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 Sarah, a Bryant Park Corp employee who thinks Subway has a weird smell.

Name: Sarah

Age: 22

Occupation: Operations Assistant

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Bryant Park Corporation (Twitter @34thStNYC, probably know as the “cafeteria” for all you Midtown lunchers. People watching in the park is really amusing, and I’ve seen lunches & lunchers of all types.

Favorite Kind of Food: I love my starchy foods, anything with corn, yams, chestnuts, hash browns, probably because I’m from the Great White North. And the usual Thai and Viet food: Bahn mi, pad thai, summer rolls. For dessert: Laduree macarons. For anytime: oyster and more oysters.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Generally bland overpriced sandwiches you are eating just because you didn’t have breakfast. ( I’m looking at your Pret a Manger; why do you stuff an entire cucumber in your wraps?). Also Subway: is it just me or does every Subway restaurant have this particular weird smell? I’m extremely sad I can’t eat anything of theirs because $5 subs looks like a great deal for lunch.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: For the past few week it has been at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, though the shops just closed for the season this week. They had Vegetarian Oasis food kiosk and Daisy’s Grits, which I had for the first time, kind of taste like congee.  Le Pain Quotidien, great spot for quality food and a great ambiance, you feel relaxed even though you probably don’t have long to scarf down your organic whatever salad. The only downside is that the portions are too small for guys.  Szechuan Gourmet (39th & 6th)has the most authentic Chinese takeout I’ve gotten on this side of the ocean. Korean food in Ktown is generally my answer to the dearth of diverse food choices around here. I love Arirang for their handmade noodles. Bisques at Hale & Hearty, and Oren’s for their coffee and baked goods ( The Donut Plant donuts and Balthazar almond croissants)

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Duke’s café around the corner, Crisp just across from our building.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Probably whenever food trucks are parked near me: Comme Ci Comme Ca, and Priceless NYC deals. Thanks Midtown Lunch!

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I wish I could shop for lunch in the East Village and bring it up to Bryant Park to eat.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? If you had to brave a tourist spot to eat at in Time Square, where would it be?

Go an answer for Sarah? Put it 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.