Midtown Lunch » Cafe Edison

Cafe Edison Makes Some Damn Good Soup

Zach Brooks — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:30:53 +0000

Back in April Always Hungry did a Best Matzoh Ball Soup in NYC round-up that conspicuously left off Cafe Edison (on 47th btw. B’way+8th.) Well they finally admitted their mistake this week, after visiting the Midtown landmark for an awesome looking lunch. In addition to the soup, they also gave high marks to the Cafe Edison kasha, blintzes, and called their chocolate egg cream “perfect”. Somebody should tell Ed Levine!

Cafe Edison Owner Passes Away

Zach Brooks — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:30:57 +0000

Sad news in the New York Times yesterday: Harry Edelstein, owner of Cafe Edison (on 47th btw. B’way+8th), passed away on Monday at the age of 91. The ML fave for matzoh ball soup, borscht, blintzes, and potato pancakes was closed yesterday for his funeral (and will be closed during lunch today for a movie shoot.) Today, we’ll pour out a little of our Dr. Brown’s cream soda in his honor…

Midtown Has 2 of the 3 Best Matzoh Ball Soups in NYC

Zach Brooks — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 12:00:03 +0000

Always Hungry has a round up of the best matzo ball soups in New York City, and surprisingly they only liked three versions. Even more surprising is that 2 of the 3 are right here in Midtown: Sarge’s (on 3rd btw. 36+37th) and 2nd Ave. Deli (on 33rd btw. Lex+3rd). Carnegie Deli’s version got a C (barely passing) and the Cafe Edison (on 47th btw. B’way+8th) was totally left out! I wonder how they would have stacked up.

Celebrate the Festival of Lights With The Best Potato Pancakes in Midtown

Zach Brooks — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:47:32 +0000

The first night of Chanukah is tomorrow night, and with the Stage & Carnegie Delis fighting each other over who can more effectively gouge stupid tourists, you have to travel a little farther off the beaten path if you want potato pancakes at Midtown Lunch approved prices. Here are my picks…

1. The Diamond Dairy (4 W. 47th St.) – Still the undisputed king of Chanukah time, this truly hidden gem (pun entirely intended) serves up a good plate of potato pancakes year round, in the back mezzanine of one of the jewelry stores on 47th btw. 5+6th. And at 2 for $6, and 3 for $8, they are a steal. Just make sure you write down the address, or else you’ll never find it.

2. Cafe Edison (47th btw. B’way+8th) – Surprisingly, this old school deli doesn’t serve latkes year round- but starting tomorrow night this Midtown institution offers them as a special for the 8 days of Chanukah. They haven’t set a price yet, but they assured me it will be under $10.

3. Sarge’s (3rd Ave. btw. 36+37th) – Unfortunately Sarge’s amazing list of sandwiches are too expensive for Midtown Lunch’ing purposes, but the super thick potato pancakes at this Midtown East establishment, come in at just under $10 ($8.95). This kid seems to be enjoying them!

And finally, the cheapest (and most shocking) potato pancakes in Midtown, after the jump…

I don’t normally write about snacks (especially ones purchased in generic Midtown delis), but I could resist picking up a pack of these as soon as I saw them at the Smiler’s on 48th & 7th…

They say “No artificial colors, preservatives or flavors”, but it doesn’t seem possible. Latke crips just seem… unnatural.

Frightened as I was, I tried them- and amazingly, even without applesauce and sour cream, they tasted just like potato pancakes! A Chanukah miracle!

Celebrate the New Year at Cafe Edison

Zach Brooks — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 12:48:22 +0000

Tonight is Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year), and if you don’t have your Mom in town to cook for you (mine is flying in this morning), then you may want to consider Cafe Edison for lunch. I don’t eat at too many sit down restaraunts, but they don’t have good matzoh ball soup at too many places that specialize in quick lunches. Luckily Cafe Edison, despite being a sit down diner, is cheap enough (the prices probably haven’t changed in 20 years) to be included as a bonafide Midtown Lunch.

Situated in the Edison Hotel on 47th btw. B’way & 8th, Cafe Edison is a relic of the Old Times Square. Stepping inside is like stepping into a time warp, and it doesn’t matter how old you are, chances are- if you are reading this blog, you will be the youngest person there. Their ever changing list of daily soups are easily the stand outs of the menu, but they also have great blintzes, matzoh brie (I’ll be back for Passover!), a real nice corned beef sandwich, and kasha varnishkes (if you don’t know, you probably don’t want to know).

The best Matzoh Ball soup in Midtown, more old school deli porn and a +/- after the jump…

Both the Matzah Ball soup and the Borcht (cold red beet soup, topped with sour cream) are great, and I’ve heard good things about the rest of the soups which alternate every day.

It may not be the best corned beef sandwich in the world, but you get good homemade corned beef, and the old school New York Deli feel, without having to pay $17 for a rediculously oversized sandwich that you can’t finish, and aren’t allowed to share (without paying even more). It’s also a great place to spend your hour lunch break, getting a piece of what the old Times Square was like, before Spotlight Live, ESPN, & Hawaiian Tropic set up their respective “Zones”.

So, if you’re craving Jewish food on this Rosh Hashanah, and don’t mind eating it in a dirty old NY Diner, Cafe Edison is the place to go. Who knows? You might see someone famous. I don’t know if Neil Simon hangs out there anymore, but truthfully, I don’t think I’d recognize him if he did.

THE + (what people who like this place would say)

Cheap food, in an old school New York atmosphere

You can get a regular sized Corned Beef or Pastrami Sandwich for under $10 (No Sharing Charge Necessary, and no lines of tourists)

Awesome soups

Did I mention how cheap it is?

THE – (what people who don’t like this place would say)

It’s old and dirty

The Corned Beef can be a little dry

The food is hit or miss

The service is not 5 Star

It’s sit down, so you have to pay tip- making the really cheap prices, a tad bit more expensive

Cafe Edison, 228 W. 47th St. (btw. B’way & 8th), 212-840-5000