Midtown Lunch

Early this spring, we reported that an exceedingly small new storefront called Simply Sliders was opening on 43rd St. (btw. 3rd+Lex) and we assumed they’d be selling the eponymous miniature burgers. Well, Simply Sliders is now opened and not only are they selling tiny burgers, they’re selling tiny burgers that rival any burger in Midtown (I think so, at least).

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I’m typing this from inside a serious food coma, one that I hope to emerge from before lunchtime. The culprit was last night’s annual Grand Gourmet at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Station. The food event featured over 30 vendors from the Grand Central vicinity and I somehow managed to eat a sample from just about every vendor.

Most of these restaurants are not typically on ML’s radar. For the most part, these are higher end restaurants and certainly surpass our $10 limit – even at lunch. But I still managed to find some new dessert options, some great bar food, and perhaps a few new spots for expense account lunches.

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Bento Sushi is bringing its pre-made sushi rolls to Midtown East next month when it opens a new location on 3rd Ave. (btw. 43rd+44th). Bento Sushi has been covered fairly extensively on this blog ever since it was known as Sushi by Bento Nouveau. We’ve found its udon soup and rice dishes good, but its sushi left us wanting.

I’m most excited to try the udon, but having an option for decent, affordable grab-and-go sushi isn’t bad either. Anyone else looking forward to its opening?

If the commuter crowds in Grand Central aren’t bad enough, you can descend into the centennial festivities and get some free chow to join ’em! On April 10th, Grand Central merchants are giving away free stuff to the first 100 people in line. Of interest to the ML crowd: free spring rolls with any purchase at Pescatore, free vanilla cupcakes from Zaro’s (Shuttle Passage and Grand Central Market locations only) at 10 AM, free chocolate chunk cookies at Magnolia (2-4 PM only), free meatball slider with every slice purchase at Two Boots Pizza, and tons more from their full list. Freeloaders, watch the departure board for tracks and have your tickets ready!

Like most of you, I was heartbroken when Menchanko-Tei called it quits last year, but happy that next-door neighbor, Katsuhama 55, was willing to pick up some of Menchanko’s dishes, with the exception of Rachel’s favorite Midtown oyako-don. When I feel like splurging the extra $0.75 more than the regular midtown lunch, or when I’m just flat out cold because winter is intruding on spring, you’ll find me choosing between the “black” or “red” ramen at Katsuhama 55.

On my most recent ramen splurge this week, I noticed that something new is being constructed at the old Menchanko-Tei location at 43 West 55th Street. Building permits and some Internet sleuthing have led me to believe that the forces behind Natureworks Restaurant at (113 East 31st between Park & Lex) could be behind whatever’s going on at the old Menchanko-Tei location. Until the new restaurant is unveiled, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for something a bit more interesting than a salad bar…

As I was walking down 45th Street last week, I was startled to find the windows of Lebanese spot Karam papered over. New York Magazine named the chicken shawarma at their Bay Ridge location one of the 101 best sandwiches in NYC, but I guess their Midtown location couldn’t hack it.  Last year, I enjoyed a lunch there but found the pitas a bit tough and dry and Jen agreed. When Bread and Olive became Karam, the change over wasn’t that drastic, so here’s hoping that we’ll still have a tasty North African option when the doors open again. And while we’re at it, let’s hope they get better pita bread, too!

Considering how often I’ve been to Treehaus (3rd Ave. btw 50th+51st) in recent weeks, it’s hard to believe that inside I missed  Kosofresh, a separate eatery specializing in build-your-own bibimbap-style rice bowls.

Kosofresh follows the basic Chipotle model: you choose either the Koso-Bap (rice bowl, $8.45) or Koso-Green (salad bowl, $7.45), you choose your protein (bulgogi, soy garlic chicken, spicy pork, or tofu), additional toppings typically found in bibimbap, and your sauce.

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Last week we brought you the news that the popular Turkish food Bryant Park (and Columbus Circle) holiday market kiosk Mmm…Enfes had opened a brick and mortar on 39th street. Over the years I’ve had a chance to sample a few of Mmm…Enfes’ specialties like their buttery gözleme. With the storefront they’ve had the opportunity to expand their menu so naturally I was eager to check it out. Read more »

We’ve always known that the TV show 30 Rock was actually filmed in Queens, and not right in the center of our lunch wasteland. But that hasn’t stopped us from imagining that the food loving Liz Lemon was eating at the same Midtown lunch places as us all these years. In Season 1 that dream seemed possible when Kenneth’s church was filmed as a secret doorway in the back of Margon, but mostly the references to food and lunch were relatively vague. Until last night that is! We here at Midtown Lunch consider it a pretty huge victory that a major segment of last night’s series finale of 30 Rock was devoted to making sure that Lutz didn’t get to order the crew’s final lunch from Blimpie.  Momofuku and Per Se were yelled out as suggestions before Liz settled on Nobu 57… but the running gag was that Blimpie is horrible.  Maybe they only felt that way because they never go to try the Indian Blimpie.

Anyway, thank you 30 Rock.  Not only for 7 great seasons, but for putting the important job of picking lunch for your office up on the pedestal where it belongs. If you could pick one Midtown Lunch to go out on, what would it be?