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 Grace, a Vegetarian from Long Beach who doesn’t understand why NYC can’t be home to decent Mexican food.

Name: Grace

Age: 32

Occupation: Director of Production

Where in Midtown do you work? NYC garment district @ a contemporary womens clothing company called Yoana Baraschi.

Favorite Kind of Food: I’m a vegetarian, so anything with fresh delicious veggies is a win. I’m a sucker for a good sandwich, and I’ll never turn a vegetarian mezze plate.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Pickles, pancakes, baked potatoes & French toast.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pomodoro on 9th btw 38+39th. Everything is amazing, a few of my favorites are the carrot soup, beet salad & caprese sandwich. They use great bread and everything is super fresh! Cafe Piccolo on 40th between 7th & 8th. Don’t get me wrong, I love your basic egg on a roll that you can get at any deli in this city, but when I want an egg sandwich, and don’t want to look like I’m trying to cure a hang over, Cafe Piccolo is the place to go. I like to think of it as a “classy” egg sandwich. Really fresh, and they have all sorts of good extras like truffle! Kati Roll on 39th between 5th & 6th. Is there anything better than a warm paratha bread wrap filled with spicy & savory potatoes (aloo masala)?? This place is a god send in restaurant wasteland otherwise known as The Garment District. It’s a little bit of a walk from my office, but worth it if I can spare the time. Buongiorno Espresso Bar on 38th & 9th ave. They make a mean cup of coffee & brew their ice tea fresh when you order. A MUCH better alternative to Starbucks.

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Sapporo’s next door neighboor, Iroha, is typically out of the ML range, but they recently posted signage touting new takeout bento lunches. You can get Chicken Teriyaki, Chicken Kara-Age, Beef Yakiniku or Salmon Teriyaki bentos for $9.50 with fried shumai, California rolls, and kinpira. The vegetarian bento with tofu nuggets will run you $8.50. Early adopters, let us know what you think in the comments.

Iroha, 152 W 49th St, (between 6th and 7th Ave), (212) 398-9049

It’s that time again…Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s has officially arrived. According to their Scoop Shop locator, both the Rock Center concourse shop and the Macy’s location (on the 4th floor of Macy’s) will be participating. Details are the same as in years past–free cones are offered from noon until 8pm. Lines tend to be busiest at lunch and towards the end of the day but generally move quickly. And word on the street (or the twitter feed) is that they will be giving out their new Greek frozen yogurt among other free flavors. Free loaders, you know the drill. Did you get your free cone? Help a fellow Midtown Lunch’r out and let us know your wait time in the comments.

As a certifiable Dough doughnuts addict (this Brooklyn upstart has now eclipsed Doughnut Plant as my ultimate doughnut in New York), I was sad to learn from Lunch’er sugoodsweets that Culture Espresso was no longer carrying the mammouth frosted doughnuts. There was a silver lining though, through Lunch’r sugoodsweets’ comment I learned that you could still get Dough doughnuts in midtown just a couple blocks away, at “the shop” at Andaz but there are a few catches. Read more »

It’s hard to believe it but in June of this year the Treats Truck will turn 5 years old. I still remember the first time I ate my first mexican brownie from Kim’s adorable truck, and that day seems like yesterday as much as it seems like 20 years ago. It has always been tough for street food vendors on the street of Midtown, but if you’ve been following the scene over the past 18 months, you know it’s gotten that much tougher. So tough that Kim, the good samaritan that she is, rarely parks in Midtown anymore. But she hasn’t given up, and today she asked us to post this update to all her fans who are eager for her to return to Midtown on a more permanent basis.

I started The Treats Truck in June 2007. I loved the idea of having customers all over the city, and couldn’t wait to get started. I studied the city’s rules and guidelines and set out looking for places to park my truck.

When you own a food truck in New York City, you’re given lists of restrictions and rules, and you do your best to find a suitable spot. In addition, you soon find out there is also the reality of the streets, and each block is different. You have to put in the time to figure out where you fit in. Even after you establish your spots, you must remain sensitive to changes in the way a particular block works.

It was not easy that first summer, but it was also magical.

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When I think of anything food related that uses the word “Philly” I instantly think about the oh so delicious Philly cheesesteak. I’m not going into the debate over who makes the best one or what sort of cheese makes it more authentic but you have to agree that any sandwich with meat and cheese is going to be good.

So the other day I noticed the Philly Buck at Tri Tip Grill in Grand Central which had grilled onions, peppers and topped with melted provolone cheese. Ever since I had their Bacon Cheddar Buck, I’ve been wanting to go back and try a 6oz sandwich instead of the 4oz I had last time. Is the extra $1.50 worth it?

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