Midtown Lunch

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 Steve, an ad man who hates salads and wishes he worked in Chinatown.

Name: Steve

Age: 24

Occupation: Advertising copywriter

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 42nd btw. 2+3rd

Favorite Kind of Food: That’s such a tough question. Id say that it goes in cycles. Right now I’m on a real big asian kick, pho soups, bahn mi, dumplings, and pretty much any meat in a sauce over rice. Im also a sucker for bar food. Nachos, wings, burgers, sliders, you name it, its its greasy or fried usually its for me. Love a good burrito, with fresh guac and sour cream, and salsa.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salads are usually a no go for me. Why waste space when there are proteins to be had? Im also not a big fan of tofu or the “vegetarian option” that pretends to be a real protein.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The spicy pork over rice or seafood ramen at Woorijrip (32nd between 5 and 6). Cant beat the daily specials at The Wharf (39 and 3rd): 30 cent wing mondays, dollar taco (fish/beef/chicken) tues/wed and 5.95 mussles fra diablo tues. The XPL that is on the corner 44th and 2nd (Lots of white sauce, dab of hot sauce) or the chicken and rice cart on 40th and 3rd. He surprises me with falafels and french fries in my street meat sometimes. Whatever the daily specials are at The Blarney Stone (45 and 3rd), and I love the Bayou Beast and the Dude slices from Two Boots (Grand central food court). I know its not technically midtown, but Ive waited 2 hours for Shake Shack (in Madison Sq. Park). I don’t regret it.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? 2 of my coworkers are vegetarian so we usually get Crisp if we want something healthy (43 and 3rd) or Deans (on 44 and 2nd) if we are getting pizza. Whenever I need something cheap and quick I head over to 99c fresh pizza (44th and between lex and 3rd). During the summer I was going to Energy Kitchen a lot for their 5 dollar burgers, but when they went back up to 7.50 i was back out.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Woorjrip. I tend to stay away from the by the pound buffet, but everything there is cheap and delicious. Zach, I owe you one. Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th). Oms/b (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd) is a great pseudo sushi place, but getting out under the ML limit can be tough. I did buy the groupon when it was featured there though. Same thing with Preveti Pizza (40th and lex). Although I’m sad to say I missed out on their steak dip. Pollo con arroz from Sophie’s Cuban. And the blarney stone. I dont think I ever would have had the guts to go in there without ML, but they serve cheap, bar food with the best drink prices in town. While I don’t always get to visit the places written up on ML, the site has really helped in my assimilation to the food world of midtown.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Without a doubt chinatown. Im down there once a week as it is. But I you cant go wrong with dollar dumplings, ramen/pho soups, duck, sweet and sour chicken, and if I ever got bored with it, Little italy is a stones throw away. Ever since I visited Italy ice cream has been dead to me, and Gelato is the only love i see.

Anything you’d like to add? I’m originally from Boston, and while I fully admit that Annas taqueria does not compare to a california burrito, it sure as hell beats any burrito Ive had in my time in Manhattan so far. An annas super burrito is heaven in tinfoil, and I was hoping the ML’ers could direct me to a burrito that comes close to anna’s?

Ah, Anna’s Taqueria. As a former Bostonian, I miss it too. Sadly the only place in NYC that comes close is Dos Toros in Union Square, but it’s not the same. Sorry buddy. Anybody else want to give it a shot? Feel free to post your rec in the comments. And, as always, if you want to be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er (or know somebody you’d like to nominate), email editor@midtownlunch.com.