Midtown Lunch

I guess we’re not the only ones celebrating a birthday!  Get a full list of ‘wichcraft locations here.

It doesn’t take a marketing genius to figure out that sex sells – whether you’re hawking clothing, cars, or, I guess in some cases, smoothies and fruit salad (!?) You can kill ‘em with cuteness, or you can take the sexy approach like this  enterprising smoothie cart operator on 56th and Broadway (located across the street from Hooters, natch). When I walked by the cart later, there were two customers in line, although both of them were women- go figure.

I was pretty bummed back in March when Luncher “Matt” told us that Negi-ya (37th btwn Mad and 5th), the Japanese spot formerly known as Washoku Cafe closed its doors. They were the closest place to my office that served a proper bowl of tonkotsu, not to mention all the off the menu snacks in the display case.

Well, Matt wrote back with some good news. Apparently they’ve reopened as “Ronin” – complete with pictures of Robert DeNiro and Jean Reno in the window.

From Matt:

Update on Negi-Ya. They’ve reopened under the name “Ronin.” Same cute, pleasant Japanese lady (who I presume is the manager). Same sushi chef. Takeout is now ordered in front. Waiter service with a red-bearded white guy who also may or may be the owner.
 
Friend and I ordered “Rice Burgers” — Japanese lady said they’re the only ones in the city to have it. $8. The “buns” are made of grilled rice and hold a filling of your choice. I got sliced pork and ginger and friend got chicken sukiyaki. Served with very good steak fries. Burger itself holds together surprisingly well, filling is well-flavored but a little salty.
 
They still have ricebowls, noodles, etc. More expensive (chicken teriyaki don is now $8 but organic). Also now a full tap beer selection in the back. Half-price happy hour 5-7.

I stopped by to get a photo and noticed that they’ll be hosting a grand re-opening party on the evening of May 25th (next Wednesday). Check out the flyer after the jump (it’s mostly in Japanese, so if anyone can translate, let us know what it says in the comments.
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Thanks to Lunch’er Hengde for sending along this report about a new Jamaican truck that popped up recently called “Sunrise Grill”:

My coworkers spotted this last week when I was away and we tried it today. It’s hard not to see – they have an electric moving sign that displays everything from a smiling sunglass-clad sun to the various menu offerings. They park on 37th between Broadway and 6th, 2 spaces in front of the Ecuadorian Truck. We tried the oxtail and the curry goat, and both were freakin fantastic.

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I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical when I started reading about Coolhaus’ ice cream sandwiches. Sure, the reviews were great, and yes, it’s hard to find, but $5 for an ice cream sandwich? Do I look like I’m made of money here? Blondie’s endorsement tipped the scales and last week I decided to give this LA originated truck a look-see. Read more »

Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (They’re actually pretty easy to stalk!)

Chris H.discovers an old school Korean restaurant serving greenmarket cuisine in Flushing,  Brownie discovers the best doughnut ever at Dough’s in Clinton Hill, Blondie checks out a brand new bakery in Bayside, Clay posted some tasty looking photos of the Brooklyn Flea on his Tumblr account, Donny had a great meal at the re-opened Brooklyn Star, and Brian gives the pork milanese at Roman’s a 10 out of 10.

Elsewhere in the ML Universe… Andrea discovers a pizza sandwich of sorts at Pizza Pizza in the FiDi, Jamie eats the grossest looking soup I’ve ever seen, from Le Bus in Philly, and declares it delicious, and I penned a swan song for Pollo ala Brasa– a classic Peruvian rotisserie chicken place in L.A.’s Koreatown.

So everyone’s aware that Korilla BBQ’s truck is doing the Food Network’s “The Great Food Truck Race,” yes? The second season is currently in production with the teams racing around the country hoping to make it to the next round, all to win some cash money. Well, this past weekend the remaining teams made a pit stop in Manhattan, Kansas aka “The Little Apple” and a tipster sent along these photos.  And if you thought lines were big in the Big Apple, check out these lines in the Little Apple.

*SPOILER ALERT* Great Food Truck finalists are after the jump…

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