Midtown Lunch

New York Comic Con began yesterday, which means tens of thousands of big-time comic fans are descending upon the Javits Center to walk the convention floor and check out panels. Although we have little experience eating in Midtown in costume, we do want your lunching experience to match the fun you have at the convention.

Now, admittedly, the Javits Center is out of bounds, and the immediate area around there can be a wasteland for food … which is where we come in: Super Midtown Lunch! (Who’s imagining Zach in a cape right now? Sorry.)

Here are five spots that are a few blocks walking distance from NYCC.

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The qualifying rounds have begun for the 3rd Annual Go Go Curry eating championship, and there’s great news for wannabe professional eaters.  For the first year ever they have divided the participants into two fields: professionals and amateurs.  You have 5 chances to qualify between now and the main event on May 28th, the first of which is tonight from 6-8pm. And who knows?  Now that Kobayashi has been removed from official Nathan’s wall of fame, maybe this will be the year he finally competes in Go Go Curry’s contest!  But wait… there’s more.

May 5th is just around the corner, and once again Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) will celebrate their anniversary (they opened on 5/5 four years ago) by offering any size curry for just $5. Mark it on your calendars… this deal is a good one.

In what has become a bizarre Cinco de Mayo ritual, Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) will celebrate their anniversary tomorrow (they opened on 5/5… you know… because they love the number 55) by offering medium size plates of katsu curry for $5 and free 5 toppings coupons.  Limit three orders per person, and it’s not available for delivery.  And if that’s not enough for you, they’ll hold another preliminary qualifier for their Go Go Curry Eating Championship from 6-8pm.  This could be a perfect way to lay down a nice foundation for some heavy drinking tomorrow night.

Wondering if you could be a serious contender in the Go Go Curry Eating Championship?  Today would be the day to do it.  They’re holding a qualifying round today from 6-8pm, and according to Go Go Curry’s twitter feed the Champion “Gentleman” Joe Manchetti will be qualifying.  It’s your chance to match up head to head!  As of now, only 4 people have qualified… so there’s still a good chance a novice will make it through to the finals.  Could it be you?

Related:
Go!Go!Curry Eating Competition Update

Go!Go!Curry’s 2nd Annual Eating Championship has gotten under way and since they didn’t ban professionals from participating it would appear as if once again gastronomic gladiators will bring down some curry catastrophe on the amateurs.  But that shouldn’t discourage you from entering! To try and qualify for the main event (on June 5th) head to Go Go Curry during one of their “qualifying rounds” (there is one tonight at Columbia, or you can go to GGC itself this Sunday from 6-8pm, and then again next Friday from 6-8pm).  The top 5 times will make it to the final.  To see a compete schedule of events, or download the application to compete, go to the Go Go Curry website. (Even if you don’t want to compete it’s worth looking at the application just for the new rules and a reader friendly guide to how to clean your plate- with photos.) Yes boys and girls, this is what your mom means by finishing off your food before you get dessert.

Related:
Go Go Curry Launches 2nd Annual Eating Championship
Gentleman Joe Takes the 1st Annual Go Go Curry Eating Championship

Just because Hideki Matsui doesn’t play for the Yankees anymore doesn’t mean Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) plans on ending their hero worship of #55.  In other words, they will still give out free topping coupons on the days following a Matsui homerun- even though he plays for the Angels.  During the off season there was a question as to whether they’d keep the deal in place, but the owner Mr. Miyamori settled things yesterday with this official (and very diplomatic) statement:

“Matsui is like our symbol and he was our inspiration so no matter which baseball team he goes, we keep supporting him. However, I know it is difficult but of course GO GO CURRY’s hometown is New York, so we strongly hope and we would love him to come back to New York Yankees to play!”

And just in time too. The Angels opened their season last night against the Twins, and Matsui homered in the 8th inning. Free topping coupons for everybody!

Related:
Go Go Curry Owner Pledges 100% Support to Matsui

The 2nd annual Go Go Curry Eating Championship has been announced and if it was anything like last year it will guarantee a gut busting, curry eating spectacle of ‘grand slam’ proportions! Now I know what you’re thinking, “I can so do this!” Well, take heed lest you fall to the same hubris of last years Midtown Luncher who when faced with Don “Moses” Lerman’s prelim time couldn’t make the cut. This is not an amateur competition. Like last year we expect the professional eating retirees to come out of hiding, and Go Go Curry is even shipping in one finalist from Japan.

The qualifying rounds will be April 15th-May 20th, from 3-5pm. Pick up an application at Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th), there is a $20 registration fee. Final round is set for June 5th at 5pm. Let the challenge begin!

Related:
Gentleman Joe Takes the 1st Annual Go Go Curry Eating Championship

When news broke last night that Yankees star Hideki Matsui was headed to the Dodgers Angels, Midtown Lunch’ers took to twitter with the most obvious question… “What will this mean for Go Go Curry!”  The fast food Japanese curry house has always been a shrine to #55, most recently reveling in his World Series MVP honor.  So… what *does* this mean for Go Go Curry?  Can we expect an Echo Park Anaheim branch of GGC to open in the next few months?  The owner, Mr. Miyamori, released a statement this morning:

“Since GO GO CURRY was hoping that Matsui stays with New York Yankees, we are very disappointed. However, no matter where Matsui goes, I know our hero Matsui does a great job and no matter which baseball team he goes, we keep supporting Matsui for 100%.”

But what about the free stuff!

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