PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Ranjan”

Every Tuesday I 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 Ranjan an ‘Emerging Markets Trader’ with a taste for the spicy food.

Name: Ranjan

Age: 28

Occupation: Emerging Markets Trader

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Bank of America, right on Bryant Park

Favorite Kind of Food: All types of asian food, spicy foods, and fried chicken (I heard a rumor that Bojangles is finally coming to town!).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: A boring pasta with red sauce

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: A secret i will reveal for spicy food lovers: at Dunhill Cafe (on 45th btw. B’way+6th) they have a prepared cajun chicken… throw it in a whole wheat wrap with lettuce and onions and enjoy; the Spicy Bulgogi with rice dish at Cafe Duke on 51st street (the one near Bryant Park sucks); the Roast Pork Special (broccoli rabe and roasted pork) from Tony Lukes/Shorty’s on 9th Ave. btw. 41+42nd, and be sure to get a side of their Parmesan Fries. The Kra Prow lunch special at Seeda Thai on 50th and 8th; and the best bacon, egg, and cheese is from D&S Marketplace on 56th and 5th.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? The Cajun Wrap from Dunhill, Kati Roll (on 39th btw. 5+6th), and ‘wichcraft

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? On the quest for the perfect spice your site brought to me Szechuan Gourmet (on 39th btw. 5+6th), and it certainly lived up to the billing. You also introduced us to the Biryani Cart (on 46th and 6th) which has spurred the great “Store on 39th vs. Cart” debate.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Barcelona – while not totally consistent with my tastes listed above, it had the best selection of food out of spanish cities i’ve been to, and more importantly, the idea of taking two hour lunches and a nap afterwards is something i’ve only dreamed of.

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? After getting a pretty good handle on the lunch situation around here, i’m now looking for a good afterwork bar around Bryant Park. anyone have suggestions?

I got nothing as far as bars go… so I’ll leave that one up to the commenters.  As for the Bojangles rumor, anybody who loves spicy fried chicken should be happy to hear that information.  With Popeye’s on 40th being our only truly great option at this point in time, a Bojangles in Midtown would be welcome addition.  I’ll look into it and see what I can find out.

Got a suggestion for Ranjan? Put it in the comments. And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, or you’d like to nominate somebody in your office email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

57 Comments

  • [stupid comment about his shorts (pants?)]

  • [stupid comment about how we shouldn’t comment on people’s stupid clothes and that it is scaring everyone off]

  • [various sexual innuendo]

  • Now that that is out of the way . . .

  • douche alarm very nearly going off

  • BXL on 43rd b/w 6th and B’way.

  • He’s cute!
    Thanks Zach!

  • Jimmy’s Corner is right over there buddy.

  • My dearest Ranjan:

    As a Freemason, I am charged with advising young men on all aspects of their personal and professional life.

    My advise to you (and I believe it very strenuously) is to BUTCH UP, as they say.

    Specifically, I would advise the following.

    1. Start using a masculine nickname, like Bud or Tony.

    2. Burn those trousers immediately. They look like you stole them from a homeless person or a sad old man in a nursing home. Buy some jeans. Not too tight.

    3. Real men do not drink wine. However, if they are forced to, they do not drink red wine out of a white wine glass. Only rubes and bumpkins do this. You really should be drinking beer or a highball. Or better yet, drop a shot of cheap whiskey into a pint of Budweiser.

    4. Buy a real grill. What you have there is totally pansy-ass. Possibly electric, even. I have it on good authority that they sell genuine gas grills in New York City. Buy one. Cook meat.

    5. Chest hair such as yours is a problem than needs to be addressed quite urgently. My wife is a laser hair removal technologist (and owner of her own chain of salons). I would be happy to offer you her services free of charge.

    You’re very welcome,

    Chuck, PhD

  • so this is what EM traders do

  • Gingerman has an amazing selection of imported beer on tap. Its on 36th between 5th and Park.

  • After I fire this douche he will only be able to afford the McDonalds Dollar Menu

  • 1. i like him

    2. shorts do look dirty

    3. chipotle sells beer

  • the outfit is questionable, but damn is he cute. and love the food suggestions! “chuck phd” and “tom” can you send me a picture?

  • Here’s a fun tip!

    Google “Elizabeth Treuter”, Doc Chuck’s “wife”.

    She does not in own a chain of “wildly successful” laser hair removal salons.

    She does work as a registered nurse for the Maryland Department of Corrections through a contractor. I’m not sure they do too much laser hair removal in prison. Then again, maybe DocChuck knows since he has done time. How about it Chuckles? Any of this ring a bell?

  • get a life and go back to making em prices

  • A successful trader who loves Bojangles? I would have a glass of wine with him any day ;)

  • As a fellow bryant park professional, im amazed at all of my new options for lunch. being such a foodie, how do you stay so lean? tell us your workout plan!

  • Chuck PhD,

    i appreciate your comments. i would like to address a few points however:

    1. i do apologize for the lack of masculinity in my name, but unfortunately it is of Indian descent. i will give my parents an angry phone call tonight for not hating their ancestry and naming me “Chuck”

    2. the shorts probably do fall in the category of douchebag, though as for stealing them from an old man in a nursing home..not sure if anyone clicked on your name there but, 66 years old from maryland?? reading about NY Midtown lunches….crreeepy.

    3. if you think its red wine in a white wine glass, you’re sady mistaken. its WAY less manly. it’s a rose.

    4. as for the grill, a full gas grill is actually illegal in manhattan now. something you would know if you didnt live in maryland.

    5. i’m kind of confused as to what’s manly if you’re recommending laser hair removal? but regardless, us Indians arent the most hairless of people, but i’ll include that complaint when i call my parents tonight.

    kindest regards,
    Ranjan

  • I hear ya Smashley. And I’ll tell you the ONLY place those shorts would look good…. on my bedroom floor.

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