Midtown Lunch

31 CENT ICE CREAM IS AS GOOD AS FREE, RIGHT?: Fresh off B&J's free cone day, Baskin Robbins answers with 31cent cones tonight from 5-10pm (Bastards!  It's not even during lunchtime... What's that?  It's to benefit America's Firefighters?  Oh.  Forget that part about bastards.)  The Ironic Mullet has a list of all the Midtown locations for your post work, pre dinner cone...

NEW CART ALERT: From the Midtown Lunch Inbox... "There is a new mysterious foodcart right beside the roti cart on 46th and 6th Ave. The menu that looks like it was drawn while blindfolded, and there were a pile of people standing in front of the cart, so i couldn't make out all of the items being offered, but OXTAIL certainly caught my eye. I'd gather that the food is southern comfort/carribean." Anybody been yet? Hopefully it won't disappear like so many other new carts do after being discoverd!

ONE WEEK UNTIL HALLO BERLIN EXPRESS: opens its doors, according to Eating in Translation.  They heard May 1st from a "moustached stranger" who appeared at the location on 9 Ave. btw. 50+51st. According to the brothers (who also run the famous HB Cart on 54th & 5th), the Express location will not only carry beer, but will also feature schnitzel sandwiches and potato pancakes, in addition to their famous sausages. [EIT]

EXPENSED LUNCH: BENOIT: Alain Ducasse has opened is opening the first stateside outpost of his "downscale" French bistro concept, Benoit, and Eater has the first look at the menu and the interior (shot by our very own Downtown Lunch reporter, Daniel Krieger).  Even downscale Ducasse is out of Midtown Lunch'ing price range, but I freakin' love escargot (you may say the secret ingredient is garlic and butter), and this place may be a good option for those of you who get to go out on expense account lunches every once in awhile.  Opening Monday.  60 West 55th St. (btw. 5+6th)

FIG & OLIVE LUNCH COUNTER IS OPEN: And Blondie & Brownie have the first look.  "I selected the Roasted Vegetable Panini on Tomato Bread which at $6.50 was one of the cheapest things on the lunch menu.  The other paninis with meat and cheese were $8.50 and I think I remember the salads being over $10." Fig & Olive Midtown is at 10 E. 52nd St. (btw. Mad+5th), 212-319-2002.

FIG & OLIVE MIDTOWN NOT ENTIRELY OPEN: Yesterday the new Fig & Olive Midtown (on 52nd btw. 5+Mad) was certified "soft" opened by Eater, but that is just for dinner.  The  "Counter Bar" with lunchtime "'takeaway' and prepared items" will not open until Monday at the earliest.