PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Chris”

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown.  A few weeks ago we profiled Elizabeth, half of the team that runs the website The Skint- a great blog dedicated to the daily listing of free and cheap food, events, and other stuff around New York City. This week we profile Chris, the other half.

Name: Chris

Age: 38

Occupation: Web consultant/event lister/former corporate retail director

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Varies, but usually 38th & Madison.

Favorite Kind of Food: Thai, Korean, Indian, Mexican, olives (especially garlic-stuffed and kalamata), pickles, falafel, grilled vegetables, anything with rosemary or thyme, my mom’s Italian sauce.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Haggis, tripe, pre-packaged sushi, anything very spicy, meatloaf

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown:The chopped chickpeas sandwich from ‘wichcraft, especially when the weather’s good enough (and I have enough time) to sit in Bryant Park. Also excited about the reopening of Le Bonne Soup (on 55th btw. 5+6th). For my fried fix, I head to Popeye’s (on 40th btw. 7+8th).

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? I know I’ll catch hell for this, but: Chipotle and Pret a Manger.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Blarney Stone for the onion rings (on 3rd btw. 44+45th). Thanks, Zach!

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? If the Brooklyn Flea was open on weekdays, I’d want to work there for the artisanal grilled cheese-and-McClure’s pickle sandwiches from Saxelby Cheesemongers and Consider Bardwell, wash them down with a lemonade (when are they going to start serving beer?) and some Kumquat Cupcakery cupcakes (preferably the coffee-caramel-bourbon ones).

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Who makes the best pizza in Midtown?

If it was just a little bit cheaper, I think my favorite pizza in Midtown would be Lazzara’s (on 38th btw. 7+8th). What do you guys think?

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

26 Comments

  • Since you work in the neighborhood I live in, I am a fan of Patsy’s on 3rd and 34th street. Their magherita pizza never disappoints.

  • FREAK OF THE WEEK

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    I work at 34th and 5th. For quality pizza at a quality price, I can’t recommend anything in a ten block radius. Take the B or D to West 4th to Joe’s Pizza on Bleeker b/w Carmine and 6th Ave. I go for one slice of regular and one slice of square. I do the round trip in 51 minutes without rushing.

  • I work at 39th and Park, dang, you walk all the way to 8th ave to get Popeye’s chicken? Next time you go, get me some too.

  • if you are walking all the way to Popeyes you should stop by for a dollar slice at Two Brothers. Best bang for your buck on a slice. Other than that I stop by Pronto on 41st between 6th and Broadway.

  • There is also the slightly out of bounds Bella Napoli on madison between 30th and 31st. Good pizza, especially if you eat it there….

  • you know… I actually really like this place just a few doors down from my office for Pizza– I think its called “Cafe Rustico II”. It’s on 35th btw 5&6. Its pretty good as long as you get something that’s come out of the oven recently. Not mind-blowing, but with a “for Midtown” qualifier its good pizza!

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    this is out of bounds but because you say you usually work not too far from it, vezzo pizza on 31st and lexington is excellent thin crust. best i’ve found in the area.

  • pre-packaged sushi grosses me out too!

  • I’ll second that Vezzo recommendation. They have a two-slice plus garden salad lunch spec. for $10. (Plus drink, tip, etc.)

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    Lazzara’s margherita pizza is to die for and one 1/2 if big enough for two people!

  • 1/2 at Lazzara’s? Maybe if you include wine and dessert. I had their pizza with a friend and we each needed a half (3 slices each) to be full and she’s a small lady, not huge. I’d say 1/2 would be filling if you’re looking for a light meal and not super hungry/ starving at dinner.

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    The margarita slice at Little Italy on 33rd and 5th is really damn good.

  • This is the longest comment thread I’ve seen on a Profiled Luncher that doesn’t include some sort of insult…are Rudy and CheeEEEEese in hiding or something? (and I’ve also yet to find good pizza in Midtown…)

  • I’m right here Tyler/bitch (I had to put that even though I don’t think you are a bitch because of the insult comment).

    And there is no good pizza in midtown.

  • I will take pre packed sushi over pre packed sandwich any day.

  • yeah where is Rudy? Oh wait, I forgot: its august so all of Europe is on Vacation.

  • Were not allowed to make insults, everyone has to be nice or Zach tells the carts to refuse to serve us.

  • I still give the nod to Pizzaria Suprema on 8th ave across the st from the post office.

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