I don’t know why it took us so long to check out this deal!  Remember The Market in the Grand Hyatt (on 42nd btw. Park+Lex)?  Well, every Wednesday they have a buy one get one free deal on boxes of macarons from 8am to 5pm.  Blondie finally made it over there today and re-discovered they’re from the Macaron Cafe… a box of 2 is $4.95 (fairly standard for macarons) and comes in four different flavor combinations (she tried the pumpkin & chestnut and the raspberry & dark chocolate).  Four macarons for $1.25 each?  That’s a deal we can get behind. You have until 5pm, or else you’ll have to wait until next Wednesday.

I’ve been very curious about the French onion soup that recently returned to the menu at Macaron Cafe. I’ve been a huge fan of onion soup since I first had it on my honeymoon in Paris a couple years back. When done right, it’s an amazing bowl of oniony beef broth with chunks of bread inside and topped with a thick layer of gooey, chewy gruyere on top and a bit more tossed in the middle for good measure.

Luncher HungryK9 recently gave it a try and posted about it on her blog. She was sorely disappointed. Apparently, she searched and searched but barely found any cheese to speak of. Now, that’s just not right. Has anyone else tried the soup with more success? Or know of a great French Onion Soup in Midtown?  Let us know in the comments.

As winter approaches Schnitzel & Things isn’t the only one stepping up their savory hotness.  Hot daily specials have returned to Macaron Cafe (now with two locations in Midtown.)  There’s a different one every day, and each are 9.75.

Monday: Quiche Lorraine – Bacon & Gruyere, spanish onion served with mixed salad.
Tuesday: Croque-Monsieur – Ham & Gruyere, bechamel sauce on French Pullman bread served w a mixed salad.
Wednesday: Lasagne – Homemade vegetables lasagne served with mixed salad.
Thursday: Endive & Ham “de Paris”, bechamel sauce, gruyere cheese gratine.
Friday: Quiche au Saumon – smoked salmon & leek, gruyere cheese, scallion served with a mixed salad

Macaron Cafe

• 625 Madison Ave. (Enter on 59th btw. Park+Mad)
• 485 7th Ave. (Enter on 36th btw. B’way+7th)

The uptown Macaron Cafe (on 59th btw Park+Mad) finally opened last week and began serving lunch on Monday. I’ve been a fan of Macaron Cafe for a while, especially for their delicious, authentic macarons, but also their lunch fare, so when I heard they were opening up on 59th Street, I was pretty psyched to check it out. For those of you who’ve been to the Fashion District Macaron Cafe (on 36th btw 6th+7th) the space is incredibly similar-small and narrow- but luckily for us, the menu is exactly the same price-wise, and they’re being generous with cookie samples.

Once inside, you’re immediately staring at an expensive espresso machine and rows of perfect macarons-waiting for me to eat them. The imported servers (yes, I caught them speaking fluent rapid-fire French) are friendly, willing to fill the sample plate with damaged macarons even if that means the same two people are eating all the samples. Not a thing is different on the menu, right down to the specials. Sadly they had run out of their Monday special by the time I got there at 12:30pm, but I would have been more upset if it had been a Wednesday when the special is fresh crab with mango and avocado. Careful though, it’s also the winner of the highest priced special award (at $9).

Instead I picked up a Siciliano: bressaola, capers, mozzarella, and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil. At $7.75 the sandwich is not exactly cheap, but it’s as long as my forearm, so it’s hard to complain. There could have been more bressaola-let’s be serious, I can never have enough meat-but what I did have was delicious, nicely spiced, but not too salty. They also use some good quality cheese too, fluffy and fresh.

There’s a little back seating area, and one lone two seat table by the door, for those who can take the time to eat there. They’re also serving a breakfast menu that includes food of the gods (aka Nutella crepes.)

Macaron Cafe 625 Madison Ave, (entrance on 59th btw. Park+Madison)

Related:
Macaron Cafe Brings a Bit of Paris to Midtown
Macaron Cafe To Open Second Location

I was pumped to hear that Market, the new takeout place in the Grand Hyatt (on 42nd btw. Park+Lex), will be carrying out-of-bounds sweet stuff, like Macaron Cafe, near Grand Central. But then Lunch’er “hightemp” told us about a new Macaron Cafe that’s moving in on E 59th btw. Madison+Park! A staff member at the original location (on W 36th St btw 7th+Bway) said they hope to open the new location at the beginning of July. With all these recent dessert finds, I may never have to leave Midtown East.

Related:
Macaron Cafe Brings a Bit of Paris to Midtown

The guys who run the Biriyani/Chapati Roll cart on 46th & 6th have filled out the necessary paperwork for their second cart, and should be up and running the first or second week of July. The new cart (which is ready to go) will park at their current spot, and they will send this cart over to either Park Ave. & 46th or down to 43rd & 6th. They’re in the process of “negotiating” with the other vendors in the area now…

Macaron the awesome French bakery/sandwich/salad place on 36th btw. B’way+7th in the Garment District has new salads. Not exactly sure which salads are new, and which ones aren’t- but I’m sure if you are into that stuff, you won’t mind heading over there and seeing it for yourself. I was more interested in the Doughnut Plant doughnuts they are now serving… doughnut, macaron. Marcaron, donut. I’ll take both please.

The closed, but soon to re-open Indian buffet, and piece of chicken after the jump…

West Tandoori Club, an Indian buffet on 37th St. btw. 7+8th closed down recently to do a complete renovation. I think they were the only under $10 all-you-can-eat Indian buffet left within the Midtown Lunch boundaries, but we’ll see if the buffet stays at that price when they re-open. The kitchen is still open for takeout or delivery (212-560-9414), but the actual restaurant won’t be open until at least next week. I’ll keep you up to date…

The just outside Midtown Lunch boundaries, Piece of Chicken (aka the only place to serve fried chicken and waffles in Midtown) on 45th btw. 8+9th has expanded their mostly $1 and $2 menu. They now carry daily specials which include smothered pork chops and ham hocks, plus new menu items like smothered chicken, and chicken in honey sauce.

If you have any bits and/or pieces of news to report, please email them to zach@midtownlunch.com

Every Tuesday is Croque Monsieur day at the Macaron Cafe (36th btw. B’way+7th), the tiny French macaron bakery/sandwich shop in the Garment District.  A classic French version of a hot ham and cheese sandwich, I’ve been hoping for a good Midtown croque since that croque monsieur truck teased us with its presence for one day last January.  If Macaron Cafe’s version is as good as the other sandwiches they serve, I feel pretty confident recommending it for lunch today…

Some French porn, and a link to Nosher’s extensive review, after the jump…

Macaron Cafe has 7 sandwiches on the menu, ranging in price from $5.50 to $6.50, and they are all a pretty amazing deal when you consider the quality of the ingredients.  We opted for the Norvegian (Smoked Salmon, Capers, Lettuce, Lemon Juice, Cream Cheese, Scallion, Persil and Black Pepper Sauce on Pane D’Filone; $6.50)

and the Capri (Goat Cheese, Apple, Raisins, Mustard, Light homemade mayo, and organic honey on a baguette; $5.50)

And of course a few Macarons for dessert, which I have to say, put the Bouchon Bakery macarons to shame (despite their hefty price tag of an understandable $1.75 each).  The one downside, the place is tiny and the only seating is a couch in the back- so you pretty much have to take the food to go, and at peak lunch times they can get pretty backed up.

I ain’t good with the words, so for a comprehensive review of the place, check out Nosher’s write up that was posted this morning…

Macaron Café, 161 West 36th Street (btw. B’way+7th), 646-573-5048.