Midtown Lunch

In honor of National Sandwich Day (who knew?) Serious Eats New York has put up a slideshow of photos and links to their 26 favorite sandwich posts from the past few years. To save you the trouble of clicking through all 26 (seriously though, when are we going to stop with the freakin’ slideshows!), we’ll just tell you there are 2 Midtown Lunch’ish options that made the cut: the halloumi sandwich from Macchiato Espresso Bar, and the roast beef special from Previti.

When I first found out about Paris Baguette, I was a little perplexed. Like many of us, my mind first turned to Vietnamese sandwiches, but when I found out that it was really a Korean chain of French-inspired bakeries specializing in pastries and desserts, I was even more confused.

I’ll go for sweets here and there, but they are rarely a big draw for me, so I didn’t rush to check it out. After reading Blondie’s dessert report, I decided it was worth a second look. What I found when I got there was that the menu was even more diverse than I had expected. What really got my attention was the cross-cultural menu of sandwiches from lobster rolls and cheesesteaks to bulgogi and chicken parm.

See the good, the bad and the just plain different after the jump.

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Upstate is filled with some wonderful regional food finds that never seems to make it Downstate despite a large Upstate contingent. One example of this is the Garbage Plate–everyone wants it, no one makes it. Another is “Chicken Riggies.” I don’t remember having any prior knowledge of the Utica-Rome specialty of ‘riggies’ until Certe (55th btw. 5th+6th) debuted the the Chicken Riggie sandwich two weeks ago. I now understand why I need to make more of an effort to explore the Upstate.

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Thanks to Lunch’er Anne for tipping us off to Radicchio Pasta & Risotto Co., a new Italian place on 53rd Street between 2nd & 3rd that was mentioned in the sidebar of yesterday’s edition of Tasting Table.  “Midtown gets an infusion of $10 and under homemade pasta at this new 18-seat spot” sounds promising enough, so I swung by yesterday to get a look inside and to take a look at the menu. Check it out after the jump.

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• Mexicue’s service needs improvement [Midtown Eating]
• And Joyride could be a bit cleaner [Midtown Eating]
• 1st McRib didn’t make me feel as sick as I expected [Midtown Eating]
• Sarge’s, Junior’s and Cafe Edison make good potato pancakes [Midtown Eating]
• Some things to think about before opening a food truck [Miscellaneous]

As winter approaches Schnitzel & Things isn’t the only one stepping up their savory hotness.  Hot daily specials have returned to Macaron Cafe (now with two locations in Midtown.)  There’s a different one every day, and each are 9.75.

Monday: Quiche Lorraine – Bacon & Gruyere, spanish onion served with mixed salad.
Tuesday: Croque-Monsieur – Ham & Gruyere, bechamel sauce on French Pullman bread served w a mixed salad.
Wednesday: Lasagne – Homemade vegetables lasagne served with mixed salad.
Thursday: Endive & Ham “de Paris”, bechamel sauce, gruyere cheese gratine.
Friday: Quiche au Saumon – smoked salmon & leek, gruyere cheese, scallion served with a mixed salad

Macaron Cafe

• 625 Madison Ave. (Enter on 59th btw. Park+Mad)
• 485 7th Ave. (Enter on 36th btw. B’way+7th)

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 Brendan, an actor who doesn’t understand why there are no $1 dumpling spots in Midtown.

Name: Brendan

Age: 30

Occupation: Actor/Temp Worker

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Various-depends on the job. Could be anywhere in Midtown or downtown.

Favorite Kind of Food: Pizza and Chinese Food

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salad

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Hing Won (on 48th btw. 5+6th) for Roast Pig over rice, Kwik Meal (on 45th and 6th) for Lamb over Rice, Papa Perrones (on 55th btw. Park+Mad) for the Rice Ball, Jianetto’s (on 47th btw Park+Mad) for the Rice Ball (so excited that there are two trucks in midtown where these are available especially since I don’t know of a single Pizza place that sells them), Little Morocco (on 39th and 7th) for Lamb over Rice, Schnitzel Truck for their delicious Pork Schnitzel platter, NYCCravings for their Fried Chicken, Little Italy for Pizza.

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As far as chains go, I’m not a Pret hater. Yes, their sandwiches tend toward the pricey. But they do use good ingredients and they are always switching up the menu with new items. Case in point this their new “Vietnamese Baguette” which to my way of thinking is their dummy’s way of saying bánh mì.
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