Midtown Lunch

While on the quest to find a spot for a good cup of coffee (I know I could just walk into one of the many delis in the area for a cup of $1 coffee but once in awhile you want something better), I discovered Manhattan Espresso Cafe on 49th btw. Lex+3rd. After digging a little further, I realized that besides having coffee, pastries and donuts they have sandwiches as well. I decided to check this place out and see whats up.

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Yesterday my post-lunch walk back to the office took me down East 46th street where I discovered that midtown is getting it’s own branch of the storied Italian espresso roaster Filicori Zecchini. The shop is on the south side of 46th between Vanderbilt and Madison. They were still working out all the service kinks and weren’t open yet but said that they were hoping to officially open today. They’ll be serving espresso beverages, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate drinks. Regular hours will be from 7am until 7pm and they plan on offering wifi. Looking forward to giving their signature iced cappucino a try. (I can only assume it’s better than Tim Horton’s version.)  Early adopters let us know what you find in the comments.

We’re not the biggest fans of the ‘bux, but we do like 1/2 price, so consider this your heads up that starting this afternoon and running through May 15th Starbucks is doing half price frappucinos each day from from 3:00pm until 5:00pm.

City Room noticed this amazing sign posted on 43rd Street and 6th Ave, and went so far as to interview the two different coffee cart vendors. The best part of the whole thing? They’re owned by the same guy, and serve the same bagels! Only in Midtown. [via @samsifton]

Got a bunch of coffee news for those of you looking for a morning pick me up… Oren’s has expanded to Times Square! They recently opened a new store on Broadway (between 40th+41st) which they’re calling their “flagship” (whatever that means!) Whatever it’s called I bet anyone cash money that they’ll be running out of frozen yogurt come summer-time.

But that’s not the only coffee news, Joe the Art of Coffee in Grand Central is trying to help out their extreme line situation with a coffee cart!

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I was saddened to discover that the ING Direct cafe had closed their 49th street location, since my lunchtime travels rarely take me in the vicinity of their cafe on 58th and 3rd. But the other day when I was on the hunt for Omar and the El Kaaba Halal Food Cart, I walked right past the ING cafe and I couldn’t help but be lured in by their cheerful orange decor.

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Sad news for central midtown coffee addicts/cheapos… the ING Cafe has moved their 49th street location to 3rd Ave. at 58th Street (Central midtown’s loss, is northeastern midtown’s gain I guess!)  I’ll miss having the ING’s discount lattes and free internets nearby, but it does give me another excuse to make a trip to try out Mia Dona’s new gelato sandwich. (As if I needed an excuse…)

Got this email from Lunch’er Robert this morning about the Joyride Fro Yo Truck (first reported about by Grub Street last month) “Spotted a new truck in midtown – Joyride.  52nd and 6th.  They say it’s their second day of ops.  Fro-yo and coffee.  You can get the fro-yo caffeinated (aka “buzzed”).  I’m trying the caffeinated offering now.  Pinkberry-esque.  Coffee = Stumptown!  V tasty.  Had a double espresso at Zibetto right before so might be altogether too much buzz for me.  Now back at the office and the hands are a little shaky.  Not many people sampling.  I have a feeling they’ll eventually flee this corner (a la Schnitzel Truck) so people should try it out before they move on.”  You can follow them on Twitter here.