sietsema & Sarah DiGregorio. Last year we profiled Mr. Sietsema, and gave away tickets to the event (which was awesome, btw) and this year we’re super excited to welcome Sarah DiGregorio. Obviously their offices aren’t in Midtown, but Sarah discriminates against no neighborhood- and eats in Midtown all the time. In fact, she is the one who discovered the spicy off the menu Indian sandwich with doritos at that now shuttered Blimpie on 45th Street. Not surprisingly, Choice Eats is completely sold out this year- but we have got a pair of tickets to give away to one lucky Midtown Lunch’er. Details are at the end of the profile…
Name: Sarah
Age: 29
Occupation: Food Writer (and head blogger for Village Voice’s Fork in the Road)
Where do you Work?: Village Voice, Cooper Square
Favorite Kind of Food: Curry Laksa
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Bubble tea
Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I love Sukhadia’s Gokul (on 45th btw. 5+6th) for bhel puri and vada pav and I like Azuri Cafe’s falafel pocket (on 50th & 10th). It’s a little more expensive, but there’s nothing like Tout Va Bien (on 51st & 8th) for old-school French dishes like calf’s liver Lyonnaise (sauteed with lots of caramelized onions) and country-style pate. I like to sit at the bar and people-watch–the restaurant has been open and owned by the same family since 1949, and it’s still a French sailor hangout.
“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? I always end up at Cafe Zaiya, because it’s right across the street from my office (there’s one in midtown, too). I get the onigiri stuffed with spicy cod roe, a bento box, or a bowl of Japanese shrimp curry. There’s always something interesting to try and then half-regret it, like a spicy tuna bread bowl-bun, or a fried noodle hero.
Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Khodiar Express/Taj Delhi Chat (on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th)–but I haven’t been there since they added falafel! (Which apparently they don’t have anymore anyway.) And I think I first heard about Danku (on 57th & 6th) on MTL–and shared your disappointment that it’s not very good.
If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I would move to Singapore and eat at the hawker centers everyday. I would gorge on Hainanese chicken and rice, curry laksa, nasi lamak, curry me, char kway teow, roti paratha and fish head curry, and I would be very, very happy.
Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where is the best Indian buffet in midtown?
Good question… well I’ve always said that my favorite all you can eat Indian buffet in Midtown is Spice Fusion (on 8th Ave. btw. 47+48th), but just yesterday I tried Darbar Grill (on 55th btw. Lex+3rd) and it is definitely in contention (full report coming soon). Of course these two buffets are $11… we don’t pay any attention to all the $14+ Indian buffets in Midtown!
So, on to the contest! To enter to win the tickets, just post a comment below with either a) your favorite Indian buffet in Midtown, or b) your favorite dish from one of the participating Choice Eats restaurants. It’s that easy! The winner will be chosen randomly, and will get 1 pair of tickets to Choice Eats, happening Tuesday March 31st at the 69th Armory (on 26th & Lex) from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets are all sold out, so if you didn’t buy any this is your only way in! (Don’t forget to put your email address in the email field so we have a way of contacting you. Don’t worry, it won’t be posted to the site.)
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.
Posted: 11:30 am, March 24th, 2009 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.
126 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
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126 Comments
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Tough choices here, but the Lasagna Fatta in Casa from Max is easily my favorite (not saying “the best”, so no need argue) lasagna I’ve ever had.
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I love the lamb-rib kebabs at Cheburachnaya. They’re more fat than meat, and fire-kissed lamb fat is where it’s at.
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Spice Fusion is definitely the best Midtown Indian buffet I’ve been to.
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Gotta love the Cuban Sandwich and Mamey or Morir Sonando from Margon!
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Damn, that is cool that they included Barbao in their list – and I 100% agree that the “daikon duck hash—it’s outrageously good” it is. So officially, for my entry here the daikon duck hash from Barbao.
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Another vote for Spice Fusion. It’s better than Utsav and the price is so right!
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The Smoke Joint, brooklyn wings: sweet & spicy!!!
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Pork Belly at Fette Sau
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Very exited to see Tortilleria Nixtamal, from waaay out there Corona, rubbing elbows with Manhattan and Brooklyn manistays at CE.
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Spice Fusion is the only way to go! Hits the spot every time.
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Out of the boundary but the Veggie Indian Buffet in Curry Hill on 28th Tiffin Wallah is awesome and like $8
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I’m voting for Nicky’s Vietnamese on 2nd Ave. Their classic is a perfect choice any day.
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The Kadhai Paneer Masala @ Tiffin Wallah is the most ridiculously delicious vegetarian Indian dish I’ve had in NYC.
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I don’t eat Indian food, so can’t comment on the buffets and have barely tried any of the restaurants on the list, but used to love the swordfish kababs at Agnanti when I lived in Astoria.
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Egg salad on rye at Eisenbergs.
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Spice fusion is legit
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The reasons I should be chosen are 3-fold:
1) I went last year and got shut out at the front of the line after waiting ~2 hours.
2) I don’t get a lunch break
3) The only place on the list I’ve been to is Radegast (and I ate there so long ago I don’t even remember what I had).
Pity me. Give me tickets. I’ll eat my weight’s worth. -
Café Glechik, the baked mushrooms in cream sauce with cheese on top and of course their pelmeni “moscow” with sour cream.
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Mooncake foods, steak sandwich. mmm…
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I’ve heard of some delicous Curry Laksa being served in Elmhurst, Queens –
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/dining/07laksa.html?scp=1&sq=curry%20laksa&st=cse
I LOVE Mercadito’s pork tacos with the fiery hot sauce that is so yummy that I don’t mind getting heartburn afterwards….
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was disappointed by the fatty duck at the original fatty crab way back but thought it was great at the UWS one recently. Also a fan of the short ribs and the chinese broccoli with the fish sauce.
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The Catfish sandwhich at Baoguette
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I like Spice Fusion, because their to-go lunch option is cheap!
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b) fatty duck from fatty grab.. flavorful, powerful, and delicious!
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what? no love for the margarita pizza from Motorino? i almost pigged out and ate a whole pie in front of not-so-close friends on Sat. that would have been awkward. it’s good delivered too! alas, i am not a frequenter of indian buffets at lunchtime.
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@ Mamacita, I would like to applaud you for your good taste! I love Cafe Glechik, been going there for 10 years or so. Next time you go there, head around the corner to the supermarket under the train with the blue awning called russian bazaar or Moscow bazaar. They have hot and cold buffets that is simply amazing. They also have the best sweet dept in all of brighton….
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I’d love those tickets. I have been desperate for some good mid-town Thai and Pam Real Thai’s crispy duck is sooooo good. Nice profile.
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Sarah is cool because she works with Mr. Sietsema
But uncool because she is yet another …shudder… FOOD BLOGGER
Fried green tomatoes at Delta Grill rule
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i love the rama platter from pam’s real thai, even though i know there is much better thai in queens i can’t get enough of it.
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pork stuffed sandwich at porchetta is unbelievable. not to be missed- get there early!
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Spice Fusion!
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i’m going to say tiffin wallah is my favorite restaurant on that list – consistently good.
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chili crab from fatty crab! it reminds me of singapore. =)
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I honestly adore the chicken salad at Eisenberg. With bacon.
Its nearly impossible to set foot in there and not get the bacon. I managed it once, and I shan’t repeat my folly.
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pad thai from Pam Real Thai
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Oh that pork sandwich at Porchetta is probably the last meal I want to eat before death/execution. That and a neat bourbon.
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The pad thai from Pam Real Thai.
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I’m gonna have to give props to the deep fried pork jowl nuggets Back Forty. What could be better than deep fried pork fat with a hint of meat?
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I’ll vote for Momofuku’s volcano. Potato, cheese and bacon, what could be bad?
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I have to say I DON’T care for the buffet at Sukhadia, so don’t know if I should comment further on Indian food.
Go to Cheburechnaya for the lamb testicles, but (when they are out, as they were last time) stay for the lamb ribs and chicken wings. Even enjoyed the veal hearts, I think because they haven’t experienced sin yet.
Had the oxtail sandwich at Kampuchea and really enjoy it.
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Chola (58th b/t 2nd and 3rd) is by far the best lunch buffet in Midtown. It’s barely out of bounds (by ML standards) and is barely overpriced at $13.95…but difference in price compared to $11 is well worth it.
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Is there a better Cuban sandwich in Havana that would beat Margon’s?
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green curry pork from pam real thai is my go-to dish there.
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and i’ll second the motion on chola being great indian buffet.
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Spice Fusion
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Sliders at Fatty Crab
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I love the sandwich at Porchetta, but I completely salivate over their crispy potatoes and burnt ends
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For some reason I love how messy and flavorful the Jalan Alor Chicken Wings are @ Fatty Crab. Mmmm. :)
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another vote for pad thai at pam real thai.
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The carnitas de puerco from Mercadito Cantina are out of this world…me gusta mucha!!!
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oops, sorry, didn’t include email…. just in case.
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The Prawns Peri-Peri at Madiba. Amazing spicies and nice, large prawns.
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I love Pam Real Thai — I always order the crispy chicken with string beans and the pad kee mao mmmmm
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Indian buffet at Bukhara. A little more than a Midtown Lunch, but totally worth it.
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Since I don’t think lunch should be aerobic, I’m not a fan of buffets. That said, I want to take this opportunity to give a shout-out to Sarah and Robert whose coverage is always surprising and incisive. Nice work!
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Sukhadia is pretty good and I love just about everything on the menu at Margon, especially the Octopus salad!
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I like the garlicky greens with the pork cracklings at Porchetta.
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The lunch buffet at Tiffin Wallah, both my favorite Indian buffet (though sadly out of bounds), and my favorite dish from any of the restaurants!
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Compost Cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar
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posole from cabrito
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I live around the corner from Agnanti in Asotria and it has been a go to since I moved in 6 years ago. Dinner is almost always Tzatziki, then Kayianas or any kind of keftedes, the farmers salad, and aegean pasta.
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sadly, i have only been to indian buffet in queens and haven’t tried the featured restaurants – all the more reason why i should get tix and try them all!
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Love the pondicherry dosa at tiffin wallah and the fish taco at pinche!
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Peppa’s Chicken / 1/2 jerk chicken with rice and peas, extra hot sauce, yum
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the greens with bits of porky goodness at porchetta…mmm
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tiffin wallah’s lunch buffet!
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Pistachio cake at Momofuku Milk Bar.
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Hacked pork bbq sandwich at Smoke Joint.
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green curry pork at Pam Real, as well!
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My vote goes for Spice Fusion!
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The pork buns at Momofuku Milk Bar! Not to mention the ice cream, the pies, etc. :)
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i too looooove pam real thai and alternate between crispy duck with basil or the double cooked pork with basil
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Fatty Crab? Yes please. Almost worth the trip downtown/uptown for the Malay Fish Fry… I could basically eat that exclusively and be happy. The standout part is actually the spicy curry and rice… the fish, while delicious, is secondary!
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I liked the pork buns at Momofuku, but they’re too expensive for cheapskates like me. I will also add in a negative vote for the Indian buffet at Bay Leaf Brasserie.
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The chicken livers peri peri at Madiba in Brooklyn gets my vote!
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I used to “live” across the street from Roberta’s in Bushwick. (meaning my boyfriend lived there. He no longer lives there and is no longer my boyfriend – no connection) It took FOREVER for them to open but BOY was I glad when they did.
They have this Crispy Veal Sweetbreads which is to DIE FOR and they have this DeLorean Calzone that has egg and truffle oil… it doesn’t really sound like it’s going to be good but it’s this creamy truffley masterpiece!!!!! Those are just the extras too… they are really known for their amazing pizza pies… wood fired right in front of you. Shared tables, easy going atmosphere… would be a regular there if it wasn’t so hell and far gone away.. boo hoo…. -
Hush puppies from Delta Grill are unbelievably delicious.
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crispy potatoes and burnt ends at porchetta!
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the roast pork at margon. so delicious. so filling.
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Spice Fusion for some reason doesn’t do it for me. The flavors are a bit flat. At the moment, my favorite is Curry Dream.
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Extra large bowl of Pho noodle soup.
Zach – Ill buy you bowl if you give me those tickets!
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I’m a sucker for the oxtail dish at Margon Restaurant…yum
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It’s kind of hard to beat the simplicity of the crack pie with a tall glass of milk at Momofuku Milk Bar.
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crack pie or any of the soft serves at momofuku milk bar!
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Sukhadia’s Gokul
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Ack, I’m so deprived! The only place I’ve gone in that entire list is momofuku bakery– by default my choice is the salty pistachio soft serve. Zach, help me expand my repertoire!
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gotta agree with the others about the tiffin wallah lunch buffet!
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A. This is hard. I think the best is Chola in Midtown, but is over the limit. If you go a few blocks south to Curry Hill, Dhaba’s (affiliated with Chola) got an excellent lunch buffet for $10, complete with fresh nan and fresh tandoori chicken served tableside.
B. And in case my “A” didn’t qualify, I’ll play it safe and answer this question. I LOVE Mercadito’s fish tacos. Perfect balance and delicious!
And I think Taj Deli Chaat is also at another location around 8th or 9th Ave around 25th Street. So good if you’re in Chelsea.
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B) The pork buns from Momofuku Milk Bar and Bakery!
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Banh mi from Nicky’s!
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3-way tie: Ribs at Smoke Joint; Spicy Classic at Nicky’s; and roast chicken w/ black beans and rice at Margon.
Then some Protonix and Lipitor.
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Chili Crab at FAtty Crab – DUH!
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This is one cool chick!
Does Tiffin Wallah count as an Indian buffet in Midtown? If not, I’ll go with Spice Fusion!
The miso glazed salmon and chicken wings with honey & soy at Mooncake Foods is the best. It may be a little off the Midtown Lunch map but I think you should do a review on the 30th St location.
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b) the cornflake and marshmallow cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar and Bakery
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b) My favorite is the compost cookie from Momofuku Milk Bar (although the Pork Bun is obviously a must eat as well!)
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spice fusion for sure!
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Sukhadia’s Gokul is the only buffet in Midtown that allowed me to work instead of see the back of the bathroom stall the rest of the afternoon. Last lunch of 2008 and probably of 2009 as well.
See you at Zaiya (try the double-cooked pork lunch special at $4.25. It’s only put out sometimes but worth the wait)!
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hmm, so many choices…the grilled kielbasa w/ kraut and fries at radegast is pretty darn tasty!
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Lots of good choices here, but if I was forced to choose based on the price/taste ratio it would have to be: The Classic Bánh Mi at Nicky’s Vietnamese Sandwiches.
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The camaron & pastor tacos at Mercadito. With a pitcher of hibiscus margaritas to wash them down! Yum.
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Spice Fusion is certainly my favorite Indian buffet!
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I love the brussel sprout pizza at Motorino, delish!
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Nirvana on Lex between 39th and 40th is a pretty awesome Indian buffet. The $12.95 price tag is pretty steep, but the decor is pleasant, the selection is always really varied and last time I was there with a group of 7 they gave us all free Mango Lassis. Nice touch.
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Nice, Baoguette’s gonna be there, huh? Just got a chance to try the #1 classic yesterday — definitely gives my favorite Saigon Bakery banh mi a run for the money…
And seriously, anything from the Milk Bar. I’m not picky!
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A) Without doubt, I vote for Bukhara Grill for an expensive but extremely tasty buffet.
B) Patisserie des Ambassades – it’s just like the cafes I used to spend my hard earned CFA in as a Peace Corps volunteer, so my vote is undoubtedly clouded by nostalgia. However, the food is plentiful, the price is definitely Midtown Lunch-ish (though not as cheap as in the proprietor’s home country) and the outdoor seating in springtime can’t be beat.
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Sausages at Fette Sau!
(don’t put me in the running for tix though Zachy, I’ll be there shooting).
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I get here late, take a look at the list of Choice East restaurants, immediately fixate on Max and its incredible lasagna. I go to the comments and what’s the first dish that’s recommended? The lasagna at Max. Damn you Moons!
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nirvana indian buffet on lexington near the corner of 40th.
it’s pricier than most buffets in the area [$12.95] but there’s twice as many options.
i could eat their curry goat forever. -
Spice Fusion is my Midtown Indian buffet of choice. I used to work near there (and a friend knows the owner but I haven’t been there with him yet.) Darbar grill mighyt be a contender-I’ll be trying it soon…
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Bukhara Grill on 49th. Out of bounds AND price, but only slightly, and so, so worth it.
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Utsav Festive Indian Buffet…I mean it’s so fun even just to say! The weekend buffet is better than the weekday buffet. Mini baby uthappams are a rare find and a good selection of veggie and non veg dishes.
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Nicky’s classic banh mi
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Smoked pork cheeks from Fette Sau.
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Favorite Indian buffet: Tiffin Wallah (during pre-price hike days)
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The oxtail stew at Madiba!!
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Fav. Indian buffet: Tiffin Wallah (during pre-price hike days)
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I haven’t been to most of these places… weird… and one of them is right near where I grew up! Anyway, in a very tiny voice, I’ll just say. Compost cookie…
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Pork Jowl Nuggets at Back Forty!!
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Bombay Bistro on 53rd!
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I liked Copper Chimney’s Indian Buffet for it’s cleanliness even though I love me some hole in the wall.
Also gotta give love to the Mooncake Foods’ short ribs!
A lot of good food in this Choice Eats I see. AwesomE!
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Bukhara Grill is my favorite in all of nyc!
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Bay Leaf
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yumm. favorite is gnocchi from Max on Ave B
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sadly from the list, I have eaten only at Momofuku Milk Bar…in which case my vote goes for the famous pork buns
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tiffin wallah!
FREAK OF THE WEEK