Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week’s lunch’er was actually nominated by a co-worker, who had this to say: “Her navigation of the midtown lunch terrain is that of a seasoned veteran, and her knowledge of the area’s best soups is her secret weapon… Although she somehow gets her work done, every time I look over at her screen she’s on Midtown Lunch or Menupages.com.  I’ve never seen anyone get so excited about planning what she will be having for lunch at 8:30 am.  Sounds like a good candidate to me.” Sounds like it to me too.  Meet Grace, a soup obsessed PR exec with no shortage of recommendations for lunchtime…

Name: Grace

Age: 25

Occupation: Public Relations Executive

Where in Midtown do you Work?:43rd and Broadway (Talk about a food wasteland and tourist trap!)

Favorite Kind of Food: Soup! Hot and hearty goodness when done right!

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Generic Midtown Deli Sandwiches. Also anything with a weird chewy texture (e.g. overcooked calamari = rubber bands).

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Well, within the “Midtown Lunch price range” I’d say:

• Green Symphony (43rd btw. 7+8th) — When I am feeling somewhat healthy, their hot buffet is delicious and usually includes an Indian-style curried veggie stew that I am obsessed with…spicy stewy goodness … mmmmm. Unless you are a total glutton like me and eat huge quantities, it’s also relatively non-food-coma-inducing, since the multi-ethnic buffet features lightened-up versions of heartier dishes like enchiladas, Korean BBQed Chicken, and various Indian dishes along with all different types of salads on the cold side. I also like their made-to order “Health Salad,” which probably isn’t really healthy at all since it includes practically an entire avocado—which is just butter masquerading as a vegetable if you ask me—but oh so good. This salad also includes hummus, sprouts, greens, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and raisins. I top it all off with Green’s lemon-tahini dressing.
• Cho-Dang Gol (35th btw. 5+6th) — Hidden slightly off the main Koreatown strip, this place is known for their handmade tofu, which comes in several different textures from silky to firm but airy. It’s my favorite place in K-town because it features dishes beyond the standard bulgolgi and bibimbap.  Also, it actually just received a Michelin Star (for those that assign merit to this French import rating system — I personally think it’s not bad and am impressed that they are able to appreciate off the beaten path restaurants as much as a Daniel or a Per Se.). It’s a total steal because their lunch prices mean that many dishes are less than $10 and they have the best, most interesting panchan (free side dishes) in K-town. I would recommend their tofu pancakes with ground pork and chopped kimchee as an appetizer if you go with a group. Individual stew/casseroles that I like include: the “Hae Mul Cham Doo Boo” (hand made tofu casserole mixed with various seafood) and “Doo Boo Darn Jang Jigae” (hand made tofu with squash, potato, green pepper in soybean pasta stew) — both only $7.95 at lunch. If you go with a group and want to stay within the Midtown Lunch price range, it is worth sharing the “Cho Dang Gol Son Doo Boo Jun Gol” (3 different types of handmade tofu w/ potato, mushroom & squash in spicy broth with beef) $33.95 but enough for 3-4. Also good to share for two people is the “Buh Sut Gob Dol” (Different types of mushrooms topped on steamed rice in hot stone bowl with beef, crabmeat and vegetables)–$14.95. They also have a winter chicken casserole with what looks like whole cut of pieces of chicken that is a special sometimes, which I haven’t tried yet but looks amazing. If anyone gets to it before I do, please report back!
• Jean Georges (60th & Central Park W)— It’s outside the price range, but worth mentioning. Their two-course $28 lunch is a steal compared to dinner here or at any other comparable establishments and many of the signature dinner items appear on the lunch menu, e.g. the jalepeno braised short ribs. I also like their cheese cart because they will actually have cheeses on it that I haven’t tried. (I eat a lot of cheese and find most NYC restaurant cheese selections tasty but very predictable.)

And now… in the interest of space- I must, for the first time ever, place the jump in the middle of a lunch’ers Profile.  Grace’s secret, hidden soup spot, the best cheese in the city and more after the jump… 

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Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week, it’s David, a Photo Retoucher who has got a good number of recs for those of you south of Bryant Park.

Name: David

Age: 28

Occupation: Commercial Photo Retoucher

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Ever exciting midtown south…

Favorite Kind of Food: At the moment I’m really excited by Korean whether its noodle soup, dumplings, bi bim bop, or BBQ. There’s nothing like those savory, spicy, flavors once the cold weather hits. I have to admit though I’m pretty much a sucker for anything spicy that comes with chopsticks.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: EGGPLANT. A couple years back I got the chinese chicken and eggplant at Pow Wok (7th Ave. btw. 36+37th) and just got hit in a BAAAD way. The experience has ruined it for me (and much less tragically Pow Wok as well), although if its breaded, fried, and covered with cheese and tomato sauce I’ll use my powers of self-trickery and still eat it.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Mandoo Ramen Soup at Mandoo (32nd St), Katsu Curry at Go Go Curry (38th St btw. 7+8th– only a block away from the office woot!), and finally any number of things at Soul Fixin’s — meatloaf, fried chicken, stewed okra, mac n cheese, cornbread etc. (34th st @ 9th Ave)

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: My coworkers tend to hit up a lot of chain places which I generally try to avoid, although I will hit Pax for breakfast every now and again. But this isn’t Midtown breakfeast so… I guess I’d have to say the chicken parm hero at La Bellezza Pizza (40th st @ 7th ave) or the spicy beef soba soup at New Star Cafe (7th btw. 39+40th)

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: I was finally convinced to walk into the 38th St Restaurant and bakery after reading about it on this site. But when I walked by a week or so ago, the windows had been covered in newspaper. What gives? Health violations, renovations due to the enhanced business from this blogs review, discovery of an illegal immigration ring in the basement… One can only theorize.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? This is one of those impossible questions because I think eventually I’d get bored anywhere. How about the kitchen at Le Bernardin?

Well David, you’ll be happy to know that the 38th St. Restaurant and Bakery has been rechristened Ying Du, and re-opened with a brand new sign, and a cleaner, brighter, nicer interior.

The interior, complete with new tables, and fancy lighting fixtures, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown.  I’m pretty excited about this weeks lunch’er.  Meet James Oliver Cury, the Executive Editor of Epicurious.com– a sushi lover who isn’t above eating at Cafe Manhattan (when he’s not supping at the Conde Nast Cafeteria).

Name: James Oliver Cury

Age: 40

Occupation: Executive Editor of Epicurious.com

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Condenet, Manhattan

Favorite Kind of Food: My wife’s Polish chicken matzo ball soup

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Cottage cheese (I don’t like the look or sound of it)

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Whatever the chef recommends at Sushi Yasuda—usually including a comparison of two types of the same fish (tuna, yellowtail, etc.)

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Café Manhattan (on 45th btw. 5+6th) is just down the block and has enough diversity to keep me interested (salad bar, sushi, pizza, prepared entrees, sandwiches) and enough turnover (massive crowds) to convince me that everything’s fresh. I always prepare a salad with Brussels Sprouts, caramelized cauliflower, tomatoes, olives, string beans, and some protein (salmon, chicken, beef). I take friends and colleagues (writers mostly) to The Conde Nast Cafeteria because it’s nearby and it’s cool inside—like being inside some sci-fi movie set. Selection isn’t bad, but it’s not as good as at the new Hearst Building where my wife works. I never see anyone famous so I must be going at the wrong time.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: $10 lunch at Utsav. I’d only been here for giant banquets in the past and always ate too much. Now I don’t have to consume three apps, four entrees and five sides in one meal. The samosas are delicious.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Prince and Mott would allow me to be near some terrific quick-and-cheap spots like Café Habana, Cafe Gitane, Rice, Ruby’s, Ray’s Pizza (the original original), Bread, Soho Park, and Caffe Falai.

Cafe Mahattan seems to be a favorite go-to for many Midtown Lunch’ers.  I’ve never eaten there, but I’ve walked in and out many times- and contemplated getting the stuffed focaccia back by the pizza station, which came highly recommended.  I also am really into caramelized cauliflower right now, so that sounds pretty good too.

My favorite cauliflower in New York City, after the jump…

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Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Carolyn, an Accountant who, in her own words, is “ready to be thrown to the wolves.”  I think she’s talking about you people…

Name: Caroyln

Age: 31

Occupation: Mind-numbing finance/accounting

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 51st & 5th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Anything fried with sauce and cheese, and Mexican food

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Curry anything

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Right now, it’s Cafe Cello (on 46th btw. 5+6th)- yellow rice and beans with roast pork. It’s sleep inducing but really good.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Bistro NYC on 51st bet. Madison and Park (by Just Salad). It’s a generic deli but the food is decent.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Cafe Cello, Goodburger, Hallo Berlin food cart and Fika. I’m sure there are more….

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Any place along the east coast, right by the water. I’m an avid seafood lover. You can’t get fresher seafood than in some of these little fishing towns.

I’m glad you mentioned Cafe Cello, which I think is one of the most underrated Midtown Lunches.  With Margon so close by, and Sophie’s Cuban slowly taking over Midtown, it is easy to ignore- but the simple fact is, they make the best crispy roast pork skin, and you always get a piece of it with your order.  It’s so good, it’s the official Midtown Lunch photo.

But they have another secret (non-latin weapon) in their arsenal, which I finally tried a few weeks ago.  Check it out after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Dan, an Economist with a life changing sandwich recommendation…

Name: Dan

Age: 31

Occupation: Economist

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Midtown East

Favorite Kind of Food: Eggplant pizza

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Alfalfa sprouts

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Fresh Bites on 57th and 6th. The #12 sandwich is a life-changer (I think it’s called Tijuana Chicken). The lemon poppy pound cake is also incredible and I don’t usually even eat dessert. On the east side, the soba noodle salad at Nippon (52nd btw. 3+Lex.),  and whitefish on an onion bagel at Ess a Bagel (3rd btw. 49+50th).

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Pampano Taqueria (3rd & 50th) and Simply Food (48th and 3rd). The last one is one of those jack of all trades places but they do some pretty incredible stuff. They regularly have a roast pork line on their hot buffet, which they can turn into a mean pork on focaccia sandwich.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: The 47th St. Japanese Convenience Store & Deli on 47th btw. Lex+3rd.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? The East Village. Because that way I could have Prune’s lamb-burgers, Bereket, and Katz’s every day for lunch. Not to mention $5 lunch specials from Mingala Village.

Your roast pork on focaccia sandwich intrigues me, and I would like to subscribe to your newsletter.  I’ve walked by that place so many times, but it scares me with it’s lime green sign- and general Midtown Deli’ishness.   Can anybody else vouch for the hot food line at Simply Food?  Feel free to post a comment below.

And as always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Lawrence, a sports guy and neophyte blogger with a lot of favorite lunches…

Name: Lawrence

Age: 23

Occupation: Production Assistant (and author of the blog http://nyceats.wordpress.com/ )

Where in Midtown do you Work?:SportsNet New York

Favorite Kind of Food: Burgers, ribs, pizza, and spicy Thai food

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything served in the Midtown mega-lunch store

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The Bacon Cheeseburger w/ Fried Onions from Five Guys (55th btw. 5+6th). 2 Cheeseburgers with everything but mayo and mustard, an order of fries, and a Sam Adams from Burger Joint (56th btw. 6+7th). Extra Spicy Pork Drunken Noodles from Topaz Thai (56th btw. 6+7th). Chilorio Mexican style pulled pork tacos, corn chips, salsa, and Watermelon Aqua Fresca from Pampano Taqueria(3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th). Trainwreck cheese fries, Pulled Pork Sandwich,and Banana Pudding from Virgil’s BBQ (44th btw. 5+6th).  1 regular slice, 1 sicilian (only if fresh) or grilled chicken hero w/ fresh mozz, roasted peppers and roasted eggplant from Bella Napoli Pizza (49th btw. 6+7th). The G3 (grilled roast beef, fried onions, L & T, pickles, bacon, american cheese) with Russian Dressing instead of A1 or Smoked Chicken Deluxe (chicken cutlet, american cheese,grilled pastrami, L & T, with russian) from Lenny’s.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Though I don’t EVER eat there, my co-workers love Cafe Duke, I hate it, it smells funky outside, which is never a good sign,and I know at least 6 people who’ve gotten violently ill from eatingsandwiches or food from the buffet.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Kati Roll, Tony the Dragon, Carnegie John’s, Jannero’s  (I’m guessing he means Jiannetto’s Pizza Truck?  -zach), & the Daisy Mays Cart.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? The Nexus of the Universe (1st and 1st for non-Seinfeld fans). It’s close to the LES (Georgia’s Eastside BBQ, Katz’s, Tiny’s) and the East Village (too many to list) and ABC City. No greater concentration of cheap and awesome eateries.

Interesting that you mention Bella Napoli on 49th btw. 6+7th.  It has sort of flown under the radar on this site- I think because I take it for granted.  Bella Napoli is right downstairs from my office building, and the go-to pizza place for my entire office.  It can get a little pricey, but it certainly is good pizza.  And once I had a meatball sub there that made me want a nap for the rest of the afternoon…

They actually have an amazing video up on You Tube that may warrant the invention of  a new term:  The Pizza Porno.  Check it out after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Sarah, a part time Midtown Lunch’er who gets to eat in one of my favorite neighborhoods half of the week…

Name: Sarah

Age: 29

Occupation: Full time student and part time assister of creativity

Where in Midtown do you Work?:  I go to school at Parsons: Union Square campus (13th and 5th) and work part time at 59th and Madison.  But last year I worked full time at 59th and Madison, so I am familiar with the area

Favorite Kind of Food:Mediterranean style (grilled meat, veggies, salad, olive oil and fresh bread), and Korean bbq

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Indian food, organ meats, olives, capers, mushrooms and flour tortillas (prefer corn)

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Mangia on 57th btw. 5+6th, for the pesto chicken salad with arugula, parm and fresh bread. I could eat that every day.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: When i worked full time in Midtown, it was Mangia. We would also occasionally go to this tiny Italian cheese shop at 62nd and Lexington, aptly named Cheese on 62nd. They sold cheese and Italian grocery items, but they also made these totally tasty sandwiches. Nowadays I bring my own, because I’m a student.  (For other lunch’ers, there is also a Mangia on 48th btw. Mad+5th -zach).

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Hallo Berlin cart.  As a Chicago native and of German descent I love, love, love sausage, kraut and onions.  That and the Treats Truck, although I have only spotted her twice…  (The Treats Truck is on 38th & 5th Ave. today & Thursday- and Kim told me yesterday that she is hoping that there will be a spot open in the Northern part of Midtown over the winter, due to hibernating Ice Cream Trucks.  I’ll keep you up to date… or check www.treatstruck.com -zach)

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Probably Chicago.  I love the hot dog shops.  Give me a dog (Chicago style) with cheese fries and a diet coke and I’ll be happy.  Probably a good thing I dont live there, that can’t be good for you.  Union Square, fortunately, is a close second because it’s a short walk to the east or west and if I’m feeling lazy, I can get healthy and good food at the Whole Foods.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Any suggestions for a great lunch around Union Square?  Anywhere, but prefer a cheap student budget lunch option…

I’m so jealous…  next to Chinatown, Union Square would probably be my number 2 dream job location for lunch’ing purposes in Manhattan.  Where I would eat every day, if I worked in Union Square- after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Joe, a Graphic Design guy who’s into Pho and looking some Banh Mi (what else is new?)…

Name: Joe

Age: 27

Occupation: Graphic Design Guy

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 37th & Broadway

Favorite Kind of Food: This is totally dependant upon my mood, as I’ll eat pretty much anything you put in front of me. I guess my top food choices lately have been BBQ & Middle Eastern. I like anything that has lots of flavor, or can make me sweat when I’m eating it.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I hate the TGI Applebennigachili’s type restaurants. I had a job that required a lot of travel and inevitably the popular vote would land us at one of these sit down glorified McDonald’s. There’s always a better option than those types of places. I also have a texture issue, so things like jellyfish and most raw meats get the thumbs down from me.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: One of my coworkers took me to Pho 32, on, well…32nd street, which was great. Sometimes you just need some pho. I also dig Arang (32nd btw. B’way+5th) if I have a little extra cash.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: There are two places. When I want something “healthy” I’ll usually go to Bryant Deli (6th Ave. btw. 37+38th) for a salad. They’ve got the same type of set up as a Metro or Pax for half the price. I hadn’t been there in a while, and the last time I went it seemed like it wasn’t quite as fresh as when I first found the place, and it was a buck more, but still totally reasonable, comparatively. The other is the Chicken and Rice cart on 36th & 6th ave. This conversely has gone from “okay” to one of the better chicken and rice carts in the immediate vicinity.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Last week about half the production staff in my office went to Kati Roll (39th btw. 5+6th). I loved it, but most everyone else seemed to spend a half hour groaning, holding their stomachs and inevitably slipping into a food coma. A handful of us made the walk uptown to Kwik Meal (6th Ave. & 45th St.) the other day as I loved their sandwiches at the Vendys.  Their chicken and rice place was awesome, by the way.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I’d love to work from home in Astoria. There’s so many great, inexpensive options, and a short bike ride to Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. With an hour lunch in Astoria I think it’s possible to get pretty much anything my cold heart desires.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where can I get a good Banh Mi in the Macy’s / K town area? I searched the site, and came up empty handed, and I have a hard timebelieving that there are no good (or at least passable) Banh Mi placesin K town.

Ah yes… the Banh Mi question again.  What ever happened to that Banh Mi cart some of you readers were going to start up?  Any progress on that?  In the meantime, I finally made it over to Saigon 48 the other day (on 48th btw. B’way+8th).  Not the best Vietnamese food I’ve ever had, but it was ok.  A photo of one of the dishes I tried, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Amanda, a UK expert for work, and a sandwich expert for fun.  (And yes, she is standing next to Austin Powers.)

Name: Amanda

Age: 31

Occupation: Writer/Content Editor for http://www.visitbritain.com/us  (Um… where were you two weeks ago when I was in England??? -zach)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 45th & 5th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Sandwiches, I am always on the lookout for the ultimate sandwich.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Boring Italian or bland Mexican food.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: A little bit outside of the boundaries maybe but tacos enchiladas at Tehuitzingo Deli on 10th Ave and 46th Street. Still haven’t found a taco that compares in NYC!  (I am a little confused by this one.  Tehuitzingo Deli has the best tacos in NYC, and is on 10th Ave. btw. 47+48th (not 46th).  And doesn’t have enchiladas.  Tulcingo del Valle has some amazing enchiladas and is on 10th Ave. btw. 46+47th.  Either way, both places are great!  -zach)

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Dishes is right across the street from our office. Mmm, $12 salads. The pastries are just so good!

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: There are many… I am now the Treats Truck’s #1 fan, as well as a frequenter of the after 2PM Naples 45 slice special. I also patronize many carts, such as the Kwik Meal and the Hallo Berlin cart.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? I wouldn’t want to live there, but for lunch? Los Angeles. I have to give them props for mindblowingly good and cheap vegetarian Indian tucked away in unassuming strip malls, Diddy Reese ice cream sandwiches, numerous restaurants specializing in Okonomiyaki (Japanese pancakes), and the tacos!!! Angelenos really have everything except great pizza and bagels.

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? I was biking past a Peruvian place this morning and I realized I don’t know much about Peruvian cuisine outside of ceviche. Does anyone have any favorite Peruvian places or is it not one of the city’s strong suits?

Another Lunch’er posed this same question a little over a month ago, and there just aren’t any Peruvian places in Midtown.  Which sucks, because I could really go for some Lomo Saltado (Peruvian dish of beef sauteed with tomatoes, onions and french fries).  What we do have, however- is some delicious ceviche!  My favorite, after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown.  This week it’s Aaron, an Investment Analyst who loves to double fist soup and is looking for some good Tex-Mex.

Name: Aaron

Age: 33

Occupation: Investment Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 54th & 6th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Tex-Mex. This is easily the worst part about being a Texan but living outside of Texas. I tried for a while to find great Tex-Mex in Manhattan and finally settled for Cancun (8th Ave just north of 55th), but I ate there only to get my fix.  Last month, though, I discovered something far better: Ah Chihuahua on East 53rd between 1st & 2nd. It’s quite a walk for me at lunchtime, but the food is worth it. Good guacamole, great cheese enchiladas, $6 or $7 lunch combos all served with rice & refried beans, complimentary chips & salsa, $3 margaritas between noon and 3pm (I hear they’re good, but I’ve not had one).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything bland, primarily Middle Eastern.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Empanada Mama (53rd & 9th) – corn empanada with ground beef, dipped in the green hot sauce, with a side of plantain chips & guacamole. Not technically within the confines of “Midtown” but they deliver.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: Pax, or other assorted soup-and-sandwich delis. So boring.

Place you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch: Kati Roll (now on 38 btw. 5+6th), the taco cart on 50th (btw. 6+7th), the famous Chicken & Rice Cart at 53rd & 6th (a cart with its own website!), the Hallo Berlin cart, and the Daisy May’s BBQ cart.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Dallas – dozens of Tex-Mex and bbq choices in every direction

Anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Is there any better Tex-Mex in NYC than Ah Chihuahua (on East 53rd between 1st & 2nd)?

I’ve got to admit that Tex Mex is not really my thing.  I don’t mind it, and I’ll eat it- but to me, saying “I Love Tex-Mex” is like asking “Anybody know where I can get some American tasting Indian food?”  I know there are some Texans who read this blog who are going to disagree, so have at it.  And, after you are done telling me how stupid I am, recommend some good Tex Mex that will change my mind (and make Aaron happy). 

As always, if you want to be the next Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er, email me at zach@midtownlunch.com