Midtown Lunch

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Earlier this week when I saw the news that the new section of The Highline had opened, I darted from my desk, took a long lunch and headed west to get a good look. When I was there, I got the news that The Lot On Tap (30th Street at 10th Avenue), the food truck park and beer garden from Tom Colicchio would be open the next day and I knew that I’d be making the trip west again. I stopped in Wednesday just as they were opening up to see what it was all about.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Today may be the last week day of Madison Square Eats, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t going to be at least one food option left in Worth Square after it’s all over. Calexico, the California-style Mexican cart that won a Vendy back in ’08 and got a rave from Andrea a year ago, is sticking around for at least the next year. They’ll be serving from 11am to 9pm every day – and according to one of the staffers, including a beer license, presumably using the same boundaries as have been in place for Madison Square Eats. I’ve stopped in at Calexico a few times since they arrived in Flatiron bounds, see what it’s all about after the jump.
Read more »

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so every week our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap. Mamacita is taking this week off, so Clay has stepped up to the plate.

As you may have noticed by now, I’m an unapologetic booster of eating and drinking outdoors. That’s probably because I’m from Brooklyn, where backyards, gardens, patios and any patch of land big enough to fit two tables outside is enjoyed from the moment the mercury breaks 60 degrees. So, clearly, I was excited about BeerParc, the new beer garden in the back of FoodParc in the Eventi Hotel.

Given the soggy weather, its opening enjoyed much less fanfare than they’d hoped, I’m sure, but that doesn’t mean that some of us weren’t there right away to check it out. See what it’s all about after the jump.
Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I’m sure we all have our minds on the weekend at this point, so today’s post is just about some news and updates about goings on in the Flatiron Lunch area. In advance of Memorial Day Weekend, the theme of this week’s post is beer, barbecue and more outdoor eating. Check it out after the jump.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I first noticed Fava back in March when I was heading to Bamiyan and made a mental note to investigate further. It’s a little hidden, around the corner from the main strip of restaurants on Curry Hill, but the promise of a Mediterranean Grill drew me back.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Unless you’re (bizarrely) of the opinion that the area doesn’t really need more food options, you’re most likely pretty excited about the return of Madison Square Eats. In fact, you’ve probably already checked out the collection of nearly 30 vendors hawking all types of food, drink and general goodness in Worth Square in the week that its been open. I know I’ve been there nearly every day trying out one thing or another and there’s been a healthy crowd every time. Well, as healthy as you can be surrounded by pizza, tacos, hot dogs, and deep fried pork ribs. And on that note, let’s see the food.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Spring is here! As usual, New Yorkers everywhere are seeking out any and every excuse to spend time outside. This week, we’ve got a bunch of Flatiron news on that front, with four new opportunities to enjoy lunch in the great outdoors.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Last week, I ended up at Defonte’s because I was looking for Baorrito and couldn’t find it. It had been several months and I wanted to finally give the basil beef burrito a try. Turns out, much like various other parts of the ‘Bao’ empire, it disappeared with no warning and became something else.

Now, it’s Mikey’s Burger, the second location of a shop down in the Lower East Side – at least it was there, who knows? It might be a Vietnamese schnitzel shop by now. Actually, that’d be interesting…

In any case, it being burger week, I could hardly walk away without giving a try, so I went back to check it out.

Read more »

Defonte’s (on 21st and 3rd) has been on my radar for a while now, but for one reason or another, I never quite got around to checking it out. This corner of Flatiron Lunch bounds tends to be just out of the way enough that I don’t make it out that often. But earlier this week, a good friend told me that they make an amazing roast beef sandwich that I should definitely try. This friend has never led me astray in food matter in the 20+ years I’ve known him, so I took him at his word and checked it out.

Read more »

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Last week, I got an email from Chris H asking if I’d ever been to Dhaba in Curry Hill. He suggested it as a Flatiron Lunch saying that they have the best Indian he’s had in the area.  Now, I’m no expert in Indian food, but that seemed like a bold statement worth investigating. It didn’t hurt that they’ve got a $9.95 lunch buffet, ($9 for takeout) too!
Read more »