Midtown Lunch

If you like Kosher food, but want to be healthy (?) you’ll be interested in this news from Lunch’er Adam. He spotted this truck on 48th and 6th yesterday. Unsurprisingly the website painted on the truck doesn’t work, and we can’t imagine they’ll be able to keep parking on 48th and 6th every single day. We’ll see if they’re back today… early (Kosher?) adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.

Crisp, the unique falafel spot with two locations in Midtown, has introduced a new sandwich called the “Crisp Asia”.   It’s falafel plus Asian chili sauce, japanese eggplants, alfalfa sprouts, mandarin oranges, and greens- and it replaced the “American” on Crisp’s menu. So now Mexico, Africa, Paris, and Greece are all represented (and of course there was the incredibly brief, but much loved, “Taj” from India.)   It’s been awhile since they created a new sandwich so this is pretty exciting news.  Plus if you mention “V.I.P.” you get 20% off.

Related:
Crisp: Abomination… Or One of the Best Falafel in the City

It looks Totto Ramen, the new soup offshoot of the hugely popular Yakitori Totto (on 55th btw. B’way+8th), will not be taking over the Bombay Eats space after all. From Lunch’er Steve:

Just walked down 52nd on my way to the Amish Market and saw this sign up on a window. I remember you guys talking about a new Ramen shop that was going to take over the Bombay Eats spot but it looks like maybe it is taking this spot? Its located on 52nd btwn 8th and 9th, right next to Lucky Burger. Inside they had a long wooden bar (similar to Momo Ko) set up but the rest looked like it was still being worked on. Sign outside is up so it can’t be THAT long until we finally have a decent midtown west ramen spot… hopefully.

According to their new website, June 3rd is the grand opening date. Should be good… thanks for the great news Steve.

Do you have a tip you want to share? Email it to editor@midtownlunch.com

Related:
Ramen Totto Taking Over Bombay Eats Space?!
Yakitori Totto is My New Favorite Midtown Lunch

If you have any dramatic music, now is the time to throw it on…

2 years ago, a group of trailblazing Midtown Lunch’ers converged on Bryant Park with 13 plates of chicken and lamb over rice with white sauce and hot sauce from 13 different Midtown vendors.  The goal?  Crown a street meat champion of Midtown Manhattan, the undisputed chicken and lamb over rice capital of the world.  If you’ve ever been to New York City, you can’t help but notice the street meat.  A mix of Middle Eastern tradition, with cabbie induced street vendor ingenuity, it’s a lunch you won’t find in any other city in the world. The captivating smell will draw you in, and the taste doesn’t disappoint.  And while street meat neophytes will make the mistake of thinking that most carts serve pretty much the same dish, eating 15 different plates of street side by side instantly destroys that notion.

In 2008, The Famous Halal Guys’ daytime cart (parked on the SE Corner of 53rd and 6th) took home the inaugural Street Meat Palooza crown– silencing critics who have called the ultra popular cart bland and overrated.  A year later, the equally popular Kwik Meal cart (on 45th and 6th) had its revenge at Street Meat Palooza 2.  This year, both champions were retired in order to give somebody else a chance to shine- and 3 weeks ago 40 Midtown Lunch’ers converged on Bryant Park for a blind taste test of 15 different plates of chicken and lamb over rice with white sauce and hot sauce- all nominated by you.

The ballots were then sent to an accounting firm (not true) to be meticulously tallied and analyzed (that part is true) and the results are in…

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After noticing Chef’s Secret (formerly known as Thai Nam on 45th btw. Lex+3rd) was offering pho bo last week, I went back to try the Vietnamese beef and rice noodle soup to relieve my curiosity. They describe their new offering as “hearty beef broth scented with cloves and anise. Served with thin rice noodle. Choice of beef/chicken/seafood.” All for $9.50! OK, not the best deal in Midtown, but I figured it’s worth a try since they’ve pretty much plastered the NEW pho bo flyers all over their window, their sidewalk sign, and walls inside…

Read more »

• ML Happy Hour is today! Your chance to get out and meet your fellow lunchers [Midtown Connections]
• Luncher Adam Prato has been saying it’s good for over a year now, but Ipanema finally gets its due props in the forums [Midtown Eating]
• Spicy ramen soup with kimchi and dumplings? Yes, please! [Midtown Eating]
• It’s a sad day when your wife makes you eat at Cosi over Pizza by Certe [Midtown Eating]