Midtown Lunch

Homefront Deli is Closed Again: "Any news about when Homefront Deli (on 41st btw. Mad+Park) will reopen? I passed by on Tuesday and they had a sign that they were closed for emergency repairs. What's up with that?" Call to the place confirms... they don't have any gas, but will reopen on Monday. I guess they never ended up selling the place. (Somebody should tell them about the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge when they reopen!)

Sandwich Challenge Question: From a Midtown restaurant: "So I heard that there is a sandwich competition happening on Midtown Lunch. Do you think we will get chosen if we get really creative and crazy?" Just to clarify... there is no "chosen". (And technically it isn't really a competition.) If you add a sandwich to your menu, and call it the "Midtown Lunch Special", it will get posted about on this website. Every... single... sandwich.

Fresh Bites Becoming Simply Fresh: Sent to the ML Inbox by lunch'er Jesse: "Fresh Bites (on 6th btw. 56+57th) is turning into another generic salad/sandwich/soup place. They have a poster in the window... If I remember correctly it is "Simply Fresh". More like "Simply Boring". Also, next to the new Starbucks on 6th ave at 58th St is a brand new sign for "Well Greens Market" (looks amazingly similar to Walgreens sign). Don't know what they will be doing yet... but I imagine it's more salads." Oh joy!

Brick Lane Curry Redux: The second location of Brick Lane Curry House, which opened over 4 months ago on 53rd btw. 2+3rd is just now hyping their official launch on Feburary 11th (?!?), which I believe is just code for "we've hired a PR firm to promote our newish location". Don't be fooled though, it's pretty much the same as it has been all these months, with only one real difference: apparently they have changed the name to Brick Lane Too.

Mitzy’s Macaron Alert: If you have been having trouble scoring the Itzy Bitzy macarons that are now being to delivered on Saturday mornings to Tafu (51st btw. Lex+3rd.), Kathy from A Passion for Food sends along this message from Mitzy herself regarding mid-week reinforcements: "I made another delivery to Tafu yesterday since Monday's batches were gone already." I'd go now if you're interested, they probably won't last long.

PF Chang/Sizzler Fail: The closed Duane Reade on 48th btw. 6+7th that some were hoping would become a PF Chang's or Sizzler is being converted into an upscale cocktail lounge called "Forty Eight". Bummer. Good luck to you... although in this climate you probably would have done better with a place that offers steak and lobster for $14.99. [via Eater]

Free Doughnut Alert: Eater is reporting that Krispy Kreme will be giving away free doughnuts on Tuesday in honor of the Inaguration, and the one Midtown location (in Penn Station) is particpating all day. This is in addition to the free coffee you can get at Oren's. Thanks Obama!

Cafe Metro Says No Free Lunch For Citigroup: I don't know what this guy actually overheard, but somebody from Cafe Metro responded in the comments: "We do not have any financial affiliation with Citi Group, We do offer certain customers a discount due to the high employee patronage. There is no free lunch for Citi Group Employees." Is this a subterfuge to keep us from trying to impersonate Citigroup employees? Did anybody try to get a free lunch?

Free Coffee Alert: Eater is reporting that during the Inauguration on Tuesday (from 11:44 a.m. to 1:44 p.m.) Oren's Daily Roast will be giving away free cups of their new coffee Blend 44.  There are 3 Oren's in Midtown: two in Grand Central and one on 51st St. and 3rd Ave. (According to the comments on Eater, there was also one on 58th but it has closed.)

Treats Truck is Now Serving Hot Chocolate: As promised a few weeks ago: "Hey everybody, The Treats Truck is now on 45th street and 6 Ave. Stop by for treats and hot chocolate! See you!" [via Twitter around 12:15 today]