Midtown Lunch

What is it about Midtown that attracts new fast food chains trying to yuppify some strange ethnic classic?  I suppose if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere right?  Empanada Joe’s tried to do it with the empanada (gone), Sugo e Basilico with the piadina (gone), F&B Gudtfood with the European street food (Midtown location gone), Kushi Q with the yakitori (still plugging along), and of course Danku with the Dutch kroket (also still open). Plus there’s that place Piada opening in the Citicorp building (which could be Sugo reinvented.)  But even with that long, strange list this one might take the cake (no pun intended.)

Kolache Mama is the latest chain to hit Midtown with the desire to introduce New York City to the kolache, an Eastern European pastry stuffed with sweet and savory fillings that apparently are very popular in states with large Czech populations- like Texas, Minnesota, and Oklahoma (who knew?!?)  Their website describes them as “a light, flavorful fresh-baked dough filled with different ingredients like fruit, meat, cheese, veggies, etc.”

What, praytell, do these things look like?

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Photo Courtesy of NYC Sidewalker

Getting some reports about a new spot on 8th Ave. & 55th called Meze Grill.  This midtown lunch’er describes it as a “Middle Eastern Chipotle” and from the looks of the menu, posted to the Zagat Blog, that sounds like a pretty fair assessment.  Might have to check this out today…

If you wanted to read more about my kid’s first taste of tea smoked duck, the Village Voice’s Robert Sietsama has a great write up of a sit down lunch we shared last week at Wu Liang Ye (on 48th btw. 5+6th).  Sadly, none of what we ate is in the Midtown Lunch price range- with the exception of the dan dan noodles and the wontons in hot oil. Both were delicious, but neither are big enough to make a complete lunch.  Wu Liang Ye’s takeout menu does have a list of $8 lunch specials- but very few of their “Szechuan Specialties” are on it (unlike Szechuan Gourmet, which has a number of their specialties available as lunch specials.)  Either way, it was still a really tasty lunch- and worth checking out the write up if you love Szechuan food. [Fork in the Road]

Well, considering all the negative comments the Rickshaw Dumpling Truck has gotten from Midtown Lunchers since opening last year I can’t say I’m completely surprised by the reaction to their Vendy Award nomination.  While some might be upset because Rickshaw is an offshoot of a restaurant, or not really the type of vendor that represents the true spirit of the awards- most are focusing on the fact that they just don’t like the dumplings. There have been cries of foul play, and just general disbelief in the comments, and one guy even asked on Twitter if he could return his ticket for a full refund. Serious Eats grand poo-bah Ed Levine, a former Vendy judge himself, posted a comment to SENY displaying a similar disbelief.

What do I think?

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There’s something about eating lunch in a building’s loading dock that is just so fun… so awesome… so… well, Midtown Lunch’ish.  The most famous two examples of this are Pick-a-Pita (which was in a loading dock, before moving to 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th) and El Sabroso, which is still serving up delicious and cheap latin food out of a counter in a loading dock on 37th btw. 7+8th.

So, when Luncher Christina told me about Nick’s Place “tucked away in a freight entrance” on 39th btw. 7+8th, I naturally had to check it out.

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Remember the good old days (aka one month ago), when the Burger Joint used their twitter account to give us deals to the Burger Joint?  Well this week they’ve decided to offer a discount at a place you might not have known about (I certainly didn’t.) Mention “Twitter Lunch” at the Knave, a little coffee and sandwich spot that opened last year in the Parker Meridien Hotel, and get 50% off any of their sandwiches (regularly priced at $8).  They have three options (Parma Ham and Stracchino Cheese, Smoked Chicken with Pesto Sauce, and Smoked Salmon with Fresh Herbs) and the deal is good all week long (8/17-8/21) from 11:30am to 3pm. The Knave can be found in the passageway between the 57th Street entrance to the hotel, and the lobby. Fancy pants sandwiches for $4? I might have to check this out at some point this week. (Oh, and even though The Knave doesn’t normally do take out, the sandwich deal will be available to go.)

You know how much I love the steakhouse bargain… The Del Frisco’s $10 bar menu steak tips special was the best (until they raised the price!), and A.J. Maxwell’s has got a good one that’s still happening.  Now, we can add Ted’s Montana Grill (on 51st btw. 6+7th) to that list.  Thanks to Lunch’er Adam for passing this one along: “I saw an ad in the subway today for $10 lunches (from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Ted’s Montana Grill. Choice of fresh cedar plank salmon, pulled BBQ chicken sandwich, bowl of soup and half chopped salad, meatloaf sandwich, or a “delicious duo” (one mini beef burger and one mini bison burger). It’s even available for take out!” Naturally, outside of Manhattan the deal is $8- but whatever.  Beggars can’t be choosers. Early adopters, let us know how it is.  Check out a PDF of the menu here.

The finalists for the 2009 Vendy Awards have been announced, and Midtown Lunchers should recognize at least 3 out of 5 of the nominees!  (I can’t get too excited because I’m a judge this year, and have to be completely impartial.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t jump up and down, and do a dance…)  It looks like the Biryani Cart (on 46th & 6th) will get another chance to take home the top prize (last year they won People’s Choice), King of Falafel “Freddie Zeidaies” will represent Queens, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck has got the hipster trucks covered this year, Jamaican Dutchy (on 51st and 7th) makes their first appearance, and the Country Boys/Martinez Taco Truck will be doing the Red Hook Ball Field vendors proud (last year Rafael Soler got to show off his fantastic pupusas.)

For those who are unfamiliar with the Vendy Awards, it’s pretty much the Oscars of the street food world.  It’s put on by the Street Vendor Project, a non profit organization that advocates for vendors, and each year features 5 nominated vendors in a street food cookoff!  There also is the newly added dessert category (in its second year), which lets vendors like the Dessert Truck and Treats Truck (last year’s People’s Choice Award) show off their wares.  Ticket price includes plates of food from all the vendors, and all the proceeds from the event go to benefit the SVP. Judges pick the winners, but attendees get to vote for their favorites- with the winners receiving the coveted “People’s Choice Award”.

Each of this year’s nominated vendors has their own special video.  Check out the Midtown ones, and more about the event, after the jump…

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