Midtown Lunch

Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (We’re even easier to stalk this week – see us all at the Midtown Lunch 5th Birthday Party on Saturday)

Donny’s photography project got him in the kitchen with the Robicellis, Brian is polling readers on who has the best bagels in town, Brownie made a ridiculously cute cake for her little one’s first birthday, Blondie stuffed chocolate chip cookies with oreos and I’ve become obsessed with Instagram.

Elsewhere in the ML Universe, Andrea shelled out $17 at the new Luke’s Lobster, Jamie discovered Nicaraguan food in a South Philly grocery store and Zach gorged himself on fries topped with carne asada, crema and guacamole.

The plywood has been up on the old Red Mango space in K-town for months now, and it seems like renovations are now nearing completion. The new restaurant is called Korea Spoon, and based on a reliable source, the menu will focus on seolleongtang, which puts it in direct competition with its next door neighbor, Gahm Mi Oak. According to my sources (although not confirmed), Korea Spoon’s owner is also the same individual who owns slick looking newcomers, Food Gallery 32, Izakaya Moku, and Miss Korea.

I’ve noticed that Gahm Mi Oak’s quality has been slipping lately, so this isn’t an unwelcome change, but I’m a little sad to see K-town undergoing such gentrification. However, only time will tell who’s seolleongtang reigns supreme.

Chef Samir is mixing things up at the Comme Ci, Comme Ça Truck this past week, adding some specials. The truck’s sandwiches have been getting a lot of love in the forums and for vegetarians or folks looking for something on the lighter side on this brutally hot day, the salads and the Bademjan wrap should fit the bill. Read more »

Last week, Glaze Teriyaki owner, Paul Krug, wrote in lamenting that ML newcomer, Sensebowl, has been closed the past 3 out of 4 weeks that he’s tried to lunch there. I stopped by on Friday during lunch time to find out what the deal is, and found that Sensebowl was indeed closed. There was a sign on the front door that simply stated, “Closed for the week”, and there didn’t appear to be any renovation going on when I peeked inside.

To make things more spicy, there seems to be a disgruntled ex-worker who’s taken to Yelp, accusing the owner of withholding wages. It certainly seems like stormy waters for Sensebowl, and for the time being, it looks like everyone will have to get their “Momofuku meets Chipotle” fix somewhere else.

Yesterday Lunch’er Mala tipped us off about a new taco truck just outside the Mexican embassy consulate, Tacos Mexicana Juquilita on 39th and Madison- which if you remember is the same spot where the tamale lady hangs out. So will there be a battle of Mexican street food outside the Mexican embassy or like Lunch’er Ike suggested, could they possibly be the same people.

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We’re coming down the home stretch!  Only 4 more days until the Midtown Lunch 5th Birthday Party to benefit the Street Vendor Project.   If you haven’t bought your ticket yet, please make today the day.  Not only are you supporting a great cause, but you’re also going to get to hang out with the entire Midtown Lunch crew, enjoying great food from 4 Vendy Award winners, NYC’s very first pizza cart, Cer Te, Tri Tip Grill, Food Gallery 32, Momofuku Milk Bar, the Rolling Cones and more.  (Did we mention Momofuku’s Ma Peche is making a special banh mi just for the party?!) Plus all you can drink from Brooklyn Brewery and GuS’s.  And prizes!  Did we mention the prizes?  Everybody who buys a ticket to the party is automatically entered to win a ton of prizes- including gift certificates to all sorts of amazing Midtown restaurants.  Just today we gave away a $100 gift certificate to Bon Chon to Allison R. just for buying her ticket early.  And we’re not done…

Everybody who has bought their ticket to the party before Friday at 6pm EST will be entered to win a Sweetery NYC “Sweet Stop” for you and up to 100 of your co-workers!  Be the hero of your office when the truck pulls up with free sweets for everybody.  (Some restrictions apply.)   And all you have to do to be eligible is buy a ticket to our party.  Seriously, what are you waiting for?  You don’t even have to come if you don’t want.  Buy a ticket, support the cause, and win prizes.  Do it.  Do it.

Don’t know how we forgot to mention this… but the Rickshaw Dumpling storefront on Lex and 45th opened a few weeks ago. The first day I passed by, I noticed a line out the door and wanted no part of the commotion.  The second time, I was able to snag a shot and a menu…

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