This, my friends, was exactly what I wanted for lunch. Greasy, sauce dripping everywhere, huge, messy, and totally packed with roast beef. By the time I got back to my office, part of the bread was already soggy from the beef juice, but the bread was toasty enough to actually hold everything in place. I didn’t really care too much for the lettuce and tomatoes, because it was all about the chunks of tender beef. This sandwich did need some added heat to it — like a good squirt of sriracha — to make it perfect.

Yes, I know 696 Gourmet Deli is just another generic deli, but I do believe that there are good things to be had at delis. In fact, I plan to go back soon to try their roast pork sandwich. I wonder if it will be as good as the one from Cafe Cello.

696 Gourmet Deli, 696 3rd Ave btw 43rd and 44th (212) 490-7115

Last month, we announced that Cafe Today was moving in next to Chipotle on 52nd between Lex and 3rd Ave. I erroneously thought it was a Portland chain (thanks, commenters, for your diligence), but it turns out it’s actually a huge generic-ish deli serving, well, basically everything under the sun. We’ve got (deep breath): a hot sandwich station, a cold sandwich station, a salad bar, panini counter, soups, hot buffet, cold buffet, custom teriyaki bowls, stir fry, udon noodle soup, sushi, bibimbap, dessert, and probably much more. It was extremely crowded for its grand opening, but can a place with this many options do everything well?

After suffering from a mini anxiety attack when I saw the crowds and realized just how many options this place had to offer, I studied my options and finally settled on the beef bibimbap ($7.95). I then suffered a second moment of panic when the friendly gentleman behind the counter informed me that it was unavailable. Apparently they had bibimbap on their opening day but haven’t had it since, and he was unsure if it would be returning in the future. Since I was already standing there, I went with the other option I could get from his station, the udon noodle soup. Being a sucker for dumplings of any kind, I chose the Siu Mai Udon, spicy, also $7.95.

The noodle soups are each made fresh to order. Mine contained seaweed, carrots, scallions, tofu, and 5 or so generic shrimp siu mai. They weren’t the best siu mai I’ve had by any means, but they weren’t the worst either. Full disclosure: I’m of the school of thought that even a bad dumpling tastes pretty good, so I was satsified. The broth was very salty, which I enjoyed at first, but towards the end it was a little hard to eat. The noodles were springy and freshly cooked, and chili powder added a nice bit of heat, although next time I might ask for “extra spicy.”

The second time I went I was looking for a light lunch, so I chose the Sashimi Salad ($5.95) from the sushi bar: assorted sashimi over lettuce with ginger dressing.

From what I could tell, this salad contained salmon, tuna, and yellowtail sashimi, with a few chunks of cucumber and red pepper served over iceberg lettuce. I was a little disappointed with the choice of iceberg, but this was definitely a good amount of raw fish for under $6. Obviously these are the scraps left over from the preparation of the actual sushi, but it tasted reasonably fresh, I didn’t get sick, and again, it all cost under $6! If you want a light, healthy meal this will be enough food, but if you’re starving you may want to supplement it with something else.

Overall, Cafe Today is a slightly better generic deli in a sea of generic delis…it offers a few interesting options and everything is pretty reasonably priced. I’ll probably come back and try a few more of the numerous options, but it won’t be high on the list if I’m looking for something exotic. For a limited time, they are offering 1/2 off deli sandwiches and the hot and cold salad bars in honor of their grand opening, so it might be worth checking out sooner rather than later.

The + (what someone who likes this place would say):

• Oh boy! They have EVERYTHING!
• I’m craving udon soup, and this place is decent and convenient.
• So much sashimi for under $6!
• 1/2 off? I’m there.

The – (what someone who doesn’t like this place would say):

• Oh boy. They have EVERYTHING.
• There are better places for udon and sushi in midtown, I don’t need to go to a generic deli for that.
• 1/2 off is not enough to get me in the door of this place.

Cafe Today, 144 E. 52nd St (btw Lex + 3rd)

Over the past several months, rumors started flying amongst friends and co-workers about a new bodega on 8th Avenue with an eclectic but intriguing variety of international foods. European friends murmured about their hefty line-up of Kinder chocolates and Cadbury confectioneries, and Korean friends spoke of their impressive stock of kimchi, banchan, and packaged noodle soups. The bodega that they were referring to, was none other than Midtown West newcomer, Bread & Honey.

During our first pass, we’d unfairly labeled this place as a “generic deli”. Instead, Bread & Honey is like a bodega on steroids. Sure there’s your standard sandwich, soup and salad stations, and a tremendous steam table of prepared by the lb food. But there’s also an incredible and eclectic line-up of snacks and groceries to keep your office drawer stocked, or for a quick shopping trip on the way home.

In addition to the standard mega-brands, there are organic brands such as Green & Black chocolates, Annie’s, Brad’s, etc as well as local brands such as Michaels of Brooklyn and Sarabeth’s fruit preserves. Equally impressive is the variety of Asian groceries, whether they be frozen, jarred, or dry – it’ll be a handy substitute for H-Mart in K-town for sure. But since this is Midtown Lunch, and not “Midtown Grocery Shopping”, I stopped by the Mongolian BBQ station for a try.

For the few readers who are not familiar with the concept of “Mongolian BBQ” (quotes because it’s a concept of Taiwanese origin, and bears no resemblance to Mongolian cuisine), you grab a large bowl, and fill it at your leisure from a large buffet of raw ingredients. Being a rookie at Mongolian BBQ, I can’t say how this stacks up against other versions of it. However I was impressed with the variety and quality of raw veggies, herbs, proteins, including slices of chicken, beef, krab, and shrimp, and carbohydrates such as rice and several types of noodles. You have the option of adding sauces, such as Japanese curry, mapo tofu sauce, their house sauce, oyster sauce, etc, as well as condiments such as minced garlic, minced ginger, salt, pepper, etc.

Next, hand the bowl over to be cooked on a massive round skillet, and finally, take your bespoke bowl of pseudo-Mongolian goodness to the front counter, and pay $7.99 per pound. At this point, I should point out Zach’s excellent essay on maximizing the bang for your buffet buck – which I obviously didn’t adhere to judging by the amount of noodles in my dish. But I learned my lesson, and I’ll certainly be back for another go. And I’ll certainly rely on Bread & Honey when the need for an impromptu snack or grocery shopping run arises.

Bread & Honey, 941 8th Ave (btw 55+56th), 212-245-0007

Good Nature Deli looks so generic on the outside that most people probably don’t even notice it when they walk by. I went in randomly one day when I needed to grab a soda and I was extremely surprised at what I found. It may look like just your average corner bodega, and it’s one avenue out of bounds.  But Good Nature Deli has some surprises within…

The first thing that strikes you when you walk in is the sprawling by-the-pound buffet. This thing is massive considering what the place looks like from the outside, and it contains everything from vegetable lo mein to meatloaf, fried plantains to eggplant parm. The only sign indicating its existence from the street is a small sign on the door that says ‘salad bar’, but this is clearly so much more. And at $6.99/lb, it’s a steal compared to other midtown buffets.

However, I already had my heart set on a sandwich, so I wandered over to the deli counter and perused the massive list of hot and cold creations. There are over 60 different sandwiches, so be prepared for some deliberation.

I settled on the California Hero, containing grilled chicken, provolone cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion, and hot sauce. This sandwich was pretty large, the cheese was nice and melty ,and the bacon was thick and crispy. I didn’t notice any hot sauce, so they either forgot it or it wasn’t very flavorful, but the sandwich was plenty tasty without it. The chicken was a tad dry, but the creaminess of the avocado offset that for the most part. It came with two thin pickle spears and tortilla chips (although I swear in the past I’ve gotten potato chips, so maybe they switch it up). All in all, a solid sandwich and meal in itself.

The next time I went in, I was fully prepared to brave the buffet. I was suspicious at first seeing as there doesn’t appear to be an actual kitchen anywhere in the vicinity, so the origin of all of this food was a mystery (I asked someone later and was informed that they do indeed have a kitchen in the basement). However, I made the mistake of glancing up at the sandwich board and getting completely sidetracked by the Texas Hero, comprised of pork ribs, bacon, american cheese, onion, pickles, hot peppers, and BBQ sauce. Ribs AND bacon? I knew immediately that I could not deny myself (or you, dear readers) some of that hot pork-on-pork action, so all thoughts of the buffet went out the window.

This sandwich, like the first, was a pretty hefty size and served with the same accompaniments as my previous order. The cheese was melted, and this time all of the flavors were there, although the bacon was a little soggy from the BBQ sauce. I was also disappointed to find that the ‘pork ribs’ seemed to in fact be ‘rib flavored mystery meat patty’. It was definitely a tasty sandwich, but because of this, I probably would not order this again. But I will say that the novelty of it made it a fun and filling one-time lunch.

Next time I’m here I fully intend to try the buffet, daunting as it may be. If you’ve tried it, let me know!

The + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• I could eat a different sandwich every single day for MONTHS!
• Where else can I have a side of fried plantains with my eggplant parm?
• I like pork. Preferably on top of more pork.

The – (What someone who doesn’t like this place would say)

• Sometimes the sandwich descriptions are misleading. I like to know exactly what I’m getting.
• Sketchy by-the-pound buffets frighten me.
• Too many options make my head spin. I like to keep it simple.

Good Nature Inc., 1045 2nd Ave (At E. 55th St), (212) 371-7507

If there was a guide to opening a generic deli in midtown, it would prescribe DIY salads, mediocre pizzas, predictable sandwiches, wan udon noodle soups, unnerving sushi, perhaps a by-the-lb buffet. The name should riff on variations of café, kitchen, market, fresh this and global that. It might also advise serving Korean food that’s practically decent, like Café Duke (on 51st btw. 6+7th), or a middling bowl of bibimbap, like the version found at Global Kitchen.

To be fair, the bibimbap ($8.50) at Global Kitchen was no less fresh, crunchy, and spicy than the version found a few blocks over at Café Duke. But the application of crumbled beef was stingier, the rice a bit drier, and the overall portion size a bit more frugal. But Global Kitchen also includes a generous bowl of borderline fantastic miso soup, which as lunch’er Ceh pointed out, uses fresh, non-dehydrated chunks of tofu, briny seaweed, and crunchy chopped scallions. I’ll probably stick with Café Duke or Pro Hot Korean for my bibimbap fix, but if an endorsement by Ed Koch is any indication, there’s probably something else worth trying at Global Kitchen.

Global Kitchen, 1290 Avenue of the Americas (on 51st btw. 6+7th), 212-581-3200

Thanks to Lunch’er Mangostrawberry for giving us the heads up about Bread & Honey, a new Deli/Supermarket/Buffet/Sandwich/Udon noodle place on 8th Ave between 55th & 56th. Normally this sort of venue wouldn’t be worthy of investigation, but when we hear the words Mongolian BBQ station (possibly the only one of its kind in this area) all bets are off. I did a quick cruise through the store to inspect.

Aesthetically speaking, it’s not much of a looker. In fact it’s more like the bastard child of a freaky 3-way between a LES bodega, Cafe Duke, and an industrial warehouse. It’s also within spitting distance of a Gristedes, Food Emporium, and the Columbus Circle Whole Foods, so I’m not optimistic about the longevity of this place.

The prices of their sandwiches are certainly ML worthy.

There’s an extensive steam table of your standard buffet items, priced at $7.99/lb, featuring an eclectic line-up of American-Chinese, Korean, Japanese, a salad bar, and American comfort foods.

The Mongolian BBQ station is at the back of the store, complete with instructions to tell you how it’s done. I’d already had lunch prior to this visit, so I didn’t try any of the food. However, early adopters should let us know what they think in the comments.

Bread & Honey, 941 8th Ave (btw 55+56th), 212-245-0007

Hello, my name is Chris, and I have a problem. I am (forgive me Zach) hopelessly addicted to Subway® sandwiches. Admission of guilt is the first step, and identifying a moral substitute for our shortcomings is the… 6th step? (I could never pay attention in those meetings). This is how I found myself as one of the first customers at the newly opened Submarina. Yes, like Subway, Submarina is a chain – perhaps less evil than the aforementioned sandwich shop, with only 78 national locations (vs. 33,346), an unassuming mission statement, and a suitably proletariat past. But my quest was to kick my $5 foot long habit, and I was lucky enough to pass by Submarina yesterday, which happened to be in the middle of their grand opening.

The format of Submarina should not be a foreign concept to anyone who’s set foot in a Subway restaurant. Select your protein and dairy fillings from the standard list of deli staples, choose between French, wheat or “squaw” (slightly sweet multi-grain) breads, apply vegetation and condiments. Order sandwich and stand back to gawk at the décor – the garish red and glossy yellow palette of colors, which, if found in the animal kingdom, would likely serve as a cautionary indicator to the unsavory nature of the adorned critter (think: Coral snakes, Amazonian poison dart frogs, etc).

On this initial visit, I was compelled to order the signature 9” ‘Cali’ sub ($5.89 for the 6”, protracted by 3 inches for an additional $2). Said sandwich sported tender and thinly sliced turkey, generously applied microwaved bacon, diminishing avocado and barely noticeable provolone cheese. A la Subway, one can augment their sub with the usual suspects of sides – predictably wan shredded iceberg lettuce, industrially sliced tomatoes, sprouts, onions, giardiniera, etc. A standard assortment of sauces (mayo, mustard, etc), are available at your discretion.

As I ate my lunch, I struck a conversation with the franchise General Manager. My principal question – “what differentiates Submarina from a Subway restaurant?” The manager proudly recited the bullet points: the most relevant being that the meat is sliced to order (possibly slowing down operations?), preventing microbial infestation that pre-sliced deli meats are allegedly susceptible to. Also, the bread is made from scratch and baked in their Queens location on a daily basis, as opposed to Subway’s practice of using frozen dough. I should add that this bread is far from artisanal, possessing the over-processed, over-refined, and monotonous quality as its main competitor.

Submarina probably won’t be a cure-all for those afflicted with an addiction to chain hoagie joints. And as of this inaugural assessment, it’s likely not a destination Midtown lunch venue. However, it’s a “safe” pick to take co-workers that are squeamish to street meat, but tired of the regular Financier, Pret, Café Metro rotation… as long as there isn’t a Subway® location closer to your office.

Submarina, 62 W. 56th (btw. 5+6th), 212-247-0025

Yes, we treat Korean fried chicken like it’s crack here at Midtown Lunch and track burger developments with CIA-like precision but, really, we’re just people who love lunch hour and trying our best to leave bad Boar’s Head days behind. So when I heard about the “drippingly juicy” roast beef and gravy sandwich from Eating in Translation at Best Bagel & Coffee (W 35th St. btw. 7th+8th), I obviously had to get my hands on it. Growing up in Brooklyn where corner delis abound, I became something of an expert in sliced meat, especially when served hot. So with my highly-trained Good vs. Bad French Dip taste buds, I ventured west to the Garment District to put The Sandwich to the test.

Click for more cause you gotta see it to believe it…

Bloody, brown, perfectly pink… I’ve had every variation of sliced beef. And every Thanksgiving, you bet I’m wherever it is they dock the gravy boat. I’m also an avid carb consumer so when you combine these three ingredients in one lunch, I’ll be there with my arms wide open for this:

I can hear you say :”Well, Amy, it looks good, but HOW DID IT TASTE?” Honestly, those pricey restaurant French dip sandwiches could learn a lil’ something from this modest $6.25 roll. You can tell the roll was made fresh that day and I was pleasantly surprised that a bagel place took the time to make it a hundred-layer roast beef sandwich. The 3/4 inch of roast beef was super tender and uniformly hot. I think lunch’ers with more massive appetites will want that extra 1/4 inch, but the sandwich is dense enough to satisfy those who skipped breakfast. There was definitely enough gravy – you won’t wonder if you accidentally ordered a plain roast beef sandwich – and the beef juice was spread evenly on the layers so that it didn’t become soggy. That roll definitely had structural integrity and I bet it would taste just as good as a simple buttered roll.

My only qualm with the whole operation was flavor. I think I’ll grab some pepper packets next time, but that’s because I prefer strong seasoning and spices. But, overall, for a hot sandwich on a block better known for its wholesale mannequins and cheap I Heart NY souvenirs, Best Bagel & Coffee is pretty damn impressive.

Best Bagel & Coffee, 225 W. 35th St. (btw. 7th-8th Aves.) 212-564-4409

There’s something about eating lunch in a building’s loading dock that is just so fun… so awesome… so… well, Midtown Lunch’ish.  The most famous two examples of this are Pick-a-Pita (which was in a loading dock, before moving to 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th) and El Sabroso, which is still serving up delicious and cheap latin food out of a counter in a loading dock on 37th btw. 7+8th.

So, when Luncher Christina told me about Nick’s Place “tucked away in a freight entrance” on 39th btw. 7+8th, I naturally had to check it out.

I can’t believe out of all the times I’ve walked down 39th Street I’ve never noticed this place! It’s borderline embarrassing. Nick’s Place has actually been around *forever*, so I’m sure many of you have partaken in all the joys it has to offer. Unlike El Sabroso, it actually has a small seating area for at least 15 people. And most of the menu is made fresh to order in a small kitchen.

They have sandwiches (tuna, egg salad, famous (?) turkey, and chicken breast), salads, and specials for $9.25. Christina recommended the Greek salad, but I couldn’t resist their “Quesadilla Wrap” which the lady behind the counter said was their most popular item.

Kind of like a smallish burrito, without the beans, it was tasty enough- although it was a little too crunchy for me on the outside (they put it on the grill after if it’s all wrapped up). Probably better to think of it as a super fat version of a standard bar quesadilla, with grilled chicken and American cheese, than any sort of burrito- so if that sounds appealing, you’ll totally like this thing. But for the size, it’s a tad bit pricey for $9.25.

We also tried the tacos (two chicken, one steak for $7 or $7.50, I can’t remember) which were not really Tex-Mex, but instead lived somewhere between authentic Mexican tacos, and mom’s taco night. For example, the tacos come topped with shredded American cheese (no thanks), but were served on tasty corn tortillas (goooood). The chicken was simmered pulled chicken, and the steak was nicely cooked medium rare slices of skirt steak. I’m all for tacos topped with guacamole, and they were perfectly delicious if you like that kind of taco. But if you’re into the style of roasted meats you get from a taco shop like Las Poblanitas (on 38th btw. 8+9th), topped simply with onions and cilantro or pico de gallo, you might be disappointed with Nick’s Mexican/American hybrid.

All in all the lunch wasn’t really good enough (or cheap enough) to drag me away from Las Poblanitas, and if this place was in a regular brick and mortar store front I probably would just shrug it off as another boring and generic Midtown deli. But there’s something about Nick’s that is really inviting. Whether it’s the incredibly friendly staff, the fact that everything is made to order, or more likely the fact that it’s been serving up this food for years from a hidden, freight hallway location! In other words, I will definitely be back to try their burgers or the spinach pie… and next time will most definitely take Christina’s suggestion about the Greek Salad.

Have you been? What do you recommend?

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• I love eating in tiny, hidden Midtown gems!
• I like eating just regular deli style food, but prefer it to be from a small mom and pop place like this- than one of the generic Midtown chains
• I like my “Mexican” food to be light on flavor, and heavy on the American cheese!
• They give you guacamole on the tacos!
• Maybe the Mexican food isn’t what Zach was looking for, but some of their other stuff is delicious!

THE -

• $9.25 is a bit too much for a generic deli lunch special
• Their “Mexican” food isn’t really authentic… for that Las Poblanitas is much better

Nick’s Place, 550 7th Ave (although entrance is on 39th just West of 7th Avenue), 212-221-3294

In case you missed it, on Friday I was grilled over at A Hamburger Today- giving them my thoughts on the almighty hamburger. Here were my picks for best and worst burgers in Midtown:

“Tough to say. Fast food, thin burger: Five Guys (on 55th btw. 5+6th). Fast food, thicker burger: Burger Joint (on 56th btw. 6+7th). Burger from a Cart: Carnegie John’s (on 56th & 7th). As for the more expensive, sit down burgers, I haven’t had very many. But HB Burger (on 43rd btw. B’way+6th) and Beacon (on 56th btw. 5+6th) are both really good. And the worst burger I’ve ever had in Midtown was at this place called Arome Cafe on 32nd between Broadway and 7th Avenue. Somebody twittered @midtownlunch that their burger was “$5.50 and bangin’”. Against my better judgment (Arome Cafe is one of those terrible generic delis that Midtown is famous for, and Midtown Lunch does its best to fight against) I tried the terrible terrible burger. Bad meat (not unlike what I got in my Jr. High Cafeteria), bad flavor, poorly cooked. Couldn’t even finish it. Damn you, Twitter!”

Check out the worst burger I’ve ever had, after the jump…

I guess it’s not the worst burger I’ve ever had… clearly somebody likes it enough to recommend it to me on twitter. And for the price, it’s a great deal ($6.25 for a really large bacon cheeseburger w/ fries). But the meat was overcooked into this strange gray matter, and after eating half of it I gave up (it was that unappealing.)  I suppose if it was halfway decent, these generic delis would put the more expensive places like Goodburger and Burger Joint out of business.

Part of me thinks that there must be a decent one of these cheap deli burgers in Midtown, but there’s another part of me that thinks you get what you pay for. Maybe $6 is too little to pay for a giant burger (w/ fries) that also tastes good. On the other hand Carnegie John’s Cart seems to have no problems putting out a really tasty burger for under $5.

Thoughts? Anybody have a great deli burger recommendation? Put it in the comments. (As long as it’s not “bangin’” we should be ok.)