Midtown Lunch

Got this scary letter from Lunch’er Amber yesterday re: one of our favorite Midtown Lunches of all time, Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th):

Was shocked to walk into Zaiya [yesterday] and see almost no food on display. The only thing in the center racks was bread – no bento boxes, no sandwiches, no rice bowls, nothing. Some of the center displays were completely empty. Some of the food was in the fridge cases, though – including hot savory pastries from the bakery side that usually sit on top of the bakery counter. It looked like they had just been put into that case from the oven, because they were wrapped in cellophane and there was steam/condensation trapped in the wrapper (which is pretty much just a horrible crime, since those pastries are not nearly as good if they are cold).

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Last week we got wind of a new cart called “My Biryani“. It was welcome news considering how long the lines can get at the real Biryani Cart sometimes. Years ago the Biryani Cart distinguished itself from the standard street meat carts by offering specialties like biryani and kati rolls, and “My Biryani” cart takes a page out of that book. They set up shop just two blocks away (on 44th and 6th Ave), so clearly an investigation is in order. Let’s find out how the new kids on the block stack up against the Vendy Award winner.

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Hello, my name is Chris, and I have a problem. I am (forgive me Zach) hopelessly addicted to Subway® sandwiches. Admission of guilt is the first step, and identifying a moral substitute for our shortcomings is the… 6th step? (I could never pay attention in those meetings). This is how I found myself as one of the first customers at the newly opened Submarina. Yes, like Subway, Submarina is a chain – perhaps less evil than the aforementioned sandwich shop, with only 78 national locations (vs. 33,346), an unassuming mission statement, and a suitably proletariat past. But my quest was to kick my $5 foot long habit, and I was lucky enough to pass by Submarina yesterday, which happened to be in the middle of their grand opening.
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• “Just started a new job in Korean.  Where should I eat?” [Midtown Eating]
• Taxing sliced bagels?  WTF! [Miscellaneous]
• Who’s up for a downtown Happy Hour meet up?  [Downtown Connections]
• That new brasserie looking place on 58th is def not a ML [Midtown Eating]
• Here are some good business lunch ideas on the East side [Midtown Eating]

And on National Waffle Day?!  That’s not right.  This is all we know right now… but we’re trying to find out exactly what happened over on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd today.  Was anybody there for the crowning of Miss and Mister Wafel?

UPDATE: We’re hearing that the building and the cops have calmed down a bit… and they just crowned Miss and Mister Wafel (around 2:20pm).  Photos and a full report coming soon.

Check out all the photos from the event (and Miss and Mister Wafel) after the jump…

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Earlier this month we had a contest giving away slots to a special preview lunch at 4Food, the crazy new social-media-meets-doughnut-shaped-veggie-stuffed-hamburger spot opening in September on Madison and 40th Street.  That free lunch is happening right now, and we couldn’t help but ask the winning lunchers to send us their thoughts in real time.

Noon – The first guests are starting to arrive…  “Scene is bustling with peeps who are part of the event.” According to Lunch’er Tina.

12:15pm – And the first burger has been consumed.  Good news for ketchup lovers, bad news for environmentalists…  From Lunch’er “Mike”   “Burger is pretty good. The staff is very nice. I don’t hate the fufu custom ketchup; I’m a Heinz guy. There’s a LOT of cardboard wrapped around the food. More people taking pictures than eating. I prefer Carnegie John but this is ok. The space is nice; kind of industrial warehouse feel.

12:23pm – Lunch’er “Tina’s” order is in.  “Pork burger w/Brussels sprouts, fontina and horseradish cream in brioche. Side of Square Roots fries.”

Check out the first bits of burger porn, after the jump…

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Every Tuesday we 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 Sydney, a receptionist who hates “health food” but is looking for a salad recommendation…

Name: Sydney

Age: 21

Occupation: Receptionist and Blogger

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Rockefeller Center

Favorite Kind of Food: Authentic Mexican food (I grew up in Arizona)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: “Health food”, i.e. energy bars, protein shakes, etc.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Tacos de Cabeza & Tacos Hongos from Toloache (on 50th btw. B’way+8th), Spicy Tuna Roll and Amberjack sashimi from Hatsuhana (on 48th btw. Mad+5th), and Drunken Noodles from Little Thai Kitchen (on 53rd btw. 2+3rd)

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