The former Au Bon Pain space in the outdoor passageway underneath the Fox News Building, which has been empty since May of 2007 is finally getting a tenant. Flavors (yes, that is what the place is called) looks set to open any day now, and a quick looksee reveals that it is going to be another generic Midtown deli.  Need proof?  Let’s put the verbiage on their sign, through our Midtown Lunch calculator/translator combo:

Flavors is (Fresh + Healthy + Natural) + (Organic + Local)

And through the machine it goes………. ding!  Let’s see what we’ve got…

Generic Name that Means Absolutely Nothing + (Tasteless) + (Overpriced) = Another generic Midtown deli 

Yay!!!!!!! Confirmed by the translator… although in fairness to Flavors, I should say the last time I passed judgement on a cryptically named place before it opened, I ended up liking it (See: Crisp).  So in fairness to “Flavors”, I will wait for them to open before I totally bash it…

They do have locations downtown, so if any of our downtown lunch’ers have eaten at them, feel free to weigh in.

Thick and creamy, it tasted exactly as described.  They make them to order in a blender next to the sandwich counter in the front, so I’m guessing it may take awhile during lunchtime crush.  If you don’t want to deal with the madness, do what I did: make it your late afternoon snack.  At $3.75 it’s not cheap, but it’s pretty refreshing, borderlines as a dessert, and is certainly preferable to the new (crap) smoothies at Starbucks.

Oceana (on 54th St. btw Park+Mad), is moving closer to the heart of Midtown after its lease expires in July of next year. The new space, whose location has not yet been disclosed, will be larger, with 200 seats and room for private dining.

Interesting… that sounds about right. If Oceana does take over the space, then this really has nothing to do with Midtown Lunch, but there is still the business of the former Duane Reade space which is empty on the opposite side of the building. Mini-Sizzler anybody?

So the news broke on Weds, and was confirmed yesterday that Rupert Murdoch plans on moving the Wall St. Journal from their Downtown offices to the News Corp. building on 6th Ave. & 48th St., smack dab in the middle of Midtown.  Well, let me be the first to say welcome!  We’re actually neighbors (I work in the McGraw Hill Building across the street), and there are plenty of great lunch options within walking distance of our block.

According to the NY Observer, you guys are leaving behind PJ Clarke’s.  Well don’t you worry, the original one is here in Midtown- although 3rd Ave. is a pretty long walk away. 

Some much closer options, after the jump…

• 46th btw. 6+7th – Venture one block south and you’ve got some of the best that Midtown Lunch’ing has to offer.  The Biriyani Cart on 46th & 6th serves up great Chapati Rolls (Indian soft tacos), or wait in line at Minar, the steam table Indian place a little farther west.  I’m sure the people you will be interviewing will be drawn towards the clean, and suit friendly looking Havana Central, but try to resist and head to Margon across the street for some real Latin food, at half the price.
• Street Meat – I don’t know what the street meat scene is like Downtown, but if you are a fan, you just landed right in Street Meat Ground Zero.  There are plenty of options right outside your building, but if you want the good stuff I would walk a few blocks south to the Kwik Meal Cart on the SE corner of 45th & 6th, or a few blocks north to the famous chicken/lamb and rice cart on the SE corner of 53rd & 6th.  Hope they have good bathrooms in the News Corp building.
• Kosher Stuff – Our proximity to the diamond district means plenty of Kosher options.  Go old school at the hidden Diamond Dairy on 47th btw. 5+6th, or grab falafel and chicken shawarma at Kosher Deluxe on 45th btw. 5+6th.
• Good Burger - The new location on 45th btw. 5+6th is the closest fast food burger to your building worth mentioning.
• Del Frisco’s Steakhouse (6th Ave. btw. 48+49th) - I’m not exactly sure how the WSJ works, but I’m assuming people who write about Wall St. don’t make as much money as those who work on Wall St., so I’ll let you in on a little secret.  At the Del Frisco’s bar you can order a plate of steak tips and mashed potatoes for $9.95.  Hob nob with all the suits, without having to pay through the nose (or throw down a corporate card, which is clearly the only other way anybody could actually enjoy eating at Del Frisco’s.)

Good luck and welcome to the hood!  Feel free to bookmark the site for future use (and beware of the commenters).

Related: Two Well Known Carts Getting New Locations in Midtown
Related: Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck

For me, Chipotle is like a bad Chinese Buffet.  I have to go back once every three months, and feel sick, to remind myself why I only go once every three months.  See, I distinctly remember what my brain told me the last time I ate Chiptole… “Never eat here again”.  But that was three months ago, and my burrito starved body is wondering, “Maybe this time it will be different…everyone seems pretty excited… maybe I was wrong about Chipotle.” 

Well, it hasn’t been three months… but last night I finally discovered a way to enjoy Chipotle.  Eating there for free.  Free food always tastes better… it’s just a fact.  And Chipotle proved that once again last night.  We got one of those passes for free dinner on Monday night, and decided to check it out then, rather then wait on line today during free Buritto day (which is from 11am to 8pm by the way).

What we ate, and the Chipotle +/- after the jump…

We decided to try two different burritos…

• Burrito #1- Carnitas, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Black Beans, Pico de Gallo, Guacamole
• Burrito #2- Chicken, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Pico de Gallo, & Guacamole

I have to say, the Carnitas and the Chicken are both good at Chipotle.  The carnitas is exactly as it should be.  Braised with good seasonings, it tears apart and is nice and tender.  And the chicken is good too, if you like your chicken grilled and cut in chunks- which I prefer to the shredded chicken in gravy that a lot of burrito places feature.  But that’s where the complements end…

Here’s my big problem with Chipotle.  The burrito is already a perfect food item.  Get some good meat, put it in a tortilla with mexican rice, good salsa, and good guac, and it’s gonna be good.  What’s this cilantro and lime rice shit?  Why are the chips covered in lime flavored salt?  Can’t you steam the cheese with the tortilla so I don’t have to eat clumps of cold cheese in my burrito?  Why do I feel like I’m going into food coma after the fourth bite.  I just think they’re trying too hard.  There’s just something weird about Chipotle.  I know it isn’t just ”Too much salt”.  There’s something more then that.  I just can’t put my finger on it…

Is it the best burrito you can get in Midtown?  Probably.  Am I a spoiled burrito snob after living in L.A. for two years?  Definitely.  Will I forget how I feel and go back to Chipotle in three months?  To tell you the truth, I’ll probably be back within three weeks.  But I won’t like it damnit!  People who run Baja Fresh… if you’re listening.  Please… come and save us from this Burrito wasteland.  If you can open in Jersey, why can’t you be in NYC????

THE + (What people who like this place would say)

• You don’t need a knife and fork.  Seems like common sense, but so many New York places can’t roll a good burrito
• Quit your whining L.A. boy… it’s a good burrito (and sadly it is probably the best burrito you are going to get in Midtown)

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

• The price.  It’s amazing how much better Chipotle is when you don’t have to pay $1.75 to add Guacamole to your burrito.  Normal for midtown, but too expensive for a burrito.
• No free chips.  And on top of having to pay for them, they are covered in this lime salt (that I’m pretty sure they put in the rice too). 
• Too much salt all around.  I thought it was a fluke the last time I went… but apparently it’s always like that.  Call it McDonald’s consistency, I suppose.
• They’re operated by McDonald’s… and it shows.
• You don’t feel so good afterwards

Don’t forget… today (Tuesday 7/18) is free burrito day!  From 11am to 8pm, everyone gets a free burrito.  We’ll have pictures of the line and updates during the day.  If I haven’t discouraged you enough, go have a Chiptole Burrito for yourself, and post your comments here.  Today is the best day to go… Chipotle is never going to taste better then it does on the day when it’s free!

Chipotle, 129 W. 48th St. (btw. 6th & 7th Ave.), 212-575-8424

Other related Posts:

• Less Then 24 Hours Until Free Burrito Time
• More Chipotle Confusion
• Tuesday is Free Burrito Day in Midtown
• Chipotle

Tell the world this info… and risk ruining it for the few people who happen to walk down 48th St. everyday (and their friends who they plan on telling).  Or, keep it to myself- and live with the shame of knowing I betrayed everything this site stands for, just to make getting my free burrito a tiny bit easier.

That’s right…. the day has finally arrived.  Wednesday (7/19), the Chipotle on 48th st. between 6th and 7th avenue is opening to the public- and to celebrate (as all new Chipotle’s do), Tuesday (7/18) is free burrito day.  That’s right.  On Tuesday, from 11am to 8pm, everyone willing to wait in line for god knows how long, will be rewarded with a free burrito and soda.

We could argue all day about whether or not the burritos at Chipotle are good.  What we can’t argue about is the intrinsic goodness of free food.  And free food always tastes good… maybe I’ll finally actually enjoy eating at Chipotle.

Check back Tuesday for pictures of the insanity… and updates.  Percentage of people in line who’s time away from work is worth more then a $7 burrito- 96.4%.  Effect that will have on the line.  Zero.

Chipotle, 49th St. between 6th & 7th Avenue. (Shit, you don’t need the address… just look for the gigantic line)

Everyone seems pretty excited about the prospect of burritos being just an elevator ride away- but I can't fall into that trap.  For me, Chipotle is like a bad Chinese Buffet.  I have to go back once every three months, and feel sick, to remind myself why I only go once every three months.  See, I distinctly remember what my brain told me the last time I ate Chiptole… "Never eat here again".  But that was three months ago, and my burrito starved body is wondering, "Maybe this time it will be different…everyone seems pretty excited… maybe I was wrong about Chipotle." 

And of course three months ago was actually a relapse of it's own.  A few months before that, I had just moved here from Los Angeles, and tried Chiptole for the first time.  My thought… "Never eat here again…"  That lasted about two months.  Why can't they make a decent burrito in this city!

I'm not saying Chiptole is a terrible burrito… but compared to the Burritos in L.A., they definetely fall short (no one would dispute that).  But I'm not even talking about the authentic Burrito shacks… I'm talking about the chains too.  Now if a Baja Fresh or Sharky's opened at the bottom of my building, then you'd see some excitement.  But alas, there is no Baja Fresh, and we'll just have to settle for Chipotle.

The +/- after the jump…

THE +

• They wrap the Burrito up properly, no fork and knife needed (a huge plus that many burrito places in NYC have not caught on to yet)
• A lot of different choices (Carnitas, Black or Pinto Beans, etc.)

THE -

• We're not in L.A. anymore pal, why can't you get that through your brain
• Why don't New York Burrito places give you free chips?  It's craziness.
• The "cilantro and lime" has a weird salt and lime flavor that just doesn't taste right.  It doesn't have to be authentic, just make it taste better
• A little expensive for a burrito (especially to add guacamole)… but I guess it's midtown so it's forgiveable.
• I can't pinpoint exactly why I don't like these burritos… there's just something not right.  Maybe that's what happens when McDonald's tries to make Burritos (yes, they are owned by McDonald's).

I have to say, I am a big fan of carnitas burritos (I love pork), and both of my bad trips to Chipotle were at the hands of carnitas burritos… so maybe it's not really a fair review.  Maybe I need to go back and try the chicken burrito, or steak burrito.  Yeah, that's it… I need to go back one more time.  Maybe just one more try…  I'll order the chicken or the steak.  I'm sure it will be good this time… Shut up brain- we're going to give Chipotle one more chance.

Chiptole, Coming in a few weeks (according to one of the workers) to 1221 Avenue of the Americas, 49th btw. 6th & 7th

Already open at these Midtown Locations:

• 9 West 42nd Street (btw. 5th & 6th) 212-354-6760
• 150 E. 44th Street (btw. Lex & 3rd) 212-682-9860
• 150 E. 52nd Street (btw. Lex & 3rd) 212-755-9754

Official Website [Chipotle.com]