One of the best parts about the Midtown Lunch Challenge is how many street vendors are getting in on the act.  There was El Rey Del Sabor’s spicy Mexican cheesesteak, I hear rumors that the Jamaican Dutchy is introducing two sandwiches today, the Biryani Cart has something in the works, and there is this… from the 100% Healthy and Halal Cart on the NW corner of 55th and Park.  You may remember this cart for making one of the few salads I will actually eat in Midtown, and now with the help of Wined and Dined, he’s created a special sandwich just for us.

Oh my.  Not the prettiest of the lot, but what do you expect?  It is truly the sum of its parts… kofta (a Middle Eastern ground beef patty with herbs and spices) , grilled chicken, grilled onions and peppers, your choice of cheese and sauces.  On Wined & Dined’s suggestion I selected the feta cheese, and topped the monstrosity with white sauce and their special homemade hot sauce (if you don’t specify, they’ll just give you tabasco.)

If you have to ask “was it good?”, well then- you don’t me at all.  Sure, it may lack the subtlety of say, a perfectly pastramied piece of duck, but what it lacks in finesse it surely makes up for in “whoa, jeebus- this thing is messy!”  In other words it tastes exactly the way you would imagine it would taste… so if that list of ingredients sounds good to you, you will certainly love tucking into this crazy pita.  And for $5, the price is oh so right.  If the thought of cart kofta and chicken with everything else under the sun stuffed into a pita isn’t appealing, this sandwich will not be the thing that changes your mind.

100% Halal & Healthy, NW corner of 55th & Park Ave.

I’ve walked by this cart on 55th btw. Park+Madison many times, and each time was equal parts turned off and intrigued by the sign. What exactly is “healthy” street meat? Is that even possible? And what would it taste like? Well, last week the question was partly answered when a couple of commenters recommended the Greek salad topped with chicken from this very cart.

Now, if you read this blog regularly you know my feelings on salad. I generally can’t bring myself to do it. If I want to eat healthy, I’ll get a “salad style” bibimbap from Cafe Duke on 51st btw. 6+7th (that’s about as healthy as I’ll get). But salad from cart? Well that is kind of interesting. I think I could get away with that, without ruining my reputation… plus it’s a Greek salad- so you throw in some feta cheese and grape leaves, and this fat guy is ready to eat some greens!

The Greek salad is $5, and comes with tomato, green peppers, onions, olives, and the part that makes me smile the most: feta and 2 grape leaves. For an extra $1 you can get grilled chicken, and for 50 cents more, a piece of pita bread (gotta have carbs with every meal, right?)  Obviously I went for the works (a total of $6.50).

It kind of worries me to say this (I don’t want you guys to think less of me) but this salad was really freakin’ good. They give you a ton of grilled chicken (two small breasts worth), the grape leaves are totally tasty, and the warm pita bread brings it all together. Obviously, I’d take more cheese, but for the price I’m not going to complain. I went with the “house” vinaigrette (the most popular choice) but they do have other options- including a few fat free dressing packets if you really want to get super healthy.  For me, eating the salad was enough.  I’ll take the regular dressing…

I would do a +/- but I don’t really have anything bad to say about this… except the obvious: “It’s a salad!” Thanks to “Wined & Dined” for the recommendation… for his comment, he’s the winner of the Broke Ass Stuart book.

100% Halal & Healthy Food, 55th Street btw. Mad+Park

Last Friday I told you that Papa Perrone’s, the new pizza truck parked on 55th btw. Madison & Park, was going to be serving their special artichoke pie on Monday.  Well I went and checked it out, and it turns out artichoke pie is literally artichoke pie.  Not pizza, but pie- like a quiche (but not as lame.)

As first I was a little disappointed puzzled by the whole thing.  I thought I was getting a slice, and ended up with a little tin foil package.  Of course that didn’t stop me from eating the thing, and after one bite, there was really only one thing to say: “Welcome to the neighborhood!”  Mozzarella, artichokes, and little chunks of pepperoni baked in a pie crust.  For $2.50 it’s a steal.

Pranzo Pizza Truck (the last truck to take on the famous Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck) was such a big disappointment, I had pretty low expectations for Papa Perrone’s- but after trying their artichoke pie and rice balls, I can honestly say I think this little guy is going to make it.  Especially if he starts serving the artichoke pie every day.

A shot of the rice ball after the jump… 

They’re smaller than the Jiannetto’s arancini, but equally tasty (as far as I can remember… it’s been awhile since I rice-balled it up at the Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck.)  Filled with ground beef and ground sausage, the whole thing comes topped with a homemade sauce, all for $4.  There is also a vegetarian version stuffed with spinach.  I haven’t tried the pizza yet, but the truck claims it’s the same slice you get at Jiannetto’s.  Truthfully, between the artichoke pie (which is only available on certain days, and sells out pretty quickly) and the rice balls, I don’t know if I’ll ever need to try the pizza.  The fried meatballs on the other hand…

Want to read more about the artichoke pie (and its origins) check out this piece posted by Blondie and Brownie.  And if you want more info about Papa Perrone’s, they have a website.

Papa Perrone’s, 55th St. btw. Mad+Park, 917.880.1432

The Pranzo Pizza Truck, which popped up on 55th btw. Park+Lex last October, and then disappeared, has been found (sort of) by Eating in Translation! This sign was spotted yesterday in Washington Heights. Lesson learned: if you copy a concept from a really popular vendor (in this case the much loved Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck), you may want to park your truck a little more than 6 blocks away from the original. Carribean Spice Cart (on 46th St btw. 6+7th)… you’ve been warned.

Related:
Midtown Links (Pizza Truck is M.I.A. & the Treats Truck is Sick Edition)
The Pranzo Pizza Truck Attempts to Replace Jiannetto’s as Best Grandma Slice

On the other hand, you have to admit- it’s pretty ballsy to start a pizza truck 4 blocks away from New York City’s most famous pizza truck.  It must be good, right?  Not entirely trusting their own “Best Grandma Pie” proclamation painted on the front and back of the truck, I decided to try it for myself.  As skeptical as I was, you know I can’t resist food out of a truck!

The pizza pie porn, and +/- after the jump…

The one difference between the two trucks, and the major thing working in the Pranzo truck’s favor is that they have regular circular cheese pizza.  Other than that, it’s pretty much the same menu.  They also have a special topping pie available each day.  The day I was there it was vegetable pizza.  I figured it only fair to judge the place based on their standard pies, and ordered the lunch special.  $5 gets you two plain slices and a soda, and they allow you  get one slice of grandma and one slice of regular cheese pizza if you want.

Both slices had a very crispy crust, which I am not a huge fan of.  This might have been a one time thing, but my hunch is this is the way they like it.  The sauce was tasty, but it didn’t carry the grandma slice the way Jiannetto’s sauce carries their version.  I love cheese, and if you are not going to put a thick layer of cheese on top of your pizza, you better be sure your sauce is out of this world.  For cheese lovers, who want to eat pizza out of truck, Pranzo is a windfall- because they do offer regular cheese pizza- and $5 for two slices and a soda is a pretty good deal in Midtown.  For my money, I prefer the 99 cent pizza (but not everyone works near Grand Central).

All in all, I’m not exactly sure why these guys set up so close to Jiannetto’s.  I don’t think they are going to pull too much business away from those guys, and would have done much better if they could have found a space somewhere on the West side of Midtown- which doesn’t have pizza out of truck as of yet (Jiannetto’s tried for a few days, but then gave up after being kicked out of their spot on 48th btw. 6+7th).

If you work right next door to this truck and don’t want to walk more than a block for lunch, you love crunchy crust pizza, of you want a slice of regular cheese pizza out of truck- Pranzo is your only option.  For everybody else, I’d recommend sticking to Jiannetto’s or your local pizza pie option. 

THE +

• How can more pizza out of a truck be a bad thing?  (I love food in trucks!)
• They offer regular cheese slices
• $5 for two slices and a soda, is a pretty good deal for Midtown
• If you like really thin crunchy crust, this is your place!

 THE -

• They are four blocks away from Jiannetto’s, and their Grandma’s slice is not as good (unless you prefer a really crunchy crust)
• Their sauce is not as good as Jiannetto’s
• If you don’t like really crunchy crust, you won’t like this place.

Pranzo Pizza Truck, 55th St. & Park Ave., 347-368-7042