Midtown Lunch

100% Halal & Healthy Joins the Sandwich Challenge: The cart on 55th and Park, that serves one of the only salads I'll eat in Midtown, has joined the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, with a little help from Profiled Midtown Lunch'er Andrew.  Their entry consists of "kofta, grilled chicken, grilled onions and peppers, melted cheese, his famous thick hot sauce and some white sauce." Nice.  [Wined and Dined]

Ask Midtown Lunch: French Fries: "I work on 45th and Lex. Looking for a place that serves good fries. Any suggestions? I like them all. Shoe string to wedges. Just wanted to have a recommendation. I like spicy fries as well. Thanks for your help." Oh, and before you recommend Blarney Stone, don't bother. "Blarney stone wedges are too big. Even KFC beats it by a mile."

Certe to Begin Offering Thanksgiving Dip Today: Their sandwich challenge entry was going to be unveiled on Monday, but so many people asked for it yesterday that Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) decided to start offering the sandwich today.  Enjoy!

Free Sandwich Alert: Multiple sources have emailed me this buy one get one free PDF coupon for Cosi, but strangely it says "No Reproduction or Internet Distribution Allowed".  So, just to be clear, I'm not "distributing" it, but merely posting it to pose the question: How do they expect people to get a PDF if not over the internet?  Please don't download or distribute this coupon.  I am merely posting it for demonstration only.  Got that people?  Demonstration.  (Please don't sue me, Cosi.)

Certe Completely Gets the ML Sandwich Challenge: Got this email from Certe, a deli on 55th btw. 5+6th, regarding the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge: "As of next Monday we will offer our Midtown Lunch Special on the menu. The Thanksgiving Dip ($8.95): Roast Turkey, cornbread stuffing, shmear of mashed potato and cranberry chutney on grilled flatbread, served with turkey gravy for dipping." That'll do Certe. That'll do.

Old School Midtown East: Lost City just posted this guide to the coolest parts of Midtown East, which includes a stop at PJ Clarke's, Prime Burger, the super cool hidden gem Diamond Dairy, and another hidden luncheonette near Grand Central that I may have to check out.

El Rey Del Sabor Sandwich Confirm: It's been confirmed that yesterday El Rey del Sabor, the Mexican Cart on 60th and 3rd, has entered the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge. "It’s called the Alambre and comes with salty beef, melted cheese, beans, jalapenos, tomatos, lettuce, guacomole and sauce, if you’d like, on a half-hero." Full report tomorrow.

Free Brownie Alert: Profiled Midtown Lunch'er "Andy" sends word that for all of Feburary the Chocolate Bar by Henri Bendel (which is located on the third floor of the Atrium on 5th Ave. btw. 55+56th) will be giving away free brownies from 3-8pm, Mon-Thur if you walk in and say the word "bailout". Before you freeloaders go rushing out, it's more a brownie sample than a full brownie (the lady on the phone told me 1/3 of a brownie)... but in these economic times, I won't turn my nose up at free food of any sort. (And if you work in the vicinity it might be worth a little looksee.) Update: The store has emailed to let me know that it is actually 1/2 a brownie.  Feeloaders engage! [Wined and Dined]

Free Coffee Alert: Seamless Web is giving away free coffee in Midtown for the next two weeks: at 9 places in Midtown East this week, and 9 places in Midtown West next week. All you have to do is go into one of the participating places and ask for a cup of coffee on Seamless Web. (They're doing it in the Financial District at the end of the month.) Here is the complete list of places, plus a $5 coupon for first time SW users. While supplies last... whatever the hell that means. (How do you run out of coffee?)

Update: Dessert Truck Out of Commission Today, Maybe Tomorrow: Jerome, the chef of the Dessert Truck, checks in with this update to Friday's report: "We found out late last year that our old lunch spot (on Park & 52nd) was not legal for food vending so we had to move.  We're trying to stay in the same spot everyday for weekday lunch and 55th & Lex seems to be working out...it's a decent location and it always seems that there's a spot open on the corner or at least close by.   Our lunch location is updated on our website the moment we arrive." UPDATE: (2/2 11:45AM) "We won't be opening today for lunch because the truck is still stuck at the mechanic and won't be out until later this afternoon.  This extremely frustrating for us and we hate letting down our loyal customers but it's one of the pitfalls of running a small mobile food business.  We do expect to be open for lunch tomorrow, but we're not holding our breath."