Midtown Lunch

Free Topping at Naples 45: Eater reports that Naples 45 (on 45th btw. Park+Mad) is offering a free topping on any regular or large pizza as a special recession deal. This, of course, is in addition to their standard late lunch special: after 2pm, slices are all $1.75 ($2.50 with a soda.) And it looks like the restaurant is already flaunting their ML Readers' poll victory... at least I'm guessing that's why the post calls them "Midtown's Top Pizza."

Ask ML: Free Wi-Fi: "I have a meeting today and need a place where I can eat lunch, plus look at stuff on my laptop. Do you know of any lunch places with free wi-fi?" Good question... I know Yushi has it (on 47th btw. Park+Lex) and I think Cosi has free wi-fi, but I'm not positive. Also, Bryant Park has got it... but it's a little cold for that. I wonder if you can still pick up the free wi-fi in the Le Pain Quotidien across the street? Lunchers, got any suggestions?

Free Metrocard Alert: Eater is reporting that Dunkin' Donuts will be handing out free Metrocards on Monday morning (1/12) from 6:30am to 9:30am at the subway station on Lexington on 53rd.  Don't work near there?  They'll be doing the same thing at Grand Central on 1/26, and the Times Square/42nd Street station on 2/2. Is $2 worth it?  In this economy... hell yeah!  (If you're going to be there already...)

Midtown Lunch Partner – mfw – 39: Look at all the fun stuff that pops up when you have a google alert for Midtown Lunch! If you're a 25-45 year old woman looking to hang out with a 39 year old dude (with a girlfriend?) during lunch, this craigslist ad is totally for you! "Let's get coffee/have lunch. I'm by 8th and the low 40s. Let's email for a while first to make sure we share some basic compatibility." Maybe we should have a missed connections section of Midtown Lunch!  Thoughts?

Salad Bar Mystery Solved?: "It HAS TO BE the W Cafe. It used to be some other name (like superfoods or something) but it is HANDS DOWN the salad bar she described. It's right near the Empire State, and has a sprawling salad bar with everything you'd ever want. Has to be. I have a great instinct on this. -Phoebe" Or maybe it's Europa Cafe (as another commenter suggested.) My previous stance still applies.

Fruitcake Eating Record: If you're unlucky enough to be at work today, and are looking for a little entertainment, hot dog eating master Takeru Kobayashi will attempt to break the current fruitcake eating record (4 lbs. 14.25 oz. in 10 mins) at the plaza of Madison Square Garden (on 34th St. & 7th Ave.) It all goes down at 11 a.m. [City Room via SE:NY]

Japanese Carb-gasm: The Village Voice's Sarah DiGregorio has discovered the carb on carb action of the Yakisoba pan. She got hers at the East Village branch of Cafe Zaiya, but as you know they are available in Midtown at our Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th) and Cafe Zest (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd).

Dainobu To Open Tomorrow?: They were hoping that yesterday would be the big day, but it is looking like tomorrow (the 24th) will be opening day for Dainobu- the latest Japanese bento/lunch/grocery store to hit the Midtown Lunch scene (on 47th btw. Lex+3rd). They "are working crazy" to get it all done.

Dessert Truck & Treats Truck Closing Until January: Tuesday is your last chance for some hot Dessert Truck goodness, or Treats Truck action before they both close for Winter break.  Monday the Dessert Truck will be at Park & 52nd for their normal daytime schedule, but Tuesday they will be leaving early (at 2:30pm) before disappearing entirely until mid/late January. Treats Truck will be at 38th & 5th on Tuesday from Noon to 3:30pm, before they go on break until January 4th.

R.I.P. Belizzi’s: Eater brings word that Bellizzi's "a lunch spot that took over a former Cosi location on West 36th and 7th Avenue and used their bread ovens for pizzas" has closed because of the "economic downturn."  Anybody ever been to this place? I can't even picture it...