Midtown Lunch

Free Lunch at Pump: For those of you interested in the newly designed Pump Energy Kitchen on 40th & Madison, Feisty Foodie has a write up with photos (although in the post, she admits she's never eaten a burrito?!?!)  And if you're *really* interested, she's giving away free lunch vouchers as well.

More ML Love from the NYT: It's all Midtown Lunch, all the time, in the New York Times today.  The $25 and under column hits up 3 vegetarian lunches, and one of them is Crisp, the funky falafel place on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th.

Don’t Forget 50% off Day at Zest by Zaiya: A friendly reminder about the grand opening special going on today and tomorrow at Cafe Zest on 47th St. btw. Lex+3rd.  Everything is half off from Noon to 3pm, so if you're a fan of Cafe Zaiya, you may want to be there for this one.

Sad News For Starbucks Freaks: Starbucks will close 6 Manhattan locations by next year, and all of them are in Midtown.  As far as I'm concerned that's a big fat who cares, although I'll probably be more upset after Christmas when it becomes harder to use the gift card my mother in law Santa always puts in my stocking. [SE: NY via NYT]

Fancy Pop Up Food Court Brings Magnolia Bakery to Midtown Today?!?: From the Midtown Lunch Inbox:  "There’s some kind of home and garden event going on [in front of Rock Center] which ends today. There are about 12 or so restaurants with little stands set up selling pretty decent lunches. Even Magnolia has a booth set up with cupcakes and other pastries. Yesterday I got a BLT with the most amazing slice of bacon. It was about an inch thick and 10 inches long. A bacon steak if you will. It came with lemonade and fries chips for $11 (a bit pricey but wow was it delicious). I recommend trying to check it today before it leaves."

Burger Joint Is on GQ’s Top 5: The Burger Joint in the Parker Meridien (on 56th btw. 6+7th) qualifies as one of Alan Richman's Top 5 Burgers in New York City.  No surprise there- but the strange thing is how he recommends eating it: "Order a plain, unadorned burger, put nothing whatsoever on it, and eat. You’ll be stunned that something this straightforward can be this good... No burger in New York is in need of ketchup less than this one."

The Frozen Popcorn Tastes Like Frozen Popcorn: The MLB parade kept me from hitting up Garrett's yesterday for free frozen popcorn popsicles, but Eater was onsite with a report and photos.  They said " it was a welcome refresher after navigating the crowds" at the parade, but one Midtown Lunch'er commented: "it tasted like cold caramel popcorn on a stick."  Back again today and tomorrow from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m.

Free (uh… maybe) Food Alert: New Qdoba is Open: The Qdoba on 50th btw. 6+7th opened for business yesterday, and we're getting some reports of free burrito action.  There have been street team people in the area handing out free burrito coupons- but it's not a guaranteed come-one-come-all free burrito day.  They may or may not also be there tomorrow.

Free Food Alert: Frozen Popcorn Popsicles: If you are a Top Chef fan (or a frozen popcorn popsicle fan?), former contestant Richard Blais will be at Garrett's Popcorn on 5th Avenue & 46th St. today, tomorrow and Thursday giving out free samples of a frozen treat made from sticking popcorn in liquid nitrogen from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.  (Though, if you go today, beware of the MLB Parade.)

Indian Food Lady/Apple Store/Burger Update: This Upper Midtown West update was posted in the comments today by Bossman: "12:45 no [Indian Food Lady near the apple store] but [Carnegie] John is back!! There’s still a line on 58th for the iCARETHATEVERYONEELSETHINKSIMCOOLBYVIRTUEOFWHATIOWN albeit it only stretches as far as FAO today. More importantly, Burger Joint is still a good lunch (albeit $11.00)"