Midtown Lunch

Wow.   Now that’s a FAT tuesday.

Let’s face it. This is Midtown Lunch… a site for cheap fat bastards who, instead of slaving away in a small cubicle desperately gripping to their red stapler, would rather be wallowing in an orgy of fatted calf and white sauce. And our Midtown Lunch Happy Hours are all about the visceral need for primal revelry in the intoxicating ocean of food and drink. Only a few yearly events come to mind where the ML Happy Hour mentality is in full swing.

• St Paddy’s Day: Green beer, green puke, and the killer of all comfort food: corned beef, mashed potatoes, bangers, shepherd’s pies, and fish and chips. Plus all those true Irishmen turn jolly and red faced just like Mario Batali.
• Cinco de Mayo: Carnitas, Coronas, piñatas and drunken belligerence followed by, “I love you mans.”
• 4th of July: BBQ’s, beer, pyrotechnics, burn ointment.
• Halloween: The holiday when any occupation preceded by “Slutty ___” becomes a costume (oh yeah and copious amounts of liquor)
• New Years Eve: Has anyone been able to piece that night back together so far? I seem to recall singing “Party at ground zero”

And finally, Mardi Gras!!! New Orleans and that wild bacchanalia that we call Mardi Gras is loved by many New Yorkers. We don’t let a few hundred measly miles get between us and the debauchery that is Fat Tuesday. Hell, ML is all about FAT. Zach was married there and even blogged the food at Jazzfest. So let’s celebrate… and here’s where to do it.

Read more »

Financier Patisserie. Photo courtesy of Blondie.

Still haven’t figured out what you’re buying your lady (or fat boyfriend who enjoys getting Valentine’s gifts even though it’s really supposed to be about guys buying stuff for girls)?  There’s plenty of options in Midtown for you…  just go to the Map and clear all except for the sweets category (or see all of our Sweets posts here.)  Too many options?  We’ll just say this… can’t imagine anybody getting a box of chocolates from Maison du Chocolat (in 30 Rock, on 49th btw. 5+6th) or one of those linzer heart cake things from Financier Patisserie and being mad about it.  Also, the Treats Truck and Street Sweets are both out today with Valentine’s Day goodies.  Good luck, and godspeed!

I’m excited to welcome our newest contributor Profiled Midtown Lunch’er Amy, from the blog AmyBlogsChow (where she posts videos showing you how to make smores in the microwave.) She works in Midtown East, and will be covering that area for us. -Zach

On Zach’s first visit to Onya last fall (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd), he pointed out that the fresh noodles and mix-and-match menu at this udon joint made it a worthy alternative to nearby Udon West (on 46th btw. Lex+3rd). Five months after their opening, Onya is still one of my favorite Midtown East lunch spots, and last month, they added some nine lunch options to the original five! Even though I tend to stick with what I know (the #5 Kamatama) I figured it was time to tear myself away from the same old, same old. With thirteen similar-sounding udon varieties to choose from (there are a few rice combos, but most of the menu consists of udon prepared in different broths served either hot or cold) I basically closed my eyes and pointed at an entrée.

My finger landed on Number 14, the Mentaiko-Tororo Bukkake Udon – cold udon noodles that’s “a little bit sweet” the lady behind the counter said. Whatever, I like sweet- and while cold noodles is not exactly the best choice for a week like this I felt the need to follow the finger.

Read more »

Now that Downtown has its very own section of the site, what are we going to post on Fridays at 10am? Answer… how about a new column devoted to those lunches just south of the ML boundaries. Please give a warm welcome to Jason Lam from the blog Me So Hungry. Every Friday at 10am he’ll post about lunches in Murray Hill south, Gramercy, Flatiron, and everything in between… or as we’ll call it from now on: Flatiron Lunch.

I’m all for lunch exploration in my area, zigzagging through the avenues and streets trying to find some hole-in-the-wall I’ve never seen. The Fashion District has a few holes outside of the usual delis and yogurt shops. And then there’s B&B African-American, a true gem for the hole-in-the-wall enthusiast.

Opened in the Spring of last year, this buffet by the pound spot has steadily picked up in their lunchtime clientele. I remember the first time I stopped in, it was empty and two men entered to look at the buffet and walked right out. I think they were scared no one was in there or maybe it was because of the florescent lighting. I expected this place to shutter after only a few months. But since, there’s been an increase in the regulars (many of them cabbies and guys who work over on Broadway and the late 20’s selling Obama shirts & wholesale perfume). B&B has also upgraded the joint with four flat screen TVs, an animated LED sign and two Internet workstations. I’m glad to see they’re doing better, because the food is really good.

Read more »

• The Duane Reade on 51st and 6th is now selling sushi! [Midtown Eating]
• Bonnie’s in Park Slope makes the best buffalo wings in the city [Eating Outside Midtown]
• The deli on 54th btw. Mad+Park makes better sandwiches than Pret [Midtown Eating]
• Can somebody help me make ramen at home? [Miscellaneous]
• Did Chowhound delete your recommendation?  Post it here! [Miscellaneous]

Thanks to Subway $5 is the magic lunch number these days. Not only has Arby’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut rolled out $5 deals of their own, but now generic Midtown delis are getting into the act.  They were closed yesterday, but Cafe Bonjour (on 38th btw. 5+6th) reopened today with a new $5 lunch special.  For a fiver you can an entree with one side, a cheeseburger deluxe with fries, or any of their sandwiches.  No drink included.

Oooooh, new business idea! I can take a dump in a box and label it $5 (I’ve got time)… but just because something is $5 doesn’t make it worthwhile, right? (And why waste your time when you can always have the original $5 lunch… a plate of street meat!)  You know how we feel about generic Midtown delis, so we’ll let you guys be the early adopters on this one… if Cafe Bonjour has anything worthwhile, let us know in the comments.

Cafe Bonjour, 18 West 38 St. (btw 5+6th Ave), 212 575 7070