Midtown Lunch

Serious Eats New York has full coverage of the giant Ina “Barefoot Contessa” Garten kitchen in the middle of Rock Center this week, a big fat who cares if you ask me (unless there’s free food… is there free food?)  Apparently I’m not the only who thinks so. (Sorry I can’t help but post this…)  According to this lunch’er, it was more exciting to see me yesterday than Ina Garten.  They must have meant it was more exciting to see me, than this poster of Ina Garten.  (People see me eating lunch in Midtown every day… and trust me, it’s more gross than exciting.)

Eater dropped this great news late on Friday afternoon: “A PR rep informs us that Five Guys Burgers and Fries secured a lease for a 1,700 square foot space at 690 Third Avenue (between 43rd and 44th Streets).”  For those keeping track, that’s the old Prince Deli space… and even though they had a 99 cent pizza deal, and decent falafel I don’t think it will be missed once Five Guys goes in!

Related:
Five Guys is NYC’s Closest Thing to In N Out Burger
SHOCKER: Prince Deli is Closed For Good

When I crave a little Japanese curry rice with fried meat cutlets I usually hit up Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) or Yagura (on 41st btw. Mad+5th), but for a nice sit down splurge Katsu-hama is the jam (on 47th btw. Mad+5th.) which makes this news kind of exciting…  Matsuya Foods, the company that owns Menchanko Tei and Katsu-hama, is turning Onigashmia (the Japanese spot connected to the Menchanko Tei on 55th btw. 5+6th) into a second branch of Katsuhama.  I never tried Onigashima, so I don’t know if this is an upgrade or downgrade… all I do know is it’s good news for any tonkatsu fans working in the northern part of Midtown. They’re hoping to have the location up and running by the end of the month.

Photos courtesy of Food in Mouth

I’ve always wanted to try that Bento Nouveau place (on 39th and Broadway), but after reading this review on Food in Mouth I might pass.  They have inexpensive pre-made sushi and udon noodle soups, but Danny went for the beef sukiyaki, which doesn’t look too appetizing- and that’s saying a lot because his photography usually makes the ugliest food look great. Overriding theme of the post: you’re better off going to Woorijip (on 32nd btw. 5+B’way.)

Anybody else eaten at this place?  If there is anything worth trying, post about it in the comments.

As much as I love Asian food of all kinds, there is one thing I can’t stand.  The Asian Combo Restaurant.  You know what I’m talking about.  The Chinese food restaurant that serves sushi, or the Vietnamese food place that serves pad thai.  I’m not talking about fusion cuisine, which is an entity all itself.  I’m talking about the restaurant that decides they are going to serve something for everybody- and inevitably ends up doing it none of it well.

So when Asian Station opened on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd, I was naturally skeptical.  In fact, I had written the place off knowing that it was probably too expensive for Midtown Lunch purposes. But once Lunch’er Joe forwarded along the all under $10 menu, I knew I’d have to check it out.  My cheap Asian food loving stomach won out over my combo restaurant hating brain.  And boy am I glad it did.

Read more »

A mini argument discussion broke out in the comments the other day over who makes the best schnitzel: Jews or Germans. I suppose the two aren’t mutually exclusive, but the premise of the argument was chicken vs. veal/pork.  Sadly I have to go against my people on this one, and agree that wiener schnitzel is clearly the superior schnitzel- although I wouldn’t turn my nose up at some good Israeli style Kosher chicken schnitzel.

So with all this talk of schnitzel, and the Schnitzel Truck still weeks away, I hit up Kosher Deluxe (on 46th btw. 5+6th) on Monday for a little chicken schnitzel in pita action.

Read more »

Le Relais de Venise L’Entrecote, a famous French chain with a one item menu (steak frites), just opened their first location in the U.S. on the corner of 52nd and Lex. Even though the $24 price tag puts it well out of the Midtown Lunch price range, their special herb sauce topping looks amazing and they bring you a second serving of steak and french fries after you finish your first. Sounds like my kind of place! [Serious Eats: New York]

We’ve gotten word that come September the now shuttered Golden Krust, on 3rd. Ave. btw. 43+44th, will become NAYA Express- a cheaper version of the fancy Lebanese restaurant NAYA Mezze & Grill on 2nd Ave. From the owner: “It is going to be 80% of NAYA’s Lebanese Menu with some addition and much less expensive. Sandwiches will range from $5 to $8. Appetizers between $4 and $8.” That could be interesting…

As promised, the new Korean cart on 50th btw. 6+7th began serving bulgogi topped hot dogs and Korean short rib tacos this week. I stopped by yesterday, not only to check out the two new items but also to ask if they had been getting the same “treatment” that chased the Happy Well Being House Cart from the same spot a few weeks ago. The Korean guy who runs the cart said that they ran into a bit of trouble earlier but that “everything is ok now.”  I don’t know whether to feel happy for them, or sorry for the Happy Well Being House Cart for not sticking it out in the spot longer.

So for now, it looks like these guys are going to be around.  The question is, how is their new bulgogi dog and short rib tacos!?! (The answer, plus photos of the craziness, is after the jump.)

Read more »

Now here’s a sandwich from a drug store I’ll try!  According to Eater, the Duane Reade in Grand Central Penn Station is now serving pre packaged sandwiches from Zabar’s in a fancy little kiosk. No word on what kind of sandwiches are available, or how much they are, but I’m sure they are 1000 times better than the poor excuse for sandwiches being served at the Times Square Walgreens. Normally if I’m in GC I’ll probably end up making my own sandwich at Murray’s Salami, but I suppose I could try the Duane Reade/Zabar’s sandwich… if I was dared.

Photo courtesy of Eater