Dainobu, the new Japanese bento place/grocery store on 47th btw. Lex+3rd, quietly opened a few weeks ago and it looks like they are going to be some serious competition for Cafe Zest (on the same block).
Taking a page from the Yagura playbook, Dainobu is half grocery store (with all kinds of wet and dry Japanese ingredients) and half lunch spot.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:00 am, January 6th, 2009 under 47th btw. Lex+3rd, Dainobu, Japanese.
A lot of restaurants seem to choose the dead time around Christmas and New Year’s to make changes, so reports like this one are no surprise… Big Bowl Noodles (on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th), a Readers’ Poll nominee for best sit down Chinese food, is now Main Noodle House. But before Big Bowl Noodle fans get too upset… the menu, owners, and food are exactly the same- with a 25-30 cent price hike on the lunch specials (of course.)
Main Noodle House, 1011 6th Ave. (btw. 37+38th), 212-869-0888
Posted by Zach Brooks at 4:00 pm, January 5th, 2009 under *6th Ave. btw. 37+38th, Chinese, Main Noodle House.
Last September it was reported that the shuttered Teriyaki Boy (on 46th btw. Lex+3rd) would become a Japanese noodle shop, and surprisingly it has happened in the time frame they specified. Udon West has opened in the old Teriyaki Boy space, serving up 13 different bowls of Udon under $10. They also have teriyaki, curry, and combinations (although the combinations are all over $10), and I believe they are the same Udon West with locations in Flushing and on St. Marks in the East Village. It will be interesting to see how this place competes with Menchanko Tei, one block over on 45th btw. Lex+3rd…. but at least while the weather is still cold I’m guessing there is room for both. Let the soup wars begin! Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments.
A shot of the pretty nice interior is after the jump…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:30 am, January 5th, 2009 under 46th btw. 3+Lex, Japanese, Soups, Udon West.
This is kind of old news I think, but I completely missed it when reporting on Kashmir Express’ re-opening last month. The original downstairs Buffet portion of Kashmir did not reopen last month along with Kashmir Express (the upstairs by-the-lb-buffet take out portion). Instead, they are converting what used to be a restaurant with an all you can eat Indian buffet, into a bar called “Cave Lounge”. Kind of strange considering the “Express” part has never really seemed to take off (while the buffet had a few fans).
The interior of the cave, plus the one piece of good news is after the jump…
The long awaited Vietnamese take out place Boi Sandwich has finally opened on 3rd Ave btw 44+45th. Unlike its sister restaurant Boi to Go, which has some seating, the new sandwich place is take out only (and cash only for the time being.) I know a lot of you refuse to pay $7.50 for a banh mi, but it’s all we’ve got (and now one ave closer to Midtown proper!)
In addition to the banh mi, which appear to be the same as Boi to Go, they are also offering noodle bowls, rice bowls, Asian burritos (hello!), and salads ($7 to $8). It may take awhile, but I think I may
have to eat through the entire menu.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 12:37 pm, December 23rd, 2008 under Boi to Go/Boi Sandwiches, Vietnamese.
Midtown Lunch Flickr friend The Flooz has been tracking the fried fish sandwich at the Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart on 46th btw. 5+6th for over a year now. The first photo was taken back in November of 2007, and TF had this to say:
I finally got a chance to visit Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart on 46th btw. 5+6th (right next to Moishe’s) and i have to say- i’m so glad i did! I ordered the fried flounder on a hero. Yeah everyone else in front of me was getting lettuce and tomato on white bread, but why bother? Slap on some tartar and hot sauce and we’re good to go. Also because of the quantity of fish (so much!) I went for the toasted hero so as to enjoy every last morsel. Wow- $4.50 never tasted so good!!!
But then, things went wrong back in September…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:45 am, December 22nd, 2008 under 46th btw. 5+6th, Kim's Aunt Kitchen Cart, Seafood.
Blondie and Brownie stray from their comfort zone at Woorijip (on 32nd btw. B’way+5th), ordering the ramen with egg and spicy kimchi soup with pork and ham from the Noodle Bar in the back of the shop. But take note: the noodle bar is only opened until 2pm, so make sure you aren’t going for a late lunch.
Related: 2008 Readers’ Poll: Best Korean Food
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:18 am, December 18th, 2008 under 32nd btw. B'way+5th, Korean, Soups, Woorijip.
When they cover up the sign, I think it’s safe to say the mini Food Court on 8th Avenue btw. 44+45th is gone for good. So, say goodbye to Midtown’s only Church’s Fried Chicken. Thankfully we still have Popeye’s and a few other good options in the area… plus if you noticed in yesterday’s profile, there is a rumor going around that Bojangles is looking to expand to New York City (with a reported 41 new stores in 2009.) I contacted the corporate office, and their response is after the jump.
Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:40 am, December 17th, 2008 under Church's Fried Chicken, Closed, Fried Chicken.
I’ve walked by this cart on 55th btw. Park+Madison many times, and each time was equal parts turned off and intrigued by the sign. What exactly is “healthy” street meat? Is that even possible? And what would it taste like? Well, last week the question was partly answered when a couple of commenters recommended the Greek salad topped with chicken from this very cart.
Now, if you read this blog regularly you know my feelings on salad. I generally can’t bring myself to do it. If I want to eat healthy, I’ll get a “salad style” bibimbap from Cafe Duke on 51st btw. 6+7th (that’s about as healthy as I’ll get). But salad from cart? Well that is kind of interesting. I think I could get away with that, without ruining my reputation… plus it’s a Greek salad- so you throw in some feta cheese and grape leaves, and this fat guy is ready to eat some greens!
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:44 am, December 15th, 2008 under 100% Halal & Healthy, 55th & Park, Cart, Salads, Street Meat.
As Eater reported last week, Washoku Cafe (on 37th btw. Mad+5th) has opened for business. They’re running at about 60% right now, with bento boxes, sushi, and drinks packaged and ready for sale. There is a coffee section in the front, but the hot food section in the back isn’t quite ready yet.
A look at some of the food is after the jump…
Posted by Zach Brooks at 10:30 am, December 15th, 2008 under 37th btw. Mad+5th, Japanese, Sushi, Washoku Cafe.
