Midtown Lunch

Photo by Food in Mouth

One question has always plagued me (and no doubt many other hamburger lovers who work in Midtown):  Can you make it down to Shake Shack and back in 60 minutes from Midtown during lunch.  The short answer is no.  The longer answer is no… definitely no.  Sure there are going to be those few miraculous exceptions, but for the most part- if you want to eat at the Shake Shack in Madison Square Park during a time that would acceptable for lunch’ing, the wait on line is too long to make it down there and back to your desk in Midtown proper.

But what about the new Shake Shack?  That’s right… the Shack has expanded, opening their long awaited Upper West Side branch this past weekend on Columbus Ave. btw. 77+78th Street… a five minute walk from the 79th Street 1 station, and the 81st B/C station.  My hunch is, with fewer large office buildings on the UWS, and the Shake Shack’s new technology (which will surely decrease wait times for your food) this could be do-able for the Midtown Lunch’ers whose offices are close to the 1, B or C lines. 

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Photo courtesy of the Hungry Commuter

A lot of action lately on 53rd Street btw. 2+3rd Avenue, a small “out of bounds” block that I’ve covered a little bit in the past. Spoons, the tiny Korean/American take out deli closed up awhile back, and a second location of the East Village’s Brick Lane Curry house has opened in its place. The Hungry Commuter gets the first taste and reports that “the phaal isn’t as hot as the original. But give them some time. They just opened…” I’ve never been to the original Brick Lane Curry House in the East Village, which nobody will argue serves some of the hottest curry in NYC. Whether or not it actually tastes good, is a whole different argument.

But wait. There’s more…

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Oh, what a glorious day! A new cart has arrived, and is serving the most authentic Mexican food I have seen in Midtown. Pampano Taqueria… be afraid.  Be very afraid. This place does not serve small, over priced tacos, on a single, fancy pants tortilla.  Their tacos cost $2 (the way it should be) and come on *two* corn tortillas, warmed up properly on the griddle.  The two sombrero carts– you should be afraid as well.  I don’t even think this cart knows what nacho cheese is.  Every item on their menu comes topped with queso blanco- the real deal Mexican cheese. Tamale lady in front of the Mexican Embassy–  you don’t have to worry about anything.  Your tamales are cheap, authentic, and delicious.  Nobody will ever replace you.

But everyone else!  Commence your shivering.  The Mexican food savior we have all been waiting for has finally arrived.   Read more »

A Lunch’er alerted me yesterday to the news that 99 Miles to Philly is opening a new location today on 52nd and Second.  (Though he failed to mention that it’s replacing Zip Burger, which had been closed for rennovations.)  2nd Ave. is out of bounds for most Midtown Lunch’ers, but philly cheese steak fans on the east side should be prety excited hear this news. I’m sure for many of you, it will be worth the extra walk- especially for those who consider it better than Carl’s.  It opens at 11:30 today, so Early adopters, let us know how it is. Update: Confirmed Open.

If the new location of Lazzara’s Pizza wasn’t enough “slightly out of bounds” pizza news for you, Slice has recommended Pizza Suprema (on 8th Avenue and 31st Street) as one of the best places to order pizza delivery in Midtown. Normally 32nd Street is the cut off for ML purposes, but I think we can go the extra block for an Adam Kuban recommendation.

Midtown Lunch favorite Lazzara’s Pizza (on 38th btw. 6+7th) opened the doors to their second location today. The tiny new location is take out and delivery only, and just out of the Midtown Lunch boundaries (on 9th Ave. btw. 43+44th) but all the food is the same. As of now, it’s much less hectic than the original- but that could definitely change as time goes on. And, even though it’s not on the menu- they do sell single slices. (In fact, I found out today that they’ll sell you a single slice of cheese at the original location as well. They just don’t like to publicize it.) A single slice ends up being $2.40.

Interior shots, and why (a few of) you might care after the jump…  Read more »

The second location of Lazzara’s pizza is starting to come together nicely, and they are hoping to open the second week of September (maybe the 12th, 13th or 14th.) While the new location is slightly out of bounds (9th Ave. btw. 43+44th), it will hopefully ease the burden on the original Midtown Lunch location (on 38th btw. 7+8th.)

The new location will be take out only. Check out a photo of the inside (if that is your thing) after the jump…   Read more »

I know I’ve mentioned it before, and it’s way out of bounds (47th btw. 10+11th) but if you really love bread, Sullivan St. Bakery makes the best in New York City. They also have great (albiet slightly expensive for the size) sandwiches, and I just wrote about their latest creation-the panino de tortilla espanola-on Serious Eats: New York.

Thanks to Lunch’er Mike for pointing out this deal.  Burger. Fries. Beer.  $10 at the House of Brews on the SW corner of 51st & 8th Ave.

“With tax and tip, it slightly breaks the ML price cap, but the burger was pretty big and delicious, and the beer was Checker Cab Blond Ale, which is at the very least better than Bud Light.  They sneakily charged another $1.50 for cheese, but it’s still a damn good deal, and they have pepper jack.” 

It’s about 5 feet outside Midtown Lunch range (on 51st just west of 8th), and sit down lunches at pubs aren’t really my thing, but if a place is willing to throw in a beer with lunch, and keep the price at $10, they deserve a mention.  House of Brews has a second location on 46th between 8+9th (but closer to 9th).

Are there any other deals like this?  Feel free to comment below…