Midtown Lunch

Following in the footsteps of Chop’t, FreeFoods NYC (on 45th btw. 5+6th & 52nd btw. Lex+3rd) is introducing their own version of the banh mi today.  Of course “their version” means it’s free range chicken and wildly overpriced.  It comes topped with pickled carrots, toasted peanuts and red chili mayo on a Sullivan Street Bakery baguette. If you thought paying $8 at Boi Sandwich was ridiculous, I can’t imagine how you’ll feel spending $11 on this version of a banh mi. Unless some (rich) early adopters say it’s the greatest sandwich of all time, I don’t think I’ll be breaking the ML price boundaries for this.

Also happening today in the Midtown Lunch sandwich world… Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) introduces their June entry to the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge: a beer battered jumbo soft shell crab with bibb lettuce, remoulade sauce on a toasted butter potato roll ($8.95).  Nice.  I love soft shelled crab, so I’m thinking this sandwich will continue the same streak of awesomeness that brought us the Thanksgiving Dip and The Primavera.

If you are a big fan of the pizza at Cer té (yes,apparently it’s Cer té not Certe… who knew?) on 55th btw. 5+6th than you will be very excited to hear this news.  The owners of Cer té have taken over the former Quizno’s on 56th Street (btw. Park+Lex) and will be turning it into the city’s first “green” pizzeria.  What does that mean? The building will be LEED-certified, food will be delivered by foot or via hybrid truck, all supplies will be purchased locally, and the pizza boxes, utensils and paper goods will be made from recyclable materials.

But what about the food???

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I finally got around to trying Certe’s May entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, the Mexican Torta.  “Tanman” and “Wayne” were kind of enough to send their reports earlier in the month, but in keeping with the rules of the Sandwich Challenge I should probably post something… so here it is.  Good sandwich.  Quality meat.  Love the avocado (always a sandwich bonus.)  Liked the bread, salsa and cheese.  All around a good sandwich.  I wouldn’t call it a torta though.  That’s a torta! This was more like a good steak sandwich with avocado.  Though for $8.95 it kind of lacks that wow factor that is required for me to spend this much on a sandwich- although I would definitely recommend trying it at least once. Another solid effort from Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th).

If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, I think Friday may be the last day.

Related:
Certe’s Thanksgiving Dip is the Greatest Sandwich Ever Created
Underestimate Certe’s Vegetarian Sandwich at Your Own Risk

Photo courtesy of Lunch’er “Chip Beef”

On Friday Midtown Lunchers poured into Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) for the chance to sample their “lobster roll” for the one day only price of $8.95.  I put lobster roll in quotes because as the complaints started to pour in it became clear that this sandwich was more of a lobster wrap than a lobster roll. This comment from Lunch’er “Sushiburger” pretty much sums it up:

Just had the Lobster Roll. They really shouldn’t call it a Lobster Roll since.. well… there’s NO ROLL! Maybe you guys knew this already but I didn’t realize that it was a wrap.. and not an actual roll. The lobster mix was fine… nothing amazing.. but nothing bad… it wasn’t too overloaded with mayo as fillers… and there was a decent amount of lobster, but having to eat it in a wrap just ruined the whole thing. i placed the order from my office to pick it up. and I couldn’t turn back since they had it ready for me right when i got there. In any case, it was pretty good for what it was but I was looking forward to biting into a roll and having the wrap was disappointing.

And Lunch’er “Chip Beef” added this:

“Apart from being served on a fucking wrap (uncool, unacceptable), Certe somehow saw it fit to include CORN and RED ONIONS in their lobster salad. These foolish ingredients totally overpowered whatever small amount of actual lobster flavor that this “thing” was packing.”

Certe (being the attentive Midtown Lunch readers that they are) immediately responded with this apology, and make good.

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I had heard about the mysterious take-out only lobster roll offered as an occasional lunch special at Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th), but at $11.75 it’s usually out of the Midtown Lunch price range… except for tomorrow. We’ve gotten word that for one day only (Friday, May 22) Certe will be offering their lobster roll for $8.95 (take out only.) There is nothing like a lobster roll to get your Memorial Day weekend kicked off right… except maybe the bacon implosion. This could be a really tough decision. Anybody had the Certe lobster roll before? Let us know in the comments if it’s worth it.

Photo courtesy of Lunch’er Wayne

Last week two Midtown Lunch’ers sampled the newly introduced Mexican Torta from Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) and reported back. First, the tempered enthusiasm:

“Decided to try out the Sirloin Mexican Torta at Certe today. It looked delicious when I was picking it up and I think I was drooling all the way back to the office. The sandwich was decent-sized and came with a dill pickle on the side. My one complaint is that they skimped on the sirlion beef – I definitely would have liked more beef and less avocado. Other than that, it was quite tasty; not as good as last month’s Primavera but very good nonetheless. -Tanman”

Unbridled excitement, via Lunch’er Wayne, is after the jump.

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After turning the decision over to you guys, the response was unanimous: keep the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge going, and bring on the torta! So, from Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) this morning: “Starting today we will offer our May Midtown Lunch Entry: Sirloin Mexican Torta. Sliced Roasted Sirloin of Beef with avocado, pico de gallo, queso blanco, fresh jalapeno and chipotle aioli on a soft Mexican torta. Also the Primavera (last month’s entry) will become one of our weekly specials starting next week. It will be available on Fridays (starting 5/15). And as always the Thanksgiving Dip is available on Thursdays.”

The Primavera from Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th)

Last week was it for Certe’s third entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, the Primavera.  If you missed out on this amazing sandwich, I’m sorry.  I feel bad I didn’t remind everybody last week when there was still time to go enjoy it.  I feel doubly bad because a Lunch’er tried to get one yesterday- only to be disappointed (especially because they had left the sign up for the sandwich despite not having it.)  Certe had this to say in response:

“We were unsure as to whether or not we should have a May lunch special and this led to our lack of communication about The Primavera ending. That being said, we didn’t want to over-stay in the “Sandwich Challenge” and keep entering sandwiches each month if it seems we have entered too many. What would you suggest? We are happy to offer a Sirloin Mexican Torta sandwich for the Month of May, as we really do enjoy meeting Midtown Lunch’ers and hearing their feedback each month. Please let us know if you’d like us to submit another entry.”

Now that Papa Perrone has answered my grease truck prayers, I’m tempted to retire the Sandwich Challenge.  I almost feel like there is nothing left to accomplish.  On the other hand, if places are still willing to make awesome sandwiches, I’m still willing to go eat them.  Yay or nay?  What do you guys think?

Related:
Underestimate Certe’s Vegetarian Sandwich at Your Own Risk
Certe’s Bayou Sandwich is All About No Expectations
Certe’s Thanksgiving Dip is the Greatest Sandwich Ever Created

Certe’s First Two Sandwich Challenge Entries

So, I’ll admit, it’s taken me awhile to go and check out “The Primavera”, Certe’s new entry to the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge. Part of it is because it’s their *third* entry (they have done one every month since we started), but part of it had to do with the fact that it was a vegetarian entry. Don’t get me wrong, it sounded good and all (crispy eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash with basil ricotta, fresh mozzarella on a homemade garlic herb focaccia), but not blow-me-away good. Not so-good-I-felt-the-need-to-rush-over-there and stuff my fat face good (which presumably would get fatter and fatter just by looking at the sandwich.)

Yesterday, I finally found time to trek over to Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th) and try the sandwich. And boy am I glad I did.

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If you wanted this, today is your last chance.

Today is the last day for Certe’s catfish sandwich, so if you’ve been putting off trying their second entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge– this is your last chance. Tomorrow they’ll introduce an April sandwich, The Primavera: featuring crispy eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash with basil ricotta, fresh mozzarella on a homemade garlic herb focaccia for $8.95. Compared to most of our entries, this seems a tad bit standard- but I guess if you’re a vegetarian, a sandwich with fried eggplant and basil ricotta on fancy garlic bread would be as good as it’s going to get! Certe is on 55th btw. 5+6th.