Archive for December 2009

2009 Readers’ Poll: Best Mexican Food

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year I’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Who says New York City has terrible Mexican food? Well… actually… I do. But there are a few gems to be found in Midtown… like the El Rey del Sabor cart (which went from one cart to three this year), and Las Poblanitas. But are they strong enough to take down the big three chains (Chipotle/Baja Fresh/Qdoba). And of course there is the Sombrero Cart, which is arguably the least Mexican of them all… but the people have spoken! (Sadly the best places are over on 10th Ave. which is way out of bounds.) Here are the nominees for Best Mexican Food in Midtown.

Vote for your favorite, after the jump…

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Brad & Angelina Read Midtown Lunch?: Clearly not, or else they wouldn't have popped up in a Midtown Cafe Metro yesterday with their whole family. Really guys? Really?

ML Forums: More Cookie Talk; Dirty Italian

  • Schnipper’s makes really good chocolate chip cookies [Midtown Eating]
  • Zheng’s Lucky Sunday Garden makes an ok (albeit Chinese) pho [Midtown Eating]
  • Are La Bellezza and Labeleca dirty? [Midtown Eating]
  • Anybody know what happened to the cart on 47th & 3rd? [Midtown Eating]
  • “Help me! I’m addicted to buying discounted gift certificates!” [Miscellaneous]

2009 Readers’ Poll: Best Sweets

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year I’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

This was kind of a crazy year for Midtown Lunchers with a sweet tooth. We lost the Dessert Truck, but Crumbs exploded into every corner of Midtown, Magnolia Bakery opened in Rock Center, Le Pain Quotidien and Financier Patisserie both expanded, and the Cupcake Stop Truck joined Midtown standbys the Treats Truck and Wafels & Dinges. But only one can be the champ. Here are the nominees for best sweets…

Vote for your favorite spot, after the jump…

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Free Sushi Sandwich Alert?: Remember Bamboo 52, the happy hour spot where Blondie and Brownie had their blogoversary party? Well, according to Lifestyler they are giving "Free Sushi Sandwiches" today and tomorrow. Sadly though I called to confirm and found out it's only from 3-6pm, and only "samples". I think you have to be heavy duty freeloader, or seriously intrigued by "sushi sandwiches" to want to check this one out...

2009 Readers’ Poll: Best Fried Chicken

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year I’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Just because 8th Ave. is the fried chicken corridor of Midtown, doesn’t mean that’s where the *best* fried chicken is. Or is it? Popeye’s makes some damn fine chicken… but it’s a National chain, which goes against what Midtown Lunch is all about. But damn it’s some good chicken. Could they take it? Or will Korean fried chicken rule the day? We also had two new street food versions of fried chicken join the fray this year. Ignore them at your own peril. The nominees are…

Vote for your favorite, after the jump…

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PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Edward”

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 Edward a (possibly) Kosher software architect who is obsessed with Asian Station.

Name: Edward

Age: 34

Occupation: Software Architect

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 3rd Ave and 54th Street, across the street from the Lipstick building (aka “Madoff” building)

Favorite Kind of Food: Kosher grilled chicken or kebab in general, and pretty much any noodle dish

Least Favorite Kind of Food: No oatmeal for me!

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Vegetable Pad Thai at Asian Station (on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd). Grilled Baby Chicken at Moshe’s cafe (down the stairs, outside the subway entrance on the NE Corner of 53rd and Lex) – a little pricey but worth it. Especially if the weather is nice and you can sit at the outdoor plaza next to it. Vegetable Udon at Azure (on 50th & 3rd). Salad + cookie + freshly baked bread + fruit cup at Gourmet 53 (3rd Ave. btw. 52+53rd). Falafel from the yellow truck on the corner of 3rd Ave and 52nd St ($5 for a very big plate + soda!) And Veggie Pizza and remarkably good Garden or Side Salad at Ray Bari Pizza on 3rd Ave & 56th.

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Diamond Dairy Closing Makes The Post: I was kind of sad that more media outlets didn't pick up on the incredibly sad closing of the 60 year old Diamond Dairy a few weeks back. Well, finally the news made the NY Post yesterday.  It's not a huge eulogy, but at least it's there. [via Gothamist]

Chipotle Putting Mi Nidito Out of Business (And Their $5 Burrito Isn’t Helping)

Mi Nidito
For years a number of Midtown Lunchers have talked about how much they like Mi Nidito, the sit down Mexican restaurant on 8th Ave. btw 51+52nd. And for years I’ve been avoiding it. Partly because their lunch specials were over $10, but mostly because I couldn’t imagine the place was that good. I’d rather get $2.50 tongue tacos at the El Rey del Sabor cart, than a plate of chicken or beef tacos with refried beans and rice for $11. That’s the kind of Mexican food I’m into.

Mi Nidito

Well, last month I discovered that Mi Nidito is actually owned by the same guy who owns Bombay Grill, home of the infamous Indian pizza. Points for or against? I can’t decide. Not surprisingly the place is getting killed since Chipotle moved in next door, so to respond they recently lowered some of lunch specials to $9.95, and even introduced a take out burrito option for $5. Five bucks!? Well, that I’ve got to try.

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2009 Readers’ Poll: Best Sandwiches

It’s time for the 3rd Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year I’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

In some ways 2009 was the year of the sandwich here in Midtown. Our Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge produced over 20 entries, and nobody distinguished themselves more than Cer Te. Could this be the year they break the Cuban sandwich domination in this category? Or could Lenny’s (behind the strength of their expansion) sneak in and snatch victory? You guys decide… Here are the nominees:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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