PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Casey”

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 Casey, who moved here 13 years ago only eating chicken and pretzels.  Now, she’s a bonafied Midtown Lunch’er!

Name: Casey

Age: 30 going on 60

Occupation: Slave…

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Commercial Real Estate firm on 47th and Madison

Favorite Kind of Food: Pizza. I could eat it all day, every day. Mom’s macaroni and meatballs (which have now exceeded perfection due to a new secret ingredient I recently provided her with). I’d travel to NJ every Sunday for that if I didn’t hate going to NJ. Lentil soup. Hearty, stick to your bones lentil soup flavored with bacon, ham or chorizo….

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I don’t really have one. I moved to the city 13 years ago only eating chicken and pretzels. I remember going to Smith and Wollensky’s Steakhouse within my first few months here and I ordered roast chicken. After that I knew I had to make some changes. I did and I now I could give or take chicken..pretzels are another story.….I will eat (or try) just about everything.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: My #1 is Oms/b Rice Ball Café (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd). I never met a rice ball I didn’t love, but these I would marry. My favorites include the risotto spring roll, popcorn shrimp rice ball and teriyaki chicken. If I feel like treating myself, I love the veal milanese and veal and mushroom ravioli at BiCE (on 54th btw. Mad+5th). I never ate anything else there though. Mantao Chinese Sandwiches (on 53rd btw. 2+3rd) for their Pan-Fried Pork and Shrimp Dumplings. I undeniably, unequivocally leave there a happy girl every single time. Pick a Pita (on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th) for a falafel (stuffed with fries!) and shawarma. Outstanding food, incredible value…Well done E.D.!!  Dessert: I enjoy baklava at Güllüoglu (on 52nd and 2nd). My two favorites: sour cherry and chestnut. Guilty Pleasures: The Newman slice at Two Boots (which I never told anyone). Sweet Sausage and Sopressata on a white pie. I will devour a slice in Grand Central every now and blend in with the tourists. AND… cole slaw from Cer te (on 55th btw. 5+6th). Red cabbage, raisins, poppy seeds….delicious.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? We don’t have a default, but we do like convenience every now and then. Lately I have been on a salad kick and have been going to my place of the hour, Red Stone (on Lex btw. 47+48th). I have been in this area for about 6 years and I can’t find a quality salad at a “fast food” joint. Just when I get excited about a place, they disappoint. Red Stone’s ingredients are fresh. I always get a garlic knot on the side (which I think is where my real excitement lies). They’re warm, crispy on outside, doughy and soft on the inside and perfectly seasoned. Somehow I always walk out of there with a free soda. Maybe after this plug they’ll start feeding me for free. In addition, a well done grandma slice and Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Schnitzel and Things…..Genius. Obika Mozzarella bar (on Madison & 56th). I love heading there for a mini prosciutto/mozzarella/basil sandwich.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Philly. ONLY for their cheesteaks with extra whiz… ESPECIALLY after a long night of drinking and watching the Yanks slaughter Philly. Mmmmmmmm….I want to go to there.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? I’d like ASK then where I can find Boar’s Head Olive Loaf. I can’t seem to find it anywhere. I’d like to TELL them to take it easy on the Profiled Lunchers… We’re just like you. Hungry.

Anybody have a suggestion for Casey? Put it in the comments. And as always if you would like to be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email me at zach@midtownlunch.com.

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