Midtown Lunch

Midtownlunch perennial favorite, Tri Tip Grill, has always been a crowd pleasing (but posh) lunch time treat. However, they’ve shown an aptitude for off-setting lunchtime splurges with daily specials, such as the infamous Tri Tip Tuesday. And recently, they’ve introduced a new weekly Wednesday deal – a chicken Caesar wrap with a 12oz soup and drink for $9.99. Considering that these components would add up to around $15 piecemeal, it’s a tempting proposition.

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A random visit to Urban Lobster Shack’s website reveals that they are planning to open a 2nd Midtown location (3rd overall), called Urban Lobster Shack 3. From what I was able to find out, the location will be near MSG (Penn Station would make a lot of sense for their setup), but there’s no opening date yet because of issues with the lease. Here’s hoping they get everything worked out soon. More lobster rolls in Midtown is always a good thing!

• The AYCE Korean BBQ place on 36th is called Woo Chon and it’s $27 [Midtown Eating]
• Minar needs to use less salt, but their cilantro chicken is awe-some [Midtown Eating]
• Looking for fresh fish? There’s a great market behind Port Authority [Midtown Eating]
• A new Middle Eastern place is opening in the Citigroup Bldg food court [Midtown Eating]

Eater posted a round up of the 12 most extreme pizzas in New York City today, and Pizza by Cer Te’s Uncle Sammie made the list. For those of you who may not remember this beauty from back in July it featured pulled BBQ chicken, grilled corn, green beans, and a bacon-potato puree. Extreme? That sounds like a typical day at the office to me!

Related:
Cer Te’s Uncle Sammie Sandwich vs. Uncle Sammie Pizza

Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. Two weeks ago we had James Oseland, this week it’s Kelly Choi- who Chris H. ran into at a Korean food event at Bann. (His favorite lunch + his favorite girl? I’m surprised his head didn’t explode!)

Name: Kelly Choi

Age: 35

Occupation: TV Producer and Host

Where in Midtown do you Work?: I don’t! But I’m a Wannabe midtown luncher, does that count? I love your site. (My office is near City Hall and the lunch possibilities down there are, except for Chinatown, really dearth). [Editor’s Note: You need to check out our Downtown Lunch section!]  I’m all over the city on any given day featuring and checking out restaurants for my TV shows, Very Appetizing with Kelly Choi and also Eat Out with Time Out magazine, which both air on nyc life.

Favorite Kind of Food: I love tasty, comfortable, home-cooking kind of meals best. Foods I can eat with my fingers are also tops in my book…like creamy garlicky hummus I can scoop up with plush warm pita breads..thick stews (yuk gwe jang, a korean spicy shredded brisket stew I adore), slippery toothsome spicy noodles, and hearty voluptuous sandwiches…dumplings! (pork & chive steamed dumplings @ Food Gallery 32 are simple and fabulous, I tried them couple of weeks ago and I want some now). And rice! I love rice dishes. I love creamy textures – not necessarily cream-based foods, per se, but the mouthfeel of a food, the weightiness on the tongue is important to me (like chunky, delicious guacamole or coconut pudding). This drives up the crave-ability factor! And spicy foods! Oh god, I love spicy sweetness.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Fondue. I can’t stand fondues, it’s too precious for what it is

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: At the moment, i’m loving Pure Thai Shophouse (on 9th ave. btw. 51+52nd), Totto Ramen (on 52nd btw. 8+9th), Blue Dog Cafe (I love their chicken tarragon sandwich with havarti cheese and avocado slices paired with their luscious carrot ginger soup). And any good bagel joint, I can never resist. I love bagels with tuna salad and egg salad, together in one sandwich.

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