When Nanoosh opened up a couple months ago, I wasn’t really sure what to think. With the bright colors and san serif font, it looked like all the other new chains popping up around town. Plus, with all that talk about being organic and healthy, it didn’t really call to me the way a various fried chicken spots have, but I still made my way back a couple times. Surprisingly, I found that I actually enjoyed it.

On my first visit, opening day, I had the Hummus Nanoosh platter ($8.75), a swirl of hummus with a pile of beef in the middle mixed with caramelized onions and mushrooms. As I said then, it all looks pretty small at first glance, but the hummus adds plenty of weight that can fill you up easily.

The hazard is that all that hummus can get thick and boring on its own. The chicken in the Hummus Chicken platter ($8.25) doesn’t have the flavor that the beef has and might get dull before you’re done except for the onions and mushrooms which add a sweetness to the meal that breaks things up really well.

Somewhat surprisingly, I think I actually enjoyed the Nanoosh Wrap ($8.75) as much if not more than the platters. The whole wheat shell is really good (despite looking very much like it’s going to taste like cardboard) and the narrow wrap is jammed tight with ground beef all the way through, so you don’t get stuck with a half a wrap with no meat.

My biggest complaint with Nanoosh is that most of their meat fillings are limited to ground beef and chicken, but no lamb. A place like Nanoosh with real actual lamb, instead of gyro meat, could be something really special. Instead, it’s just good in a pinch or when I’m feeling like too much of a fatty.

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

• Much better than you’d expect for an organic, healthy blah blah blah sort of place
• They serve beer, always a plus, even if it’s organic.
• They pack a wrap right, no meatless section at the end.

The – (What people who don’t like this place would say)

• How can you have Mediterranean food with no lamb?
• That much hummus can get to be a little much after a while.

Nanoosh, 173 Madison Avenue (33rd & 34th), 212-447-4348

There have been some conflicting reports in the comments about Nanoosh’s free lunch giveaway today. Some have said that they were told the event is invite-only. I walked by to check it out and was flagged over by a guy working the door. As far as I saw, he was inviting anyone walking by to come in and try some out. When I left, the guy at the door said they’d be serving until 3pm.

The line was long, but went by fairly quickly, considering. Check out some scenery and food shots after the jump.

I had the Hummus Nanoosh platter, which is a swirl of thick, tahini-rich hummus with a small pile of sauteed ground beef, onions and mushrooms in the middle. It all looked pretty small to me, but that hummus is heavier than it looks.

Word is that yesterday afternoon, Nanoosh- the new Mediterranean counter on Madison btw 33+34th- was giving away free lunches to hype up its big opening day tomorrow (Weds).  We’re hearing word from a fairly reputable source that they’ll be back at it this afternoon from noon to 3pm. Not sure exactly what they’re giving away (samples?  complete lunch?) but I got there around 2:30pm yesterday and it was all over, so for hardcore freeloaders we suggest going early.

Not interested in waiting on line for the possibility of free food? If you don’t mind spending a couple bucks, so long as it goes to a good cause, Nanoosh will also be open from 5:30 to 8:30pm tonight serving a main, a side and a (non-alcoholic) drink for $10 to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Related:
Nanoosh Hummus Bar Expanding South

On the way back from lunch yesterday, I came across this in the old AI Friedman space on Madison Avenue between 33rd and 34th. Just down the block from Tina’s Cuban is a sign for a new place called Nanoosh, a “Mediterranean Hummus Counter.” I’ve never heard of such a thing, so I did a little googling. Apparently it’s a chain with locations on the UWS and UES whose schtick appears to be topping pretty much everything (from salads to wraps to entrees) with hummus, tahini or both.  Anybody been to the other two locations?  Should we be excited for this?  Or is it just another in a long line of trendy, brightly colored, well marketed chains popping up in Midtown these days? According to their website they’ll be open in May.

Related:
Zaro’s Bakery to Become French Pasta Chain?
Yummy Yummy Falafel Bar Coming Soon

Fans of the latin food chain Sophie’s Cuban might have noticed something strange about two of their three Midtown locations.  The branches of Sophie’s that were located on 56th btw. 5+6th and on Madison btw. 33+34th, are now called Tina’s Restaurant.  Both storefronts still have the same menu, and what appears to be the same food… only now they are called Tina’s instead of Sophie’s.

According to a Sophie’s rep:

“Sophie’s has been a family operated business for over ten years in Manhattan. There arose a difference of opinion about how to operate the business among the family members operating Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine restaurants. Sophie’s management believes that outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value to our guests are the most important elements of our business. Tina’s is no longer associated with Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine.”

Based on that quote, you would think the issue was one of standards, but according to one of the employees at Tina’s it had more to do with franchising fees, and the fact that the members of the family who own the two Tina’s locations just didn’t want to pay them.  The owner of Tina’s didn’t return my calls.

Still, Sophie’s soldiers on with their franchising.  Finally, some news on the 40th St. location- plus a new food court location, after the jump…

The Sophie’s website has finally been updated to say that the location on 40th St. btw. 7+8th (which has been under construction for a year) will open on March 1st, but like all Midtown dates, it’s tentative.  Either way, the grand opening will be a free food day, just like the grand opening of the 56th St. location.  Their rep also told me, in addition to the new 23rd St. location, and new downtown Fulton St. location, there will also be a food court location added sometime soon on 3rd Ave. in Midtown- although he wouldn’t disclose which food court.  (My money is on this one.  Update:  According to a commenter there is some action in the Pampano Taqueria food court on 3rd Ave., so it may be that one as well…)

The interesting thing about the Sophie’s “family” is that they are originally from Peru.  They started serving Cuban food at their business because they thought it would be more popular.  At this point, with so much Cuban food in Midtown, I think we’re ready for some Peruvian food!  Are you listening Tina???

Tina’s Restaurant, 179 Madison Ave. (btw. 33+34th), 212-679-3500

Tina’s Restaurant, 23 w. 56th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-315-4313

An inside shot of the Lexington location. You have two dining options at Sophie’s.  You can sit at a table and order from a waitress (on the left), or get in the cafeteria style line and order directly from the steam tables.  If you get in the line, you have to take your food to go.  This is especially confusing at the 56th St. location, where the tables are in the very back of the restaurant.  If you want to sit and eat, you must bypass the crowds at the steamtable, and head directly to the back to order from the waitresses.  The menu and prices are the same when you sit and order (but you do have to tip, making it a little more expensive.)

The back of the 56th St. location.

Two plates of food fixing to go out, at the 56th St. location.

More food porn, after the jump…

My first meal ever at Sophie’s… pernil (roast pork) with moros and maduros.  Moros is the term for rice and beans already mixed together.  At Sophie’s, for $8 you get a choice of one entree, and two sides.  Unfortunately, rice and beans count as two seperate sides, so if you want rice, beans and plantains (my idea of the perfect combo)- you have to order the moros, which only count as one side, but are a little drier than rice with fresh beans.  The other negative… Sophie’s moros is made with pinto beans, so if you like black beans, you can only get them as a seperate side.  Maduros are the sweet fried plantains that I consider essential to any proper Cuban meal.  Platanos Tostones are made from the same fruit, but cut, smashed and fried before they ripen, so they are more mealy, and usually not sweet at all.  Sophie’s has both options. 

Baked chicken with rice and black beans (as the two sides).  Definitely not going to be dry…

Pescado Frito (or fried fish).  Sophie’s entrees rotate depending on the day of the week, but fried fish is one of the options they have every single day.

Various grilled meats covered in onions.  A staple of Cuban food.  At Sohpie’s they’ve got chicken, steak, and pork chops.  The chicken is much better than I expected, and a perfect option for the Cuban food beginner who might be scared off by the stewed meats (like Ropa Vieja, goat or oxtails).

The oxtails.  Don’t be scared!  Oxtails are delicious… and a Cuban specialty that is worthy of charging (and paying) an extra $2.  It is one of two items on the menu they charge you more for (the Shrimp in garlic sauce is the other).  Only available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, oxtails are exactly what they sound like-  the tail of a cow.  If you’ve never had them, you’re probably imagining a long tail served on a plate, but it’s a little less gross than that.  The tail is cut into chunks so you have a little bone surrounded by a layer of meat.  The pieces are then fried, and stewed until the meat is fall off the bone tender.  You may say the secret ingredient is fat… which ends up coming out of the meat (and bones) and flavoring the sauce.  Delicious!  And a must have at least once in your life…

The cuban sandwich.  Now this is something anybody could be down with.  Don’t like rice, beans, plantains and weird stewed meats…  order the cuban.  Who doesn’t like sandwiches!  A standard cuban is sliced ham, sliced pork, cheese, pickles and mustard served on a cuban roll (sort of like french bread) and pressed flat in a sandwich machine… and Sophie’s version is awesome.  A highlight of the menu, and made in the proper Cuban Style (no salami, like the Margon version).

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

• Great cuban food, for decent prices
• Huge selection
• Amazing cuban sandwich
• It’s a chain, so it’s pretty clean (especially compared to places like Margon, La Strada & Cafe Cello).  There are plenty of Latin places to eat in Midtown, but if “clean” chains give you comfort, Sophie’s is going to be your favorite of the bunch.

THE – (what people who don’t like this place would say)

• It’s a chain… so it doesn’t have that “feel like I’m eating in Miami” feel of Margon
• The morros is made with pinto beans… so if you want rice, black beans AND plantains you are going to have to suck it up and get moros, or pay extra.
• They don’t give you a ton of plantains when you order them as one of your two side dishes (last time, I only got three)
• The ordering line at the 56th St. location is very hectic, creating an “every person for themselves” type of environment.  Not a very well designed location, and pretty confusing.
• If you want to eat in, you have to tip the waitress, making the meal slightly above the Midtown Lunch budget.  If you go through the cafeteria line, you have to take your food to go.

Sohpie’s Cuban (multiples locations)

• 369 Lexington Ave. (btw. 40+41st), 212-922-3576

• 240 West 40th Street (btw 7+8th), 212-730-9200 link

• 805 Third Ave (btw. 49+50) in the Lower Level Food Court, 212-308-1024 link

There’s also three downtown locations for the few people who read this blog downtown

• 96 Chambers. (nr. Church), 212-608-9900

• 141 Fulton Street, 212-608-6769

• 73 New St., 212-809-7755

Also, since this piece was written, these two locations have become “Tina’s Restaurant”:

• 23 w. 56th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-315-4313
• 179 Madison Ave. (btw. 33+34th), 212-679-3500