I can’t really explain why I went back the other day. But, I did, and was totally surprised to find that the Bibimbap is now $7.95 plus tax — welcome back to ML range! Sadly, the Dolsot Bibimbap (served in a hot stone bowl and looked amazing), is still over the ML limit- but beggars can’t be choosers. I ordered the special of the day with beef, and it was extremely reasonable.

In the above picture, you wouldn’t know I ordered a dish with beef, because the soft-cooked egg completely covered it, but if I had to guess, the amount of meat was a descent amount but definitely less than the size of my fist. The Bibimbap itself looked pretty similar to this shot from August, 2007, and didn’t have the egg strips that drove people way in 2008. In fact, the egg was perfectly runny, much to my delight. In terms of banchan, some of the containers have actually grown in size, but the amount in each container is definitely uneven. I got more beansprouts than I wanted to eat, but I would have loved more marinated tofu strips.

I wouldn’t by any means go crazy and immediately re-crown this the best bibimbap in the area — in fact, I’m not even sure whose dish would earn that title these days — but Ambrosia has begun to redeem itself in my book. Pricing themselves back as a Midtown Lunch is an obvious attraction. In fact, their Korean menu now includes a surprising number of options under $10 that I may return to try.

Ambrosia, 45th St. (btw. 5+6th)

I haven’t been back to Ambrosia, the generic deli on 45th btw. 5+6th with the Korean food window in the back, since they raised their bi bim bap price to $11 (and there was talk of decline in quality.)  But now that they’re selling gom tang (which is very similar to the sul long tang I had at Gahm Mi Oak a few weeks ago) I think it might time for a revisit.  I can’t imagine it’s better than the K-Town version (and it’s more expensive), but sometimes you just don’t have time to make it down to 32nd Street.  Has anybody had the Korean food at Ambrosia lately?

Postscript: I know I said I would ease up on the Asian soups… and I promise to have a big non-Asian soup post this week!

Related:
Airing of Grievances: Ambrosia’s Bi Bim Bap is No Longer a Midtown Lunch
Ambrosia (aka the best Bi Bim Bap in Midtown?)

Ambrosia’s Bi Bim Bap circa August 2007. Back when it was called “the best in Midtown”.

There’s only so many complaints you can get before something has to be done. When Ambrosia, the generic Midtown deli on 45th btw. 5+6th, launched their Korean food station I thought it might be the best Bi Bim Bap in all of Midtown. They gave you a ton of banchan (the little Korean side dishes), it was $7 and it was delicious. Since then it has slowly deteriorated and after this email yesterday, I think we might have to take away its “Midtown Lunch” status.

“I realize that your post on Ambrosia being the best Bi Bim Bap in midtown was quite some time ago, but let me tell you I had a very sad experience. The item costs $11.89 now with tax, and it is just beef and lettuce…with 2 mushrooms and 2 strips of red peppers.”

But wait… there’s more.

“Um, am I wrong but is that not the ingredients of the dish? Also, THEY DID NOT GIVE ME RICE! I walked more than 6 blocks to get there, so there was no going back to get the rice. I did get kimchi and some other sides, but overall it was a sad experience..and I am still very hungry. I just thought you should know.”

This is not the first time Ambrosia’s bi bim bap has been featuring in an “Airing of Grievances” post.  About a year ago we got word that they had raised the price to $9, cut back on the banchan, and got rid of the fried egg, in favor of sliced omelet. I can except all of that… but $12? And not as good?  If that’s true, than this bi bim bap is no longer a Midtown Lunch. I’ll go and see for myself before we make this official, but Ambrosia should consider themselves on probation!

Related:
Ambrosia (aka the best Bi Bim Bap in Midtown?)
Airing of Grievances: John’s Shanghai & the Ambrosia Bi Bim Bap

Naples 45 Pizza Deal. Photo taken (what seems like) 17 years ago. 

While Z Deli was rolling back the prices on their slice, it appears as if Naples 45 was doing the opposite. Originally you could get a $1.25 slice after 2pm at Naples 45.  At some point it was raised to $1.50, but now it appears as if the price has increased again.  And this guy sounds super pissed: 

“Needed a quick pizza fix and remembered your mention of this late lunch special. Guess what?? The price was $1.70… $1.90 with tax. True, it was tasty… but the ‘magic’ is definitely gone. And I’m sorry, the price of oil to blame is bogus.. they are just milking the attention your site gave ‘em. That’s my opinion. Even worse, I’m still hungry. Grrrrr.”

Dude… don’t blame this shit on me. It *is* probably this country’s dependence on foreign oil. Yeah, that sounds right.

Woorijip’s new sushi subterfuge, after the jump… 

Blondie and Brownie have uncovered a sushi inconsistency at Woorijip.  The same $3.50 that got you 10 pieces of sushi last month, now only gets you 9.  Shocking?  Yes, but not nearly as bad as the banchan controversy that’s been brewing over Ambrosia.  We noted last month how Ambrosia, the deli on 45th btw. 5+6th with Korean food in the back, has been seriously skimping on their banchan (the little Korean side dishes you get with your meal.)  Another reader has sent in a more recent photo, and from the looks of it, it may be getting better:

Clearly the selection isn’t what it once was, but I like the look of the choices (is that jap chae?) and the portions are clearly in bigger containers.

Got something you want to complain about? Email it to zach@midtownlunch.com

In a total shock, the 3 rolls for $10 takeout sushi deal is still available at Aoki on 48th btw. 7+8th.  I thought for sure when I wrote about this in April they would pull a Del Frisco’s but, in a delightful surprise, the best sushi deal in Midtown is still available.  Just remember, you have to take it to go.  It’s $11 for 3 rolls if you sit in the restaurant.  2+ months and counting…

Photograph by nycblondieandbrownie

Now the bad… plenty of places have raised their prices recently, but it’s always more upsetting when it happens at a Midtown Lunch standby.  All three Kwik Meal carts have tacked 50 cents on to most of their items.  The falafel on pita is already on the small side, and for $4.50 I’ll have to think twice about buying two (a standard Kwik Meal order.)

The ugly, after the jump…

I swung by Ambrosia (on 45th btw. 5+6th) yesterday to see if there was anything new going on at their Korean stand in the back.  What I discovered was totally shocking…  the bi bim bap with meat is now $10.95.  The vegetarian version was raised to $8.95 (a complaint that was posted last week), but I didn’t realize the meat version was so expensive!  It explains why there was no meat in my $9 bi bim bap the last time I went, so I guess it has probably been this way for awhile… but I certainly didn’t realize it.  Shocking.  I haven’t been to Cafe Duke in a minute, but it looks like I’m going to be returning very soon.

Got any news of your own to report?  Post it in the comments, or email me at zach@midtownlunch.com