Midtown Lunch

Last Chance to Win $150 of Charcuterie from Murray’s: Don't forget, you have until today at Noon today to suggest ingredients for the perfect Midtown Lunch sandwich. The winner gets a charcuterie platter worth $150 from Murray's Salami, and the winning suggestion will be sold as a special "Midtown Lunch" pack at the store in the Grand Central Terminal Market.

Today is ‘Anything Covered in Chocolate Day’: I'm not exactly sure what that means (or where it comes from), but it sounds promising... and the Treats Truck is celebrating with "some very special chocolate covered specials" today on 38th and 5th Ave. I have to admit this is kind of better than National Brownie Day, or National Cupcake Day (eat your heart out Downtown!)

NYT Recommends Midtown Lunches to Tourists: This weekend the New York Times did a roundup of places to eat in the West 50s for people visiting Fifth Avenue, the Rock Center X-Mas Tree, and MOMA. They recommended Danku (on 57 btw. 5+6th), Menchanko Tei (on 55th btw. 5+6th), and Pop Burger (on 58th btw. Mad+5th). I think I speak for everyone here when I say SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... don't ruin our lunch spots. Those people seem perfectly happy at Sbarro's.

Is Washoku Cafe Open?: Eater has gotten word from a tipster that Washoku Cafe has opened, but nobody is answering the phone and the place seemed deserted.  This is the new Japanese bento place on 37th btw. Mad+5th that for a time was selling bentos out of plastic tub on 50th btw. 6+7th (before one of their people may or may not have been arrested.)  Anybody have any more intel?

Buy One Get One Free at Crisp: If you can hold out until 3pm for lunch (lord knows I can't) a commenter steered us towards these coupons now being offered by Crisp, the weirdo falafel place on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th. One coupon is buy one get one free anything (after 3pm), and the other is for a free drink with the purchase of any sandwich or hummus platter (anytime). Good only through the end of the year.

Free Burrito Reminder: Don't forget, there are free burritos today from 11am to 6pm at the newest Chipotle- opening on Madison Ave. and 39th Street.

Sietsema Does Obika: In all the baby craziness of last week, I completely missed Robert Sietsema's write up of Obika in the Village Voice. I can't tell if he loves it or hates it, and he completely ignores the take out sandwiches (the only part of the menu cheap enough to interest me).  But if you love mozzarella, and are interested in reading more about the Italian chain that popped up in the atrium on Madison Ave. and 56th Street, his reviews are always worth taking a look at.

Madison Sq. Park Shake Shack Now Takes Phone Orders: Serious Eats: New York is reporting that the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park is now taking phone orders with a credit card payment. With this new development, the Shack takes one more step closer to being a legitimate Midtown Lunch'ing option- in other words, making it there and back in under and hour is now completely do-able. (Plus there are heat lamps while you wait...) If you want to try it, the number is 212-889-6600.

New Dean & Deluca Opens; NYT Building Cries Tears of Joy: Just got word from a worker in the NYT building on 8th Ave. and 41st St. that the big Dean and Deluca on the ground floor has finally opened. "Does Dean & Deluca qualify for Midtown Lunch? Because it just finally opened in the Times Building, and we are weeping for joy." Really? Well, it's a shame the building didn't show that much enthusiasm for the Sophie's Cuban around the corner (may she R.I.P.)

Free Burrito Alert: According to this the newest Midtown Chipotle location (on 45th btw. 5+6th) will be giving away free burritos the next three Tuesdays from 5 to 7 p.m. (starting tomorrow.) Aside from the fact that it is Chipotle which I tend to only eat if it's free, the other downside is that you have to listen to local acoustic musicians while you wait in line. A small price to pay for free food, I suppose. [via Serious Eats:New York]