Midtown Lunch

Seeing all the coverage of the President’s trip to Five Guys in DC this week (and reading about how much the First Lady likes cheeseburgers) I can’t help but wonder if he really did hit up the Burger Joint when he stayed at the Parker Meridien hotel during the campaign (obviously the photo is doctored, but the tip about him being there was 100% true.) They’re both good, but I’m partial to the free grilled onions and fresh cut french fries you get at Five Guys (Midtown location on 55th btw. 5+6th.) What are your thoughts Mr. President?

Related:
Barack Obama Spotted at the Parker Meridien
Five Guys is NYC’s Closest Thing to In N Out Burger
Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien (Original Post 8/21/06)

Photo by occam

The Five Guys (on 55th btw. 5+6th) has been confirmed by lunch’er Daniel, who sent along this photo. Menchanko Tei, which is just to the West and was closed by the same fire last month, is saying they will reopen in March.

Related:
Fire Closes Menchanko Tei & Five Guys

Thanks to Lunch’er Harry who sent along this photo of the window of Five Guys on 55th btw. 5+6th, which along with Menchanko Tei was closed three weeks ago by a fire in the building above.

“I walked by Five Guys today and I noticed it was clean, with the lights on, and a huge stack of potato sacks. Then I saw this sign. It says that they will be open by the end of the week and that they’re waiting for Con Ed to turn the gas on. Considering today is Thursday, maybe it will be tomorrow.”

I called Menchanko Tei, and they said it will still be another week or two before they reopen. This is actually a reversal from what we heard in the immediate days following the fire. Five Guys said they would be closed 4 to 6 weeks (it’s been 3), and Menchanko Tei said they hoped to be open the very next week.

If you work near there, let us know if it’s back open by commenting, emailing, or twittering… as soon as it’s confirmed open, we’ll post it. (After all… friday is a big hamburger day for Midtown Lunchers.)

More terrible news coming out of last week’s fire in the building above Menchanko Tei and Five Guys on 55th btw. 5+6th. Everything in Five Guys has water damage (computers, etc.) and they expect to be closed at least a month, but probably more like 6 weeks. Apparently the fire was directly above Five Guys and they were the hardest hit. (Menchanko Tei said last Thursday that they hoped to only be closed for a week.)

The West Village Five Guys Burgers & Fries says that they will happily deliver up to Midtown, but it would have to be a big order (at least 20 burgers) and you would have to offset the cost of a cab as well. Friday burger office party anybody?

Photo courtesy of Occam

Wednesday morning, there was a fire in the building that houses Menchanko Tei on 55th btw. 5+6th, forcing them to close along with Onigashima and the Five Guys Burgers and Fries on the same block.  Menchanko Tei says they’re hoping to be back open in a week, while Five Guys is not answering their phone.  Five Guys is always packed on Fridays, so I’m guessing there will be a lot of disappointed people today. Another prediction: Burger Joint (on 56th btw. 6+7th) and Men Kui Tei (on 56th btw. 5+6th) will be mobbed…

I try my best not to be too negative on this site, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to vent. Every once in awhile I’ll share some of the more angry useful emails I get in a post called “Airing of Grievances”. (If the Eater Complaints Dept. would like royalties, I’ll be happy to pay up…)

I’ve got a beef with the Five Guys on 55th St. (btw. 5+6th). My beef is pretty simple: It’s the worst Five Guys I’ve ever been to, and I’ve been to a lot of Five Guys (DC, Philly, two different ones in DE, the one by my apartment in Park Slope). Simply put every time I’ve been there they’ve managed screw something up.

When they were first opening my office faxed an order in and when I came to pick it up the manager claimed the fax machine wasn’t turned on. I said that wasn’t possible because our machine clearly said it went through. He agreed to go look and low and behold came back with our order. While I was then waiting to have them prepare it, someone else came in to pick up a faxed order and he told them the exact same lie he told me. Since then I’ve been there a few times and each time they find a way to screw up my order (no bacon, wrong toppings, missing 2nd patty for the regular burger!).

But wait… there’s more.

Read more »

According to their website, a 3rd Midtown Qdoba (on 46th btw. Madison & 5th), is coming soon.  I tried the newest one on 53rd St. & 3rd Ave., and I have to say I don’t find it to be that much different then Chipotle (or, as the kids say- “meh”.)  The selection at Qdoba is a little larger, so the chances of finding that one thing you can tolerate is greater- but I ain’t willing to put in that kind of time.  So, if you’re sick of Chipotle, and looking for something new, you’ll probably enjoy Qdoba.  If you hate Chipotle, and are hoping for that burrito savior, I’m guessing this probably won’t be it.  (The Baja Fresh vigil continues…)

While Chipotle expands its Midtown holdings, other Midtown Lunch favorites are branching out.  Five Guys & Sakae news, after the jump… Read more »