Midtown Lunch

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” posts about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap. This week she visits Xie Xie, the great new Angelo Sosa owned sandwich shop on 9th Ave.

Zach did a full review of Xie Xie when it first opened, but it was only recently that they added a happy hour special to their menu. For $5 dollars, from 3 to 7pm, you get a bottle of “33” Export Vietnamese beer with a choice of one bun: Shredded Braised Chicken, BBQ Beef, or Sweet Glazed Pork. I’ve wanted to check out Xie and this was the perfect opportunity to try the food without having to committing to ordering a full sandwich. Plus it’s right next to Rudy’s, our favorite dive bar, so if one hot bun doesn’t do it for you, you can always wrap your lips around a free wiener later.

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Our Happy Hour Correspondent Mamacita is sick this week, but this should completely make up for the lack of a boozy potato skin laden review… the International Food House & Buffet (on 35th btw. 7+8th) has started to do a Happy Hour all you can eat buffet for $5.95 PLUS all drinks are only $5.  I’m pretty sure they have a full bar, so this is looking like a pretty sweet place to head after work.  It goes from 5-7pm, and kind of makes up for the fact that now the buffet is by the pound during lunchtime! (They used to be all you can eat, all the time.) Enjoy!

Related:
Economy Claims Another All You Can Eat Buffet
All You Can Eat Meat at the International Food House Restaurant & Buffet

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

In honor of the alignment of the nines on 9/09/09, Bar 9 along with Magic Hat brewery threw a party this past Wednesday to celebrate the rare and momentous occasion. I was on hand as judge for their annual salsa competition and representatives from Magic Hat promoted their #9 beer with free swag and a raffle. Turns out B9 also hosts a free cheese tasting on all Wednesdays sponsored by Kashkaval, but by 6:30pm, when I arrived, it was gone, baby, gone (damn!).

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Our Happy Hour correspondent Mamacita is taking today off, but was kind enough to forward this along before starting her Labor Day Weekend festivities: “Rick’s the strip club has a happy hour now that $8 for drinks till 8pm. Pricey, but it’s a strip club and drinks tend to be expensive anyways. They have a website coupon for free admission too so basically you get free nudie girls with a drink. Thought the boys of ML want to know this.”

Related:
Strip Club Lunch: Getting Crabs and Strip Steak at Rick’s Cabaret

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

Naples 45 has long been on the ML radar because of their $2.50 (previously $1.50) take out slices after 2pm until closing. In fact, I think Zach was still working for ‘the man’ back when he wrote about them. How’s that for a flashback! Well, I’m a woman of slender means so when commenters mentioned that they offer free pizza during happy hour I headed over to check out the deal.

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If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

I always wanted to go to Bellevue Bar (on 9th btw. 39+40th), but sadly I waited too long and never got to try their $1 sandwiches and cheap beer. However, just like Siberia (its former neighbor) made a comeback as “Manhattans” in Brooklyn, Bellevue Bar has found new life. Kal Narvilas, the owner of Kabin bar on the LES has partnered with ace bartender Michelle Gascoine (from Kabin and Hogs and Heifers to name a few) to revive the old space as Blue Ruin (which is slang for gin.)

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If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

Rodeo Bar is pretty far outside the ML boundaries (3rd Ave. btw. 26+27th) but when I heard they had free nachos and chicken at happy hour, I knew it was going to be worth the trek. Plus, due to the recession they have extended their happy hour to 9pm! That means that those of us who work in Midtown proper can make it down there and revel in their drink specials, even if we get off work late. Included in the deal are $4 drafts, $7 strawberry or lime margaritas (frozen or on the rocks), daily shot specials and a whiskey shot with a PBR back for $7. The frozen margaritas come out of a big slushy machine —that’s how popular they are, and you can order your drink mixed with half strawberry, half lime.

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If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap. This week she hits up my favorite bar in Hell’s Kitchen and discovers my major happy hour weakness: Nudie Photo Hunt!

The Gaf on W. 48th is the Hell’s Kitchen branch of the popular bar on the UES. It is a local’s bar with enough room to bring the whole office yet casual enough that you don’t feel like you’re in a touristy sports bar. If you live or work in the area, this is your comfortable standby. I was tipped off on this place by commenter Wayne who had these words to share, “The Gaf is one of the few Irish bars in midtown that features a facade that is wide open to the outside…. so you can scope the scene for hotties and enjoy the fresh air too.” I have to agree; I’m also on a summer kick of going to bars that offer fresh air and views of the nightlife.

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If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

A piece of advice: If you plan on a happy hour excursion to Bar Nine do so when the weather is nice. We did and found a very pleasant open storefront cradled by second hand couches that was perfect for al fresco boozing or perhaps while reading a book and enjoying a bite to eat, much like you’d expect at a café.

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