This awesomeness popped up on the corner of 3rd Ave. & 43rd St.  What exactly is Crisp you ask?  No info on their website, but we get two clues:  “Fast fresh food that syncs your taste with your conscience.”  And, “It’s not what you think.  It’s better.”  Hmm… that’s interesting.  So it’s not an organic version of a generic salad bar/Midtown deli?  It’s better.  Can’t wait…

Just around the corner, on 43rd btw. Lex+3rd, the first Manhattan location of Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe has opened up, a chain with most of its locations in California, Oklahoma, Texas & Florida.  With a menu of fancy wraps, salads, pizzas and panini, I was slightly intrigued by their Bangkok Thai Wrap, until I saw that they add water chesnuts (meh), and provolone (huh?).  Oh well.

Blue Pig says goodbye, while Pinkberry says hello, after the jump…

In December I reported that the Midtown location of Brooklyn’s Blue Pig Ice Cream (on 43rd btw. Lex+3rd) was shuttered and had a unpaid Con-Ed bill inside their door.  They re-opened the next day… but it seems as if the whole episode was just foreshadowing, because now the Blue Pig definitely is closed, and the location is up for rent.

Posted to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Photo Group by Paul Brady

And finally, I saw this photo posted on Eater signaling the arrival of a Pinkberry on 58th btw. 8+9th.  Just out of bounds for Midtown Lunch, but perfect for the fro-yo fanatic who isn’t down with Yogurberry (inside the Cafe Duke on 41st & B’way) or Red Mango (on 8th Ave. & 45th).

Thanks to Lunch’er Liz for the first two tips, and if you have info about an opening or closing, take a photo and post it to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Photo Group , or email the info to zach@midtownlunch.com

What kind of price do you put on having a fun meal?  It’s not a new question.  For example, are you willing to pay $50 to eat mediocre roast chicken with your hands?  That doesn’t sound like a good deal.  What if there are grown men jousting in the middle of the restaurant?  Hello!  Or perhaps you’d like some chicken and steak stir fry for $30?  I can get that for $7 at any food court.  What if a “Japanese” guy named “Jimmy” prepares and cooks the food right in front of you, throwing the shrimp tails into his giant chef’s hat?  Now that sound likes fun!

In the end Sakae Sushi is no different then Medieval Times or Benihana.  They’re asking how much extra are you willing to pay for sushi when it moves around the restaurant on little colored plates.  Not enough fun?  Let’s throw in computerized ordering!  This sounds awesome.  I love conveyor belt sushi!  And, I also love weird rolls.  And mayo.  And I don’t have to know what I’m eating to eat it.  And that’s what Sakae is all about.  If you like crazy rolls that pair fried stuff with cooked stuff, topped with raw stuff and smothered in some mayo based sauce, then you’re golden.

Loves conveyor belt.  Check.  Loves weird rolls.  Check.  Loves fun.  Check.  I should have loved Sakae Sushi.  Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way.  All the reasons why, after the jump…

The prices of things should not have been a surprise.  I had the mammoth menu in advance, and even posted it here on the site. I had ample time to look it over, see what kind of strategy I was going to use to try utilize to maximize food, while keeping the price low.  But then, you are there, sitting next to the conveyor belt, super excited to start taking food, and you’ve just sat down, and boom- before you know it, your wife has grabbed this off the belt…

And then it clicks.  All items on a Pink plate = $3.90.  Inari on a pink plate?  Inari = $3.90.  We felt like John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.  “That’s just rice and tofu, right?  They don’t put raw fish in in it or nothing?”  There are a few things that happen when something like this occurs.  First, confusion.  “Can we put it back?  What a mistake.  Why did we take it so quickly without looking at the plate.  We can put it back, right?” Then, anger.  “Why does this cost so much!?!?  So ridiculous.  I hate this place.”  Followed immediately by guilt.  “Maybe it’s my fault.   I should have known.  I was too excited, and wasn’t paying attention to the plates.  It’s not their fault, they clearly mark the plates, and I should have known better.”  And then, resignation.  “You know what.  Who cares?  It’s conveyor belt sushi.  We’re here to have fun!  Let’s try to forget that first misstep and have a good time!”

The problem is, that’s not the only thing we had to forgive during the meal.  It was clear pretty quickly that it was going to be difficult, if not impossible to turn this place into a Midtown Lunch.  $10 is a pretty low bar, and the portion to price ratio made it even more restrictive.  For example, all of the rolls (with the exception of the super small tuna and salmon rolls) were $6.90, a price that would have been acceptable had they a) been large (they weren’t), b) had a good rice to sushi ratio (they didn’t) c) were of equal quality to what you’d get at a sit down, moderately price sushi restaurant in Midtown (they weren’t).

$3.90 for two pieces of sushi is not a terrible price, so we decided to try what we thought were scallops, but actually turned out to be squid. It tasted like they had come pre-cut out of a plastic bag.  Rubbery, incredibly tough, and cut into a perfectly rectangular shape.  Very suspect.  Of course, that’s what you get for trying to beat the system.  Scallops should not be that cheap…  We should have stuck with the tuna or salmon.

Aside from the scallop, most of what we tried tasted fine, if not good- but we couldn’t shake the suspicion that we were getting cheated.  The best deal of the menu is the regular tuna or salmon roll, which clocks in at unbelievably cheap $1.90.  It’s the only item on the menu that is less than what you would pay for it at a regular sushi restaurant.  You could even get away with ordering four of those, and calling it a Midtown Lunch- but where’s the fun in that.

In order to compare freshly made to conveyor belt items (and to maximize the fun)- we decided to order a few things off the computer screen.  Despite reading that food ordered on the computer screen comes out very quickly, ours took forever and one of the items they forgot about entirely.   We had to ask twice and never did get the roll we ordered (eventually we had to get back to work.)

All in all it’s tough to have fun at conveyor belt sushi when everything is just a little more expensive than it should be.  The rolls are not big enough to be $7, and most of the small plates are $4, or $2 a bite for sushi that is slightly better than deli take out, but not quite as good as a moderately priced sit down sushi bar (think Taki or Kikku).   It’s just too much money.

Having a conveyor belt is supposed to make the operation cheaper,  so things should not be overpriced.  That’s the beauty of conveyor belt sushi.  You can make things slightly cheaper, because in the end you’ll make your money back when people start having too much fun, lose control, and take things off the belt they normally would never order.  When you make things *more* expensive, it makes people more cautious and takes the fun out of the whole thing.

So, as much as I tried, I don’t think Sakae Sushi quite fits into the mold of a Midtown Lunch.  I can forgive a lot, and if a place is truly unique, with a high quality product I can ignore the $10 price tag.  Sakae just didn’t quite make the cut.  It’s sad too.  If things had been just a little cheaper, or the rolls a little bit bigger, I probably would have lost control, taken more than I should have, and possibly helped to put Mr. Sakae Sushi’s kids through college.

THE +

• It’s conveyor belt sushi!  I love conveyor belt sushi!
• The small plates allow you to order a wide variety of things
• They have a lot of weird and interesting rolls
• If you only take things off the conveyor belt, it can be very quick for a sit down meal
• They have computerized ordering for anybody who wants their food made fresh
• You get all you can drink free green tea.  A huge plus.
• Great place to go with a big group of friends, and just let loose

THE -

• Most of the food is too expensive for what it is
• The quality of the sushi is slightly better than pre-packaged deli sushi, but not as good as any of the sit down sushi places in Midtown
• With all the lunch specials at decent sushi places, it’s hard to justify eating at Sakae
• Conveyor belt sushi relies on everyone taking things off the conveyor belt, so there is always fresh and brand new items being put out.  In a restaurant this big, when you offer computerized ordering the food is not freshened up as quickly as it should be.

Sakae Sushi, 405 Lexington Ave (43rd btw. Lex+3rd), (877) 725-2387

Have you figured out yet that I’m excited for conveyor belt sushi from Singapore?  It’s not open yet, but after much begging, they finally let me into Sakae Sushi (43rd btw. Lex+3rd) last night for a first look at the conveyor belt and computer system (which they’ve been putting together all week). 

The belt itself, which snakes in a u shape around the entire restaurant, carrying little small plates of sushi to every table, doesn’t actually go back into the kitchen- where all the food is prepared.  There are no sushi bars either.  All the food is made in the back, and brought out by servers to be placed on the conveyor belt.

For those “crazy” people, who don’t want to eat sushi off a conveyor belt, there is a mouse operated computer at each table you can use to order anything off of the menu.  This not only includes freshly made small plates of sushi, but larger things that don’t fit on the conveyor belt as well.

A look at the complete menu after the jump, plus an update on their “Friday” Grand Opening…

Looking at the whole menu, I’m realizing that it will take a lot of planning (and math) to get out of this place full for under $10 (and still be full).  But as far as I’m concerned, exceptions can be made to the Midtown Lunch $10 price limit in two instances.  1) All you can eat buffets, and 2) restaurants that use conveyor belts to deliver my food.  Here is a sample of some of the things that you may see roatating around the restaurant from 3 sample pages taken from the menu:

To see the full 30 page menu, click here.

If you’ve been to a Sakae Sushi overseas, you may end up disappointed by the first US location which lacks some of the uniqueness or “cool” factor of the locations in Asia.  That’s because they felt a more subdued location would be more appealing to the clientele of Midtown.  See what the losers have done?  Even when we get something cool, we get screwed. 

According to their publicist the restaurant is still on track to open on Friday, but not until dinner time, meaning (if it actually happens) Tuesday should be our first chance for an official “Midtown Lunch”.  See you there?

It looks like we are just days away from the opening of Singaporean conveyor belt sushi chain Sakae Sushi on 43rd St. btw. Lex+3rd.  Already enormously popular in Asia, this will be their first location in the USA, complete with signature computerized ordering and hot water spouts (for refilling tea) at every table, plus the main event… little plates of sushi ushered from seat to seat via conveyor belt.   

Two emails were sent out today about the place, with both Urbandaddy giving the impression that the place is already open (it’s not), while and Thrillist are reporting a Friday grand opening (albeit without hot water spouts, which they report will be installed in the next month).  (Urbandaddy did make a fleeting mention of the Friday opening, so I’ve modified the post to reflect that.  I just didn’t notice it when I read their email.) The photo above was taken at Sakae Sushi today at 2pm, and our sources are saying they *hope* to be open on Friday, but if not Friday- then ”probably” Monday.  With the way red tape works in NYC, I’ll believe it when I see the conveyor belts fired up, and moving little plates of raw fish.  Either way, as soon as I know, you’ll know…

I may be too excited to type out this post.  Sushi.  On conveyor belts.  In Midtown.  Oh my lord,  my prayers have been answered.  No, not the one where David Chang starts serving Korean burritos out of a cart on 49th St. & 6th Ave,  or the one where Saigon Banh Mi opens a Midtown branch, but doesn’t change their prices.  It’s the dream, where I’m sitting in a Midtown Japanese restaurant, and all the food is circling around me, there for the taking, around and around, each plate begging “Pick me!”  “Take me!” “Don’t I look good?!?”

That’s a good dream.  And hopefully by the end of the year, I will finally get to visit this place while I’m awake.  Sushi Sakae, a very large and famous Singapore chain of Japanese (go figure) Conveyor Belt Sushi restaurants is opening their first U.S. location here in Midtown.  It’s going up on 43rd btw. Lex. & 3rd Ave. and they are hoping to open it by the end of November.

Conveyor belt porn, and a sneak peak, advance look at the U.S. take out menu- after the jump…

_{Photo from a Singapore location posted to Flickr by Ke Wynn}

This is going to be the greatest place of all time.  If you’ve never been to a Conveyor Belt Sushi place, it’s a pretty easy concept to grasp.  Food comes out and circles around the bar or restaurant on a moving conveyor belt.  You take whatever you want, and at the end they count up your plates to determine how much you owe. 

At the Midtown Sushi Sakai, they will offer three different priced plates.  Multi-colored will be $1.90,  Pink will be $3.90,  and Red plates will be $6.90.  In addition to the conveyor belt sushi bar, there will also be tables equipped with computers for you to order items ala carte from the kitchen.  There is also mention of hot water faucets at every table to refill your own tea pots.  If you thought Kushi Q’s rotating skewer cooker was cool, I have a feeling this place is going to blow it out of the water!

With most really good Japanese food in Midtown, it’s always a struggle to stay within the Midtown Lunch boundaries, and after a look at the take out menu, it seems as if Sushi Sakae will be no different.  Most of the bento boxes, and sushi platters are over $10, but if you are careful with your conveyor belt choices, you may be able to do it.  In addition to ala carte sushi, they will also have chawanmushi (a Japanese savory custard),  tempura, agemomo (fried stuff), yakimono (meat on sticks), udon, soba and donburi (rice bowls). 

According to the take out menu, it looks like small 6 piece basic sushi rolls (salmon, spicy tuna, etc), and 2 piece nicer rolls (soft shelled crab, futomaki) will all be $1.90.  Two pieces of regular nigiri sushi are listed as $3.90, and premium rolls are listed as $6.90.  If these prices transfer to the conveyor belt, then it looks like with some proper restraint you could get your lunch for under $10.

If not, who cares!  It’s conveyor belt sushi, and in my book that means automatic permission to spend more than $10 on lunch.  Click on either of the photos below to see an expanded view of the take out menu…

For more Sakae Porn check out this Flickr Set, and for more info on the chain itself check out their website US Website.  You may notice some mention of all you can eat buffet pricing, but I haven’t heard if they are going to do that here.  As soon I know anything more, I’ll let you know.

Anyone who has ever been behind the Port Authority on 9th Avenue has seen the 99¢ pizza place.  Always open, and always a line- this window churns out cheese pizza slices like nobody’s business.  The slices are hot, fresh, and for 99 cents a real steal.  Living in Hell’s Kitchen, and shopping at the various markets down there I’ve partaken in the 99¢ pizza many times, usually as a post grocery shopping snack.  In fact it has spawned a snack or meal argument between my wife and I on numerous occasions.  My claim… “If something costs $1 (i.e. a slice of pizza), it is automatically a snack”.  Her claim… “You are a fat bastard.”

Well, on Monday I was excited to find out that 99¢ Fresh Pizza has expanded East, opening a new location next to Grand Central Terminal, on 43rd St. btw. 3rd & Lex.  Pics of the pie and the +/- after the jump.

Don’t expect the greatest New York pizza you’ve ever experienced.  You get what you pay for.  If a pie costs $8, it is probably not going to be as good as a $17 pie… but for $1, how can you complain?  And of course, it’s so cheap you’ll convince yourself it tastes better than it actually does.  It’s got plenty of cheese, and there is always a fresh pie (although this location is new- so the turnover may not be as quick as the Port Authority Location).  The sign on the window says there are toppings available for 50 cents a slice, $2 per pie… but once you start down that road, it’s not 99¢ pizza anymore, and must be held to a different standard. 

Perfect for a snack, or the cheapest lunch available in Midtown that doesn’t involve eating a hot dog or stale pretzel.  $2.75 gets you two slices and a can of soda.  It doesn’t get any better than this… (unless you like your pizza great, and don’t mind paying the money for it).  Seriously… I only say it’s not great pizza so I don’t get a million comments questioning whether my taste buds still function.  The truth is- I freakin’ LOVE the 99¢ pizza place.  Call me a cheapo, but I’ve never once asked for my penny back (and they’ve never offered it.)  

THE +

• It’s a fresh slice of pizza… for 99 cents.  Deal of the century.
• You don’t have to walk to 9th Ave. behind the Port Authority anymore

THE -

• It’s obviously not the best pizza in the city (but it’s not bad enough to not be worth it)
• At the Port Authority location there is always a line, and always a fresh pie coming out of the oven.  This location is new, and may take awhile to get the turnover going.
• No variety.  The only thing they usually have pre-made is Cheese.  I’ve never asked for toppings because then it wouldn’t be 99¢ pizza anymore.
• If you are willing to wait until after 2pm, I’ve heard there is real pizza place in the same area that drops its price to $1 a slice.

99¢ Fresh Pizza, 151 E. 43rd St. (btw. Lex & 3rd), 212-922-0257

I tried Burritoville once before (the one on 9th ave.), when I first moved here from L.A.  Seeking a substitute for the burritos I could get on the west coast, I knew I wasn’t going to replace the real deal authentic burritos- but I was at least hoping to find a replacement for Baja Fresh (My go-to work lunch in L.A.  There was one across the street from my office, and I probably ate there 2-3 times a week). 

At the one on 9th ave. I got the “Holy Mole” burrito, and was pretty underwhelmed.  It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great.  I probably should have known that I wasn’t going to get a great mole from a place that felt the need to add funny names to their burritos.  I remember thinking “This place isn’t that bad.  I probably am disappointed because I just moved here, and I’m used to the good stuff.”

With that in mind, I returned to Burritoville- hoping to find a Chipotle substitute for when my Burrito addiction rears it’s ugly head.  Pictures, and the +/- after the jump…

Burritoville is not really an authentic Burrito place (when compared to places on the  West Coast).  It’s more of a Tex-Mex wrap place.  Part of the menu is sort of authentic, part of it tries to be authentic but fails, and part of it is just not authentic at all.

Here’s the part that is not authentic

• The silly names.  “Mystical Fresco” “Holy Mole” “Bob Marley’s Last Burrito”.  It’s just stupid.  Burritos are a perfect food… you don’t need a clever marketing scheme.  Do you really think a college kid is going to be like “Hey… the burrito is named after Bob Marley!  I love Bob Marley!  Let’s get a burrito!”.  Make a good burrito, with fresh and simple ingredients, and the people will come.
• The ”fancy” ingredients.  Trying to serve mole is commendable.  Jerk chicken, smoky grilled chicken, turkey sausage-  not so much.  These things have no business being in a burrito.
• No pork, lard, pig or pork products at Burritoville.  It should be a crime.

The part that tries, but fails

• Every burrito place should have free chips and salsa.  It’s a god given right when ordering a burrito.  You shouldn’t be forced to pay extra!  This is where Burritoville shines.  Free chips and salsa bar.  Unfortunately, the salsas are not that great- especially the salsa verde (or green salsa), which tastes like it’s made with horseradish.  I don’t know what makes it green, but it’s supposed to be tomatillos.  I know you’ve got tomatillos (they’re in the Mystical Fresco Burrito), use them to make the green salsa!!!

The part that is authentic

• Free chips and salsa
• For the tacos, they do give you the choice of soft corn tortillas.  That’s a good thing.
• They have Jarritos (Mexican soda) and Horchata (a delicious, sweet rice drink)
• They don’t put cilantro and lime in their rice.  :-)

With all that being said, my friend and I had a pretty good meal at Burritoville.  I got the Mystical Frisco Burrito (Shredded chicken in a slow simmered tomatillo salsa).  If it had been wrapped well, I would have enjoyed it a lot more then I did.  My friend isn’t a Mexican food snob like me, so he enjoyed his Chicken Tacos served in flour tortillas. 

 If you are looking for a Tex-Mex wrap place, that has something resembling a burrito on the menu- you will probably enjoy Burritoville.  If you are looking for a west coast burrito that will silence the people (like me) who say “There are no good burritos in New York”, this place is not going to do it.  On to the +/-  !!!

THE + (What people who like about this place will say)

• If you are a vegetarian, they have tons of vegetarian options and are very vegetarian friendly.  They have various tofu options, plus beans that are not made with any meat products.  (Most real Mexican places would be impossible for a vegetarian to get a burrito).  It’s also kosher friendly (since they don’t use pork products)
• They make everything fresh (nothing is canned) and with no preservatives.  This includes their tortillas, which are pressed fresh daily
• If you are not a burrito snob you’ll like this place
• I like free chips and salsa
• The lines are shorter then Chipotle
• They’re not owned by McDonalds

THE – (What people who don’t like this place will say)

• I like my burritos simple and authentic.  These burritos are neither.
• The green salsa is terrible.
• My burrito wasn’t wrapped well, but it could have just been that one time  (at least they are not meant to be eaten with a fork and knife)

Burritoville, Multiple Locations in Midtown

• 866 Third Ave. (52nd btw. Lex&3rd), 212-980-4111
• 152 E. 43rd. St. (btw. Lex & 3rd), 212-880-8300