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, it’s Andrew an analyst who loves lobster rolls, and is mourning the loss of Mitzy’s Macarons.

Name: Andrew

Age: 22

Occupation: Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 52nd and Lexington

Favorite Kind of Food: Pho, Banh mi, Ramen, Yakitori, Seafood (in particular: Sushi, Sashimi-I love uni, Lobster rolls, crabs, both soft and hard shell, oysters, clams, mussels, pretty much anything that comes from the sea, really), Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches (with hearty mustard), Macarons, Baked goods in general (cookies, breads both sweet and savory, pies, cakes)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I tried Ethiopian food once and didn’t like injera, so I guess there’s that. I’m open to trying anything at least once though

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Tacos and Quesadillas from Pampano Taqueria on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th (love the free chips and salsa, I usually get the chilorio, shrimp, and fish tacos or one of those fillings in quesadilla form), Sophie’s Cuban (either a roast pork sandwich with plantains or the fried fish sandwich with plantains, and with extra green sauce), Fried Coconut Shrimp and French Fries from Gourmet 53  in the food court on 53rd & 3rd (awesome place that almost always has a long line, but they are very efficient about moving the pace and they give samples so that helps too, lunch comes with a free cookie and soda for under $10, and the rest of their food is tasty too.)

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? We eat at Pampano a lot…we’ve been eating there ever since they started renovating the place (like 2-3 years ago.) It’s a lot more crowded now that the place doesn’t look like its under construction anymore haha

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Sophie’s Cuban, La Bellezza Pizzeria on 49th btw. Lex+3rd (pizza is okay, chicken parm is pretty good), FreeFoods NYC, Bombay Bistro on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd (solid lunch combo for takeout, with good naan), Daisy May’s BBQ Cart on 50th btw. 6+7th (I learned about the cart but I go to the restaurant when I’m in the area), Hawaiian Island Grill on 53rd btw. 2+3rd  (love the Korean BBQ Dark Meat Chicken), Hallo Berlin Cart (on 54th and 5th), Five Guys Burgers and Fries (on 55th btw. 5+6th), Café Cello (on 46th btw. 5+6th), the Biriyani cart (on 46th & 6th)

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I would love to be in Paris, enjoying a fresh baguette with pate, or any kind of charcuterie for lunch and macarons for dessert… so satisfying

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? I would love to hear about more tasty places to eat/anything I’ve missed in my area of Midtown East… especially lobster rolls, if there are any (Grand Central Oyster Bar has a decent roll, but maybe I’m missing out on something nearby?) Also, a place to get great macarons, now that Tafu has closed and Itzy Bitzy isn’t available there anymore…

Now that Tafu has closed, the best place to get macarons is the Macaron Cafe (on 36th btw. B’way+7th), which also has a great selection of Parisian sandwiches and salads. (Sounds right up your alley.) You can also get them at Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center on Columbus Circle.  As far as lobster rolls go, I heard that Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) but it’s over $10 so I haven’t tried it.  Anybody else have a suggestion for Andrew?  Put it in the comments.

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