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)

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You would think that the Korean taco niche has reached capacity by now, but apparently not.  Yesterday Lunch’er Harry tipped us off to this new cart on the corner of 56th and Madison, and we had to see if the new kid on the block could hang with the big boys.

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To the many Arby’s fans that had cried when the one and only Arby’s in the city closed, happy birthday! Few months ago I had noticed construction work had started in the old Pinnacle Bagel & Deli space (3rd btw 46+47th), which prompted me to start daydreaming about what sort of deliciousness will take over that space. Well thanks to lunch’er Larry B, we finally know what’s taking over the space, Arby’s and Nathan’s!! (Really?! Ugh!)

Or is it…? See what I saw instead only after few hours that photo was taken.

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They were hiring two months ago, and now it looks like Steak ‘n Shake will open this week on Broadway btw. 53+54rd. There’s countdown signage in the window indicating they plan to open their doors in just three days, and a sign below announces that the first 150 customers will win 52 weekly coupons for any steakburger, fry and shake combo. That’s a lot of Steak ‘n Shake, but the franchse has a surprising amount of internet buzz for a burger chain, so it might be worth your time (and wallet) to be there early! (Thanks to Lunch’er Mike for the tip.)

Steak ‘n Shake, 1695 Broadway btw 53+54, 212-247-6584

Recently I found out that one of my coworker started eating California rolls for breakfast (along with her cup of coffee). It may sound a little weird but why not? So obviously that got me craving sushi. Luckily Dainobu is right around the corner from my office and since I still haven’t tried their sushi I thought it would be a good time to do so (also I was still on the lookout for their fantastic looking spider roll that Zach got few years ago). Once I got there, I found something else completely that caught my attention: kaki fry! (aka fried oysters) Dainobu, selling fried seafood?! It was too crazy for me not to try it. Also, the box was still warm, a good sign that they were still some what fresh. (Freshly cooked, anyway.)

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We received sad news in the comments last week. Sam, the halal cart vendor on 35th Street, near 6th Avenue suffered a heart attack while setting up for business Thursday morning and died shortly afterward. Last year, his cart caught my attention due to his method of mixing the sauces in with the meat when on the griddle. The technique helped get him a respectable 7th place in last year’s street meat-palooza.

More importantly though, Sam was warm and friendly to all of his customers. During my visits to the cart, he flirted with the ladies, joked with the guys and put everyone at ease. Days after I wrote the post about his cart, he had it printed up and displayed it proudly for all to see.  His hospitality and pride in his work will be greatly missed.

Photo courtesy of Robert Sietsema/Fork in the Road

• The pizza sandwich is the only good thing at Potbelly [FitR]
• A “Serious” look at Cafe China [SENY]
• Mexicue is now serving something called a “Burrito Bullet” [Eater]
• Steak n Shake set to open in Mid January [Grub Street]
• Jamaican Dutchy is opening an outpost in San Francisco!? [Eater]
• Foodparc’s 3Bs is now serving more than just a great burger [AHT]

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so it seems only natural to have a happy hour column on the site. Every Friday afternoon our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

Sunday marks the 77th birthday of the one and only king of Rock n’ Roll: Elvis!  So slip on your blue suede shoes because it’s time to take care of business (TCB baby!) at these local bars:

• Rodeo Bar is having a Elvis Birthday Bash featuring live rockabilly music by The Lustre Kings. Happy hour is 4-9pm with $7 lime and strawberry margaritas, $4 drafts, and $4 wine specials. Plus check out their free happy hour food and all day Recession Special (A can of PBR and shot of House Whiskey) for $7.
• Bierhaus will get their jailhouse rock on this Monday, Jan 9th. Highlights include a three piece band and celebrity keg tapping at 8pm.
• Live Bait was closed for renovations, but with their nip/tuck finished it’s time to channel your inner King Creole and welcome them back over some $5 peel and eat shrimp with $5 drafts.
• Le Poisson Rouge is out of bounds but their “Oh! You Pretty Things:
  David Bowie + Elvis Presley Birthday Bash” this Sunday is worth the trip. Get your tickets here.

It’s now or never folks, go forth and make Elvis proud -just don’t pass out in the bathroom.