With October just one week away, it’s only natural to start craving a little bratwurst with German potatoes, and sauerkraut.  And for those of us in Midtown, there’s only one place to go for that… the Babiel Brothers’ famous Hallo Berlin Cart on 54th and 5th Ave.  But what if you want beer with that brat?  Or spaetzle?  Or potato pancakes?  For that, you’ll have to head a bit out of bounds to Hallo Berlin Express- the small brick and mortar version of the cart located on 9th Ave. btw. 50+51st.

It’s been open for almost a year and half now, but yesterday I had lunch there for the very first time.

The “Express” location lives somewhere between the cart and the Hallo Berlin Beer Garden on 10th Ave. btw. 43+44th.  It’s not a sit down restaurant, but there are tables and chairs for you to eat with your food- and, unlike the cart, they have beer.  Behind the counter where you order, there is a set up identical to the one on the cart for cooking sausages, sauerkraut and potatoes.  Everything else gets cooked in the back.

I prefer the paper containers you get at the cart, but if you eat in at the Express location they give you your food in real dishes.  Other than the plate though, the double soul food mix ($8) is practically identical to what you get at the cart.  (Yes, there is bratwurst and a knockfrank under all that mess.)

The peirogis are probably one of the best deals on the menu.  For $4.50 you get 6 fairly large pan fried pockets of deliciousness, half of them potato filled half meat filled. Could have used some sour cream (although maybe that’s more of a Polish thing?) and you have to ignore the pool of oil at the bottom of the plate- but tasty nonetheless.

I enjoyed the spaetzle too, but it tasted a little more like boxed spaghetti than something homemade.  (Almost like the top ramen of spaetzle.)

If you prefer your potatoes cold and in salad form (as opposed to the hot home fries you normally get from the cart) their potato salad is dill-tastic.

Still have to try the potato pancakes, schnitzel, and maybe even some pickled herring.  It’s not going to replace the cart (which is the only place you’re guaranteed to get at least one of the Babiel brothers making your lunch), but makes for some good sit down Octoberfest lunching.

Hallo Berlin Express, 744 9th Ave (btw. 50+51st) 212-333-2372

Got a frantic email yesterday from a lunch’er lookin to confirm the news that Lost City reported about the Hallo Berlin Cart:

I heard the head vendor talk about how all the world wanted him and his food and he wouldn’t be at the corner forever. I didn’t completely get the gist of his meaning, but the general idea is that the cart was wanted elsewhere across the globe and he was going on a world tour. He would sell sausage in Beijing for the coming Olympics. From there he would go to Rio de Janiero for a spell. The upshot was we would be without the cart for a number of months, but he would eventually return.

It turns out the cart will indeed be gone for at least the first two weeks in July (and probably the second two weeks) as the two Babiel brothers make their annual trip home to Germany.  It’s hard to tell when they’re joking and when they’re being serious, but they also told me they’d be attending a sausage and beer convention.  Either way, the cart will be gone starting on June 30th, and will return the first week in August at the latest. 

As for the Olympics, which begin on August 8th, Rolf confirmed that they have been invited to Beijing to sling sausages- but there will be a replacement cart on 54th & 5th, so there won’t be any further interruption in service.  In the meantime you’ve got a little less than two weeks to load up at the cart, and then we’ll all have to make the trip over to the 9th Ave. Hallo Berlin Express (btw. 50+51st).

The newest member of the Hallo Berlin Family was supposed to open today on 9th Ave. btw. 50+51st, but it’s (not surprisingly) been pushed back a week while they wait for the inspectors.  Normally 9th Ave. is out of bounds for Midtown Lunch’ing purposes, but I’ve been know to break the rule for something schnitzel- er, sorry… I meant special. 

Hallo Berlin Express will live in between their famous cart (5th Ave.), and their proper beer garden (on 10th Ave.), both from a location and a conceptual standpoint.  All your favorites are there, including (slightly more expensive versions of) the 5th Ave. Combo (Any 2 wursts for $10), and the Dr. Atkins Combo ($12).  Plus all of the promised additions, and more.

Check out the full menu after the jump…

 
Click on Photo for Larger Version

Pork and chicken shnitzel, herring sandwiches, stuffed cabbage, meatloaf, peirogis, a burger (!!!), potato pancakes, speatzle (!!!), dessert and of course- the all important, beer (although it seems they will only have it after 6pm, a bummer for any liquid lunchers out there.)

They’re hoping to be open on May 7th or 8th, but you never know with these damn inspectors.  Anyway- as soon as I know, you’ll know.

Related Posts:

• One Week Until Hallo Berlin Express
• Breaking News: Hallo Berlin To Add 3rd Manhattan Oupost
• There Will Be Beer (Good news from H.B. Express)

Yummy Sushi in Rockefeller Center has opened a second location in the Food Court at the bottom of the building on 3rd Ave. & 53rd St.  It joins Fusion Grills, Gourmet 53 and of course- the piano player!  I believe it replaced a different sushi place, owned by the same people who own Menchanko-Tei.

In the soon to be opening category…

Ignore the construction, the “food court” in the basement of the building on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th is still open- and the new sign confirms the rumor we mentioned a few weeks ago.  Pamapano Taqueria & Pump Energy will be getting a new neighbor soon.  Clearly not deterred by the defections of two of their prime Midtown locations, a new Sophie’s Cuban will be opening soon.  The fliers on the storefront make mention of a “Grand Opening Celebration”, which can only mean one thing.  Free food day!  Once a date is firmed up, I’ll let you know.

Closings, plus closings masquerading as “renovations”, after the jump…

It is official… Tuscan Square in Rock Center has closed.  As reported by Crain’s, their lease expired and they couldn’t afford to renew it.  Wonder what will be moving in?  I’m keeping my fingers cross for a new TGI Fridays!!!  Ahhh… Top of the Rock followed by chain food.  I can’t think of a better way to spend my Saturday.  Whatever does move in, they better have a fried calamari sandwich.

Closed or just renovating?

I learned from Eater that a “renovation over the holiday” sign usually means a place is gonzo- but an employee at the 23rd St. F&B Gudtfood (which is still open) assured me that the 52nd St. location of the European fast food chain will re-open, at some point.  It’s not the holidays anymore, so they may want to change the sign.

Another “Closed For Renovations” sign is hanging in the 47th St. Japanese Convenience & Deli, and despite looking gone for good, a woman answering the phone at parent restaurant (and upstairs neighbor) Amakusa told me that both the restaurant and grocery store were undergoing renovations, and would re-open “bigger” in March or April.

And finally- file this one under I have no clue what is going on… Jin Chuan Garden, a seemingly dirty- but pretty popular Chinese steam table place on 45th 46th btw. 5+6th has looked like this for over a week now.  Neither of their phone numbers are working…

Thanks to Midtown Lunch’er Dan for the 47th St. Convenience Store & F&B tips.  If you have some news or recommendations email it to zach@midtownlunch.com

Big news hit the Midtown Lunch Inbox this morning, courtesy of Lunch’er Emily who forwarded along this photo, taken on 9th Ave. (btw. 50+51st), of the window of what I believe used to be Keni Pizza.  Apparently Hallo Berlin will be adding H.B. Express to their empire, which currently includes a beer garden on 10th Ave. (btw. 44+45th), and of course the famous cart on 54th & 5th (which won Best Cart in our Midtown Lunch readers poll earlier in the Month).

A call to the number on the sign yielded no extra information, just a voicemail message from (what could only be) Wolfgang or Rolf, urging you to leave a message or send a fax.  One can only assume that it will be similar to the take out counter they have at the front of the beer garden on 10th Ave.

Strangely enough, the Hallo Berlin Cart wasn’t in its regular spot on 53rd 54th & 5th today, just after Noon.  I’ll be keeping a close eye on this one…

If you haven’t been yet, you’ve got to do it.  Best sausage in the city, and watching him operate the cart is quite a sight to behold.  My “Dictator’s Special” after the jump…

Formerly Mao, the face of the Dictator’s special is now Stalin.  One berliner and one bratwurst, sliced and topped with red and white cabbage (sauerkraut), grilled onions and German potatoes, plus a small soup and a roll ($9).  (If you want a choice, you have to order Churchill’s Democracy Special.)   

The soup of the day was Potato & Cauliflower, and it was amazing.  Forgot about soup carts this winter, I may just start hitting up the Hallo Berlin Cart- if it ever gets cold.

Only one week left to use October as an excuse to stuff your face with delicious German sausage.  The cart is on 54th & 5th Ave.