Archive for December 2010

We Recommend You Leave Work Now…


The Calm Before the Storm

Well, that’s it for 2010. If you didn’t vote for all of the Reader’s Poll categories you have until January 3rd to make it happen. As for us, we’re getting the hell out of here while we still can. Have a happy (Midtown-free) New Year’s Eve, and see you in 2011!

Saddest Losses of the Year: 2010 Reader’s Poll

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’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.

As 2010 comes to a close it’s time to take a look back at the saddest losses of the year… our Academy Awards photo montage of death, if you will.  (Feel free to put on Wind Beneath My Wings in the background as you read the rest of this post.)   Some were surprising, some not so much- and for the first time ever, we mourn the loss of more than just restaurants, but an actual reader.  Indian pizza, mall food court bourbon chicken, pizzacones, chinese buns and the rest… we’ll miss you all in one way or another.  Here are the nominees for the saddest loss of 2010:

Vote for the one you’ll miss the most, after the jump…

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Hallo Berlin Cart to Return in 2011!?! (In the Meantime, Hallo Berlin Express’s $10 Lunch Menu is Great)

Hallo Berlin lunch specials

The denizens of Midtown have been eagerly awaiting an update on the return of the Hallo Berlin cart, which closed last October after the sad passing of co-owner, Rolf Babiel. I recently stopped by the express location to inquire about the cart, and ending up sticking around for lunch when I noticed that they are now offering $10 combo lunch specials. But first, some news on the cart – the manager on location was unable to commit to a firm date on the cart’s return, but mentioned that it should be launching sometime next spring. She also mentioned that the cart will be located in its original spot on 54th and 5th Ave. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on news of the cart’s comeback as we get more details.

In the meantime, check out Hallo Berlin Express’ lunch specials after the jump.

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Best Flatiron Lunch: 2010 Reader’s Poll

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’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.

Every Friday our man UltraClay, (me!) heads south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch. Over the last year, we’ve checked out Indian, Italian, Thai, Seafood and searched out the elusive Korean Taco. Not to mention the fact that the Flatiron has been the epicenter of the food court craze. Here are the nominees for the Best Flatiron Lunches:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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Contributor Stalking (The “Hope You Got Everything You Wanted For X-Mas” Edition)

Best Happy Hour Spot: 2010 Reader’s Poll

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’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.

Every week Mamacita “sacrifices” her liver all in the name of our Midtown Happy Hour column. Burgers are eaten, beers are gulped, and shots are downed, all to help you discover the best places best places to drink (and eat) after work here in Midtown. And let’s not forget the photos of hot bartenders! Here are the nominees for best happy hour in Midtown:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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Tourist Street Food Lesson #1: Never Take a Bite Before Paying!

Yesterday a tipster sent over a link to this great thread posted by a pretty pissed off Yelper whose friend was charged $20 for a kebab and Italian sausage sandwich near the Rock Center X-Mas tree. Of course, this shouldn’t be a surprise to Midtown Lunchers. Last year a vendor admitted that often they’ll charge different prices to different people depending on how they look. As much as it makes us laugh to see tourists get ripped (sorry, but you people make every Midtown worker’s life miserable this time of year) we do feel kind of bad. So in the spirit of the holidays, and with New Year’s Eve just a few days away, we thought we’d post a mini guide to not getting ripped off by generic Midtown street food vendors.

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Best Street Meat: 2010 Reader’s Poll

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’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.

Every summer a select group of Midtown Lunchers convene in Bryant Park for a giant chicken and lamb over rice taste off known as Street Meat Palooza.  This year Kwik Gourmet just beat out the “Imposter Halal Cart” (on the SW corner of 53rd and 6th) and XPL for the title.  Don’t agree with the results?  Here’s your chance to sound off.  Here are the nominees for best street meat in Midtown:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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First Look at the Now Open Food Gallery 32 (aka The Korean FoodParc?)

IMG_2348

At long last, Food Gallery 32, the Koreatown food court is open for business. As with most openings of this scale, there’s a lot still being worked out and finishing touches being made, but all things considered, the slow, snow-laden week is probably a good time for them to get started.

I stopped in on Tuesday to finally get a good look at the place, check it out after the jump.

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Sukhadia’s Gokul Is Moving to New Jersey

Sukhadia's Closed

Sad sad news in the forums this week… Sukhadia’s Gokul, the vegetarian Indian buffet that has been on 45th btw 5th+6th for years, has closed up shop and moved to Iselin, NJ. No word on why they’ve chosen to move their restaurant across the Hudson, but one can assume it’s financially prudent for them. I suppose our loss is Jersey’s gain: no more vegetarian Indian buffet, no more Indian sweets, no more odd Italian pizza place man out front. We’ll miss you S.G.