Like most of the readers of Midtown Lunch, I try to shun the generic New York Deli in favor of more eclectic fare. And yet, like most of you, I still often find myself at the local generic delis picking up something quick and easy to bring back to eat at the desk.

About a year ago, a “new” (are any of them really offering anything new?) generic deli opened on 57th street between 3rd and Lexington called Picnic. They offered the usual selections of sandwiches, sushi, steamed lunches, and soups. A few months ago they added a generic, though large selection, of make your own salads. I have sampled a lot of what they have to offer in the last year. From the Sandwich Area, I have had the Philly Cheese Steaks, with fries, for 7.95 which were worth the money but nothing to go up in arms about it. Their “Bahn Mi”, while a tasty sandwich, isn’t really a Banh Mi at all, lacking Pate, radishes, spiciness and some of the other accoutrements. The Shrimp BLT, with Bacon and Avocado is great, but again, worthy of a Midtown Lunch shout out? Nope. All the sandwiches are good, packed with fillings, tasty selections and reasonably priced. There are intriguing selections and quasi-unusual choices. They are all a step above Toasty’s and Fresh, the equivalent local competitors, but nothing is at the “WOW!” level.

If the selections were to get a B- to B+ rating, the steam table would be a B+ to an A.

I have sampled even more from there, and I have rarely been anything but happy. For $9.75, after taxes, you get 2 sides and a protein. If you have the fish, and they usually have 3-4 offerings of Salmon cooked different ways, you add an extra $1.50 which puts you outside the ML price range. The same is true for some of the sides, such as the Avocado and Heart of Palm Salad which also will run you $1.50 over. Proteins, which I can recommend, include the ¼ roast chicken, different days have different flavors, such as Jerk or Pesto, the stir-fry beef, chicken breast stuffed with ham and asparagus, fresh roasted turkey, marinated skirt steak and others. Often the way each is prepared will change, with no rhyme or reason.

IMNSHO, The sides often beat the protein selections. Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon bits, fresh salads like Greek salad, general Mediterranean, and a mozzarella, basil, and cherry tomato that is awesome. Others included Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, Couscous (all different types), Quinoa, Spanish rice and more. The servings are generous without being overwhelming. The selection changes constantly. I know I sound like a shill, but for a generic deli, they more then rise to the occasion.

But I decided to write this little thing though, for one reason. One of the main dishes is simple yet amazingly satisfying, absolutely delicious and well worth the money. The grilled Turkey Meatball needs its praises sung.

The size of a softball, served with a side of grilled onions, it would be a decent meal by itself. When you add 2 sides, it is a very filling and delicious repast. The other day I added Roasted Cauliflower and Mediterranean salad, and all I needed after was a nap. The meatball is very dense, and packed with little bits of chopped onion. The flavor is closer to a turkey burger then an Italian meatball but that doesn’t detract from the overall experience. I cut it into pieces; put a smidgen of onions on top, and each forkful is a bite of vaguely healthy heaven. It isn’t greasy or fatty, just a solid bite of ground turkey.

When I had the Meatball last week, the cashier remarked to the other cashier, “Wow, that is the 8th Turkey Meatball in a row I just rang up!” So, I guess my secret is out, and I felt it might be the time to share it with my fellow Mid-Town lunchers. So, if you haven’t had your fill of Turkey at Thanksgiving, I cannot suggest this selection, or Picnic itself, enough.

Picnic on 57th, 151 E. 57th St. (btw Lex+3rd), 212-751-0900

Got this email from Lunch’er Nicholas last week:

A while back you made a very brief mention of just a out of bounds “Picnic on 57th” (57th just east of Lexington). Well it opened on Monday and I tried it out today. The place looked like a generic Deli walking in but i was hungry and running out of time on my lunch hour so i settled on their “Boneless Wild Berry BBQ Rib Hero” (that’s how it was written on their chalk board…no description otherwise….yes it was a gamble). Well… imagine my face as the sandwich guy (who had clearly never made the sandwich before) began assembling the baguette with (mostly) boneless BBQ riblets (shortrib i think), then roasted corn, grilled onions and finally french fries. He even had to incredulously ask the other sandwich guy if it really meant french fries! It was $8.50 before tax. I’ve attached a cell-phone photo for you…

I admit its not the best quality photo. Overall I probably wouldn’t recommend the sandwich unless you like your BBQ on the sweet side. I also would have liked everything to be warmer (which may be something they will work out over time but they’d probably heat it up for you if you asked).

There are a few things on the menu I think you might find interesting for your northeasterly readers…. Bahn Mi (“Pork, Pate, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber, jalapeno and cilantro on a warm baguette…7.50″) and … on their Grill Menu… the Reuben Dog (“Hebrew national Frank, Corned Beef, Sauerkraut, Melted Gruyere & Spicy Mustard … $4.50 fries not included)

I’ll give them a try again in a week or so to see if any of the kinks have been worked out (if only to try that Reuben Dog). I appreciate that they are trying to do something different in an area where so much is the same old same old.

Unable to resist banh mi in any form, I headed over at the end of last week to check the place out and discovered what looked to me like a completely generic Midtown deli.

I asked the guy behind the counter what’s in the banh mi.  He said pork, and pointed to some pickled carrots in the assembly station.  I asked what about pate?  He looked at me like I was crazy and said “no”.  I walked out.

Could be opening jitters, and that BBQ thing with french fries looks interesting.  But to me it seemed like just another crappy deli.  What do you guys think?  Anybody been to Picnic on 57th yet that has anything good to report?

Picnic on 57th btw. Lex+3rd