Normally they give away free topping coupons the day after Hideki Matsui hits a homerun, but why should we be punished because it is the Yankees’ offseason?  Problem solved.  Today is free topping coupon day at Go Go Curry on 38th St. btw. 7+8th. 

The new House of Pita on 8th Ave. btw. 39+40th finally replaced the Mandler’s Sausage sign.  They smartly decided to keep the H.O.P. name, and only add the “Chicken Bar” part to the sign underneath.  I guess they “discovered” that Chicken Bar already exists.

Kashmir Express, the Indian take out place on 8th Ave. btw. 38+39th, has converted to a by the pound buffet.  Looked pretty good, although having to pay for my lunch by the amount it weighs is always a scary proposition.  The $4.99 price tag is not bad, but Indian food can get heavy!  And it forces you to break the #1 rule of eating at buffets by the pound… go easy on the rice and bread.

A shot of the buffet, plus Piece of Chicken’s shocking new menu changes, after the jump…

The New Inside of Kashmir Express

Not into the by the lb. buffets?  There is always the $9.95 Kashmir all you can eat buffet, in the proper restaurant next door (down the stairs).

Saw this sad sign hanging in “Out of Bounds”, Midtown Lunch favorite “Piece of Chicken” on 45th btw. 8+9th. 

“Due to the price increase of milk, eggs, cheese and butter, we have to raise the price of Macaroni & Cheese to $3.00.  Sorry.” 

Sorry indeed.  The chicken and waffles is now $3 as well (although that seems a little more worth it.  I mean you’re getting a piece of fried chicken AND a waffle.  Is there anything better?)  They make up for it a little by adding a whole bunch of new $2 options, including Bread Pudding, Spicy Jezebel Herbed Tea (from the original restaurant whose kitchen they now occupy), honey chicken, smothered chicken and Jamaican jerk chicken.  And of course each piece of fried chicken is still a buck.  They also have an entrance now, so you don’t have to wait in line in the freezing cold for your food to be put together.

Got any bits and pieces of your own?  Email them to zach@midtownlunch.com

8th Ave., just below Port Authority has claimed another of my favorite Midtown Lunches.  First it was Ressie May’s Soul Food to Go back in June, now Mandler’s Sausage Co.  I passed by today, and confirmed that the Mandler’s Midtown Location is in fact closed and the phone has been disconnected.  Hopefully the Golden Krust opening soon next door will do a little better.  The Union Sq. Mandler’s is still open.  Anybody up for a Corn Fritter run on the NR Train tomorrow?

Thanks to Tipster Jed for the info, and as always if you have any tips, news or recommendations email them to zach@midtownlunch.com

And now… for the first time ever- I present a Midtown Lunch +/- in pictures.  Who needs my terrible prose, when you can just see the food for yourself!

THE + (what people who like Mandler’s would say about it)

(+)The selection.  With 11 different kinds of sausages, 12 different toppings, schnitzel, crepes, breakfast and more- there is something for everyone.  There’s also a Kosher sausage, a turkey sausage and a veggie sausage for people with dietary restrictions.

(+)The Mustard Bar.  If you are a fan of the dipping sauce (and quite frankly, who isn’t), then Mandler’s may be your favorite place in Midtown.  A whopping 6 different mustards (plus ketchup and mayo), and it’s self serve- so you don’t have to be embarassed asking the cashier for 17 sauces.  Horseradish, Vermont Maple, Roasted Garlic Dijon, Amber Ale Honey, Three Peppercorn Dijon & Smokey Garlic Dijon.

(+) The combo meals (and side dishes that come with them).  There’s something very comforting about a combo meal.  Even if it only saves you 50 cents (or zero cents, like at some places), I like it when places offer an option that *forces* you to eat more.  And the best part about Mandler’s is the side dishes that comes with the combo meals.  It makes it easier to forgive the $9 price tag when you are getting these sides!  With your choice of sausage, you can get regular fries (seen above)… or delicious zucchini fries! (seen below)

You can also get your sausage with a cheese, zucchini or potato pancake (seen below)

Or the greatest side dish of all time…. after the jump

(+) THE CORN FRITTERS!!! Say whatever bad things you want about Mandler’s, but the corn fritters can do no wrong (except you’ll wish there were more).  Crunchy on the outside, creamy on the inside- the corn fries/corn fritters (whatever you want to call them) are possibly the greatest invention known to man.  Hopefully I haven’t built them up too much.  Anyway, there are other places to get sausage in Midtown- but the sides orders are what makes Mandler’s stand out from the pack.

Mandler’s is far from perfect.  And there will be people who are not so into it… so that’s why we have:

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

(-) The price (and size of menu).  It can get a little pricey, and the menu is gigantic so it can be a little overwhelming.  You need a gameplan.  Without a plan, you could easily end up spending $12-$14, so check the menu before you go.

(-)  It’s no Hallo Berlin.  Anytime you talk about sausage in Midtown, you’re going to draw comparisons to Hallo Berlin, hands down the best sausage in Midtown (and arguably in all of Manhattan).  When it comes to just pure German sausage, Hallo Berlin wins in spades- and if that’s what you are looking for, than Mandler’s is not for you.  Mandler’s sausages are decent, but not the draw of the place.  Side dishes, and a place to sit are what you get at Mandler’s.  (In other words, no Zucchini & Corn Fries at Hallo Berlin!)

Mandler’s Sausage Co., 601 8th Ave. (btw. 39+40th), 212-244-4777

Last Friday, I reported that the opening of the new Mandler’s Sausage Co. in Midtown (8th Ave. btw. 39+40th) was going to be dealyed a week.  I was asked to take it down, and various NY blogs were assured by their PR company that they would open this past Monday as planned.  Well, not only did they not open, they are not opening today or even Monday the 26th as I had originally reported.

Now, due to a problem with ConEd the opening date has been pushed back even farther.  They are targeting April 5th, but I will keep you updated in case anything changes (which I’m sure it will).  Why do I care so much?  What’s the fuss, you ask?  Sausages with Zucchini Fries.  What more could you want in life (for lunch)?  Sausage Watch 2007 is on! (Everytime I write about this place it comes out sounding weird…) 

Fancy assed boxed lunch, Inside Edition comes to Times Square, and a preview of next week’s posts- after the jump…

MIDTOWN LINKS (Wandering) Eater Edition

• Le Cirque now serving Boxed Lunches [Eater]
• Inside Edition finds mice in Times Square Restaurants [Eater]
• Korean food  & Bouchon Bakery [Wandering Eater]
• I-Chin & Allegria both closing [Eater]
• Grasshopper found in sandwich at Mangia??? [Eater]

Next week… a fried calamari sandwich that’s only available on Tuesdays, and more Bi Bim Bap!  Have a nice weekend…

So I want to clear up any confusion among those of you who might have seen the Mandler’s posting on Thursday afternoon.  Around 3pm I received this email:

From: “Gil Mandler”
To: “Zach Brooks” zach@midtownlunch.com
Subject: RE: Mandlers.com Contact
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:53:33 -0700

Hi Zach,

I’m glad you emailed me; we’ve actually had some minor set backs so we are pushing the opening back one week. I’ll let you know if something new arises.

Thanks,
Gil

… and posted this on the blog: 

I reported last Friday that Mandler’s is opening a Midtown branch on 9th Ave. btw. 39th & 40th.  They were trying to be ready for this Monday the 19th, but it doesn’t look like it is going to happen.  As of right now, the opening has been pushed back one week to Monday, March 26th. 

That means 11 more days before sausage, zucchini fries, corn fritters, potato pancakes, and a serve yourself mustard bar in Midtown.  Check out the menu for yourself and get excited.  There goes my plans for Monday!   If anything changes, I’ll let you know…

Well apparently things have indeed changed! There was leakage in the basement that threatened to push the Mandler’s opening to the 23rd.  Shortly after the post went up, they seemed to have found a solution to the problem, and fully intend on opening this Monday (“barring any new surprises”). 

All this toying with my emotions is just wrong.  C’mon people- I’m just a fat man who wants to eat sausage.  Wait- that doesn’t sound right…  let me re-phrase that.  I’m just a fat man who wants to eat corn fritters & zucchini fries (with a sausage).  Mildly better.

Anyway, the short of it is.  Mandler’s.  Midtown.  Opening this Monday.  (Hopefully.)  If it does, I will be there!

UPDATE: Monday, March 19th.  Mandler’s is NOT open yet.  When it opens, I will let you know.