Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. This week, it’s Liz- a sales assistant for the company that owns the Food Network!  I love the Food Network… it’s like porn for fat guys.

Name: Elizabeth

Age: 24

Occupation: Sales Assistant

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Scripps Network (Food Network, HGTV, etc)  6th Ave. btw. 46+47th

Favorite Kind of Food:  Too many to name, but probably Italian.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I pretty much like everything, although my least favorite is probably salad (or healthfood).  Editor’s Note:  If your favorite food is healthfood or salad, you are probably reading the wrong blog!

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown:  The falafel sandwich with Baba @ Bread & Olive.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  Probably Bread & Olive… also Manhattan Cafe

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com:  Daisy May’s BBQ cart.  Also, I discovered that Variety Cafe was no longer up to health code standards, which was a good thing to know because I used to eat there a lot.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Dallas, TX on Oaklawn & Maple (where I used to work).  The job was bad- but Herrera’s (great Mexican food) was right down the street.  Also New Orleans, anywhere close to Crabby Jack’s. 

Well Liz, in defense of Variety Cafe, there are very few places in Midtown that haven’t been shut down for health code violations… (but I understand how you feel- I haven’t been back to Variety either).  I also haven’t been back to Bread & Olive since I wrote about it in June as part of “Falafel Week“.  I’ll have to check it out soon… Also, you’ll be interested to know that the one Daisy May’s cart still in Midtown for the winter has moved again!  Find out where, plus how you can be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er- after the jump… Read more »

Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown. This week, it’s Alex- a Bank Analyst who’d rather be eating lunch in Japan (or St. Marks Place!)

Name: Alex

Age: 26

Occupation: Analyst at a Bank

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Lex. btw. 45+46th (but our office is moving to Park and 23rd at the end of the year)

Favorite Kind of Food:  Meat or Veg with Rice (in this order- Japanese, Chinese, Carts, Indian, Mexican Burritos).

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Anything with Cilantro

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown:  Bento boxes and rice balls at Cafe Zaiya.  (Although Oms/b has great looking rice balls, the Spicy Tuna rice ball at Zaiya is more tasty.)  Also, the Amish Market Proscuitto brick oven sandwich is a perfect blend of melted cheese, spinach and salty ham with a warm brick oven bun.  Finally, this sit down Japanese restaurant called Don-buri (Hamburg steak and all the different sets, light the fire in my stomach).  Plus you can have lunch there for less than $15 including tip.The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  Don-Buriya, however we end up eating at our desk most of the time and everyone has their own favorites… Sophie’s, Hale & Hearty, Metro, Amish Market, Hop Won & Chipotle.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com:  Just Salad

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Tokyo (like the previous profiled lunch’er Justin), with all the choices at the food supermarkets in the huge department stores.  You would be amazed by all the choices of ramen, yakitori, bento, sushi, donburi, appetizers, etc.  In NYC, there is no one spot for me, but I do like the mixture of flavors in and around St. Marks Place. 

Anything you’d like to add?  Although I haven’t found a burrito place better than Anna’s Taqueria in Boston, Pampano Taqueria’s Alambre Burrito is the closest thing I have tasted because of the mix of meat, rice, beans, salad, melted cheese, guacamole and sour cream.  It’s the best combo to have in a burrito- unlike Chipotle (awaiting the backlash…) where cilantro rules the flavor of everything!

I think you are pretty safe from the Chipotle backlash on this site Alex.  MidtownLunch practically began with a week-long bashing of the new Chipotle that opened up underneath my building.  I’m still searching for a good burrito as well.

How you can be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er- after the jump…

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Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  This week, it’s Liz.  A Midtown East Saints fan who like me, would rather be eating Lunch in New Orleans!

Name: Liz

Age: 27

Occupation: CPA

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Near Grand Central

Favorite Kind of Food: Specifically, macaroni and cheese… but really anything involving cheese (except for blue), anything from New Orleans, seafood and beans.  If it has any of those ingredients (or preferably multiple), or is from NOLA, you can count me in.

Least Favorite Kind of Food:  Meatloaf 

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Park Italian Deli (45th btw. 5&6th).  If I’m in the mood for hot food, the eggplant parm with whatever the pasta special of the day is.  Otherwise, a sandwich of usually tuna salad or ham, turkey and fresh mozzarella.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  The Lunchbox (in the Graybar building attached to Grand Central).  Not necessarily for lunch (except on a rainy day), but definitely a go to breakfast.  Where else can you find a giant iced coffee for $1?

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com:  Oms/b.  Only tried it once, but it was pretty great.  And I really need to check out Sophie’s Cuban.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Definitely New Orleans (nothing beats a fried shrimp po’boy from Rodosta’s), but since that angle has already been covered by another Midtown Lunch’er, I’ll go with the East Village… specifically Avenues B&C.  It’d be a toss up between the Fettuccine al Sugo Toscano at Max, the Manchego sandwich at Grape and Grain and the Kasespatzle at Zum Schneider.

Liz’s question to Midtown Lunch nation, our recommendations, plus how you can be the next Profiled Midtown Lunch’er, after the jump…

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Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  This week, it’s Chris- author of http://www.eastvillageidiot.com/ and lover of burritos

Name: Chris

Age: 24

Occupation: Communications Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 53rd & 7th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Pretty much any type of burrito.  If it can be wrapped in a tortilla, I probably like it.

Least Favorite Kind of Food:  Olives.  I don’t mind olive oil (it’s the only oil I cook with), but despite my Italian heritage, I just can’t get into olives. 

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The pulled pork sandwich from the Daisy May’s BBQ Cart.  I’m heartbroken that I’ll have to walk an extra three blocks in the dead of winter to get it, but it’s a winner.  I wish it came with some decent side dishes though.  The slaw is good, but the other items need slaw too!  When I come back from Daisy May’s, it always attracts a crowd in my office, since I have to sit at my desk and construct the sandwich.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  West 53rd St. Deli (btw. 6+7th).  Nothing special, but it’s close and the hot sandwiches are decent.  There’s usually a couple of specials for around $5 – a hot teriyaki or BBQ chicken wrap, chicken or meatball parm, and a quick burger that’s decent for the price.  The salad bar is fresh and full of crisp fruits and veggies, but the hot food bar is soggy, tasteless and absolutely awful.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com:  Yips.  I really don’t know why I hadn’t ventured across 6th ave.  It’s amazing how quickly you can get a lunch there.  The other day I was on the phone with a friend, and told her I’d call her back after I got my lunch.  I walked in the door, ordered, paid, and was back on the phone in 45 seconds.  It’s nothing authentic and nothing particularly special, but it’s the perfect quick lunch:  filling, cheap, and fast.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  I envy my roommate who works across the street from Madison Square Park.  The junior level analysts and assistants in his company do more standing in line at Shake Shack for their bosses than real, actual work.  Plus, for a business lunch Grammercy Tavern, Eleven Madison Park, Tabla and Blue Smoke are a quick walk away.

Chris’s suggestion for a new burger in Midtown, a preview of tomorrow’s lunchtime post, and how you can be the next Midtown Lunch’er… after the jump.

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Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  This week, it’s Cheryl- the girl who introduced us to Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine! (full review coming soon)

Name: Cheryl

Age: 29

Occupation: Research Manager at a Non-Profit

Where in Midtown do you Work?:Lexington btw. 40th & 41st

Favorite Kind of Food: Salty kinds.  For example, iskender, a Turkish dish consisting of a layer of cut up pita bread, covered with shaved lamb, tomato sauce (which makes the pita bread totally soggy and delicious), and yogurt.  If you order this dish in Turkey, they pour a ladle full of hot butter on top.  It makes my mouth water to think about it.

Least Favorite Kind of Food:  Sweet kinds.  Especially any kind of dessert that includes whole chunks of fruit, such as apple pie.  Blech. 

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I have two.  The first is Sophie’s Cuban (Lex. btw. 40+41st) and it’s not just because it’s the closest place to my office, it’s also the best in the neighborhood.  Any of the pork sandwiches are amazing, the roast pork entree with black beans and yellow rice if you’re feeling a little more extravagant, and ALWAYS get the green spicy sauce.  We also like what we call “the rice ball place” (because how does one pronounce Oms/b) on 45th btw. Lex & 3rd.  I order 3 pieces: lobster, hijiki, and tuna, and a miso soup.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  Delmonicos, a block away.  Their formula (the midtown deli) sucks, but their BLT with avocado on rye is a weekly necessity.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Hurry & Tasty Curry

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Sunset Park (Brooklyn).  The Asian and Mexican lunch options are delicious, cheap and plentiful.

If Sophie’s Cuban Cuisine sounded good to you, but you work a little too north to hit up the Lexington & 41st st. location- I’ve got some important info for you after the jump… (plus, how you can be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er)

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Yesterday we wrote about our favorite noodle spot in Midtown… Menchanko-Tei.  So in honor of that, we present to you Justin Fox, a Fortune Magazine Editor at Large, and ramen obsessed Midtown Lunch’er who is just as big a fan of the Menachanko as we are:

Name: Justin Fox

Age: 28  42 (He probably would have wanted us to leave that typo up)

Occupation: At Large Editor & Writer (He wrote about us a few weeks ago on his blog: The Curious Capitalist)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Fortune Magazine

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese (or home-cooking)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Sandwiches (Editor’s Note:  That may sound crazy to most Midtown Lunch’ers who exists on sandwiches, but I’m right there with Justin on this one… unless it’s Bahn Mi.  I’m all about the Asian sandwich!)

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: The Menchanko Soup @ Menchanko-Tei

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  I go to Sapporo a lot, but can’t say it’s “too often.” The Time & Life
cafeteria, maybe. But having worked for a couple of years in Birmingham,
Alabama, where I ate lunch four days out of five at the same “meat-and-three”
restaurant a block from the office, I’m really not going to complain. (Although
I do kinda miss that restaurant.)

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Kati Roll

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Tokyo… and I think it’s pretty clear why.

Anything else you’d like to add?  Midtown Lunch has changed my life (or at the very least it has made me a little fatter)

A new Midtown Japanese, our controversial favorite Ramen outside of Midtown, and how you can be the next profiled Midtown Lunch’er… after the jump.

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Every Tuesday I try to keep my opinion to myself (a little gets in at the end), and let a genuine Midtown Lunch’er take over the site to give their opinion about eating in Midtown.  In honor of the Vendy Awards , which are taking place this Sunday night (Midtown Carts were totally snubbed!), I present to you, Serena, the Teriyaki Cart loving Midtown lunch’er…

Name: Serena

Age: 28

Occupation: Editor

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 49th & 6th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Japanese (or anything from the Pacific Rim region)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Fruit… especially the stuff that is sold on the street.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: My favorite used to be the tofu teriyaki from the Japanese Market on 41st btw. 5th+Madison (just East of Cafe Zaiya)… but now I can’t get enough of the Tofu Teriyaki at the Cart on 50th btw. 6+7th. (NOTE: Serena is actually one of the two people who recommended this cart to Midtown Lunch)
The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  Bagel Feller, on 48th btw. 5th and 6th. Partly I just like to say the name, but they also have really good wraps.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: I actually rediscovered Yips— the Chinese place.  I used to go there when I was an intern like 8 years ago, and it had been completely erased from memory until I saw it here on MidtownLunch.  Ridiculously cheap, and I’ve never gotten sick from eating there.   And again– a great name! How can you not laugh asking someone if they want to go to “Yips” for lunch?

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Washington, DC circa 1999.  There used to be the best sandwich place I’ve ever known in an office building near my high school called Frisco’s.  Every sandwich had a San Fran related name.  The best was the Golden Gate.  Sadly, it has since closed down and I’m not sure it exists anywhere anymore–nor am I sure it ever existed in San Francisco.

Any question you’d like to pose to the Midtown Lunch readers?  Does anyone know where I can find (during the week) that really cheap pad thai that is sold at street fairs on weekends? (I have really unsophisticated taste because I work in publishing and I’m poor.)
Ah yes… the $1 Thai Food stand at Street Fairs.  How can you not love it?  Our recommendation to Serena, plus how you can be next week’s Profiled: Midtown Lunch’er- after the jump…

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Every Tuesday I turn over Midtown Lunch to a random Midtown worker, for their favorite places to eat lunch in Midtown.  This week, it’s Mark- a cart junkie, click monkey, whose Mom I want to cook for me…

Name: Mark

Age: 34

Occupation: Click Monkey (Editor’s Note: Apparently this is what Contract/Temp Lawyers call each other)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 44th & 6th Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: Good cheap ethnic food. My Mother’s fried potatoes with chorizo and jalapenos.  Non pasteurized milk.

Least Favorite Kind of Food:I’ve never overcome a childhood aversion to Brussel sprouts.  The smell…

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Probably too far west but the combination salad and a split pea soup at Azuri Cafe (51st btw. 9+10th),  if you can put up with the “Pita Nazi”.  My new favorites right now are Margon’s Roast Chicken plate or the Double Soul food dish at the Hallo Berlin Cart.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often:  John’s Pizzeria on 44th & 8th.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Kwik Meal Cart.  Hallo Berlin Cart.  Daisy May’s BBQ Cart.  Lots of cart action thanks to Midtown Lunch.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Chinatown, so I could eat at the Dumpling House on Eldridge everyday.  Or Argentina so I could eat yummy giant $3 steaks every day until my arteries sealed shut.

Any question you’d like to pose to the Midtown Lunch readers?  The Chatuchak Weekend market in Bangkok sells this “BBQ Thai Chicken”… this fried chicken with special seasoning, chopped up into pieces.  Some Thai restaurants here sell “BBQ Thai Chicken”, but it isn’t fried.  Does anyone know where I can get this delicious dish in New York City? 

Got an answer to Mark’s Question?  Food porn, and a Midtown Lunch sneak preview (plus details on how you can be the next Profiled Lunch’er) after the jump…

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Every Tuesday we step aside and let a real life Midtown eater give their pics for the best places to grab lunch in Midtown.  In honor of this past weekend’s Oyster Festivals, we present Sara- the oyster fanatic.

Name: Sara

Age: 25

Occupation: Agent

Where in Midtown do you Work?: The Harry Fox Agency, 44th St. & 3rd Ave.

Favorite Kind of Food: New England-style seafood. Chowdah, lobster rolls, steamers, and anything else you can picture a grizzled old fisherman pulling from the sea. I love those guys.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: That phrase means nothing to me. I will try almost anything. I thought I didn’t like meatloaf, but then I had some at a friend’s house recently and it turns out that I just don’t like bad meatloaf.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown:The Grand Central Oyster Bar. Once every 4 months or so, I will take myself there as a special treat, and eat 1/2 dozen Wellfleet oysters and 1/2 dozen kumamotos or whatever else looks good, and as many free biscuits as they will give me. Can’t afford it more often than that, but I wish I could eat oysters there every day.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: The Amish Market on 45th and 2nd. The salad bar has a good variety of foods (often including expensive ingredients that would cost more separately) and the hot bar is pretty decent as well. Good soups, excellent sandwiches, but avoid the sushi.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: Cafe Zaiya. A friend of mine had been searching for Mont Blanc pastries like the ones she had in Italy for a long time but had never found them in New York. I saw them at Cafe Zaiya and told her about it. Apparently she had been eating lunch there every day for months but had never bothered to look in the pastry case. She loved them!

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why?  Tomales Bay, CA. That’s where the Hog Island Oyster Company is, and that is where I would like to spend the rest of my life: oyster heaven. In New York, I’d love to work within walking distance of Chinatown and all the great food that comes out of that neighborhood. I can’t imagine getting away health-wise with spending $1 for lunch at Tasty Dumpling every day, but it sure is nice to dream about.

Thanks for the profile Sara.  I like my oysters big… and for those- there’s only one place to go.  A picture of one of my favorite Oyster places, plus how to be next week’s Midtown Lunch Profile, after the jump…

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If you think eating lunch in Midtown is bad, imagine moving here from the greatest food city in the U.S.A. Whether it’s a Mufuletta from the Central Grocery, Fried Chicken from Dunbars (sadly they haven’t re-opened yet), or a dozen raw oysters and a pound of boiled crawfish (from anywhere!)- imagine how much sadder you’d be if you used to eat lunch every day in New Orleans. In honor of the Saints’ triumphant return to the Superdome last night, we present to you this week’s profile… Midtown Lunch’er: Nick

Name: Nick

Age: The same age as my twin sister

Occupation: Radio Imaging Producer

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Sirius Satellite Radio on 49th & 6th

Favorite Kind of Food: I was born and raised in New Orleans, so- boiled crawfish, red beans & rice, PoBoys (fried oyster, roast beef, fried shrimp, etc…). You know… New Orleans food!
Least Favorite Kind of Food: Not a fan of Indian food. Some of the dishes smell like stinky armpits so I’m immediately reminded of uncomfortable situations while riding the subway into work.

Favorite Place to Eat Lunch in Midtown: I usually end up at Lenny’s a couple of times a week. Fresh ingredients, made to order pretty fast, and a wide selection. Plus I have a crush on one of the cashiers.

The “go-to” lunch place you and your co-workers eat at too often: See above. I often run into my boss and others at Lenny’s without notice. We all have to run back to work to produce the “Best Radio on Radio” so it seems to be the place to get to easily and get a fresh sandwich that I can eat at my desk or in the studio.

Place you discovered on MidtownLunch.com: The Daisy May’s BBQ Cart (yummy!), the Burger Joint @ Le Parker Meridien (delicious!), and I’m sure as soon as it opens- The Hawaiian Tropic Zone on 49th & 7th. I’m sure it will be a ridiculously over-priced tourist trap, but hey- you’re paying for the scenery.

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Um… I think it’s pretty obvious. The radio station I used to work at in New Orleans was blocks away from anything I could ever want- including real Red Beans & Rice. Notice the placement of the red beans, before the rice… the beans are the star people! Don’t understand why restaurants outside of N.O. can’t get that right.

Anything else you’d like to add? Make levees not war! And I’d love to know where to get authentic New Orleans lunch in Midtown, or New Orleans food anytime, anywhere in NYC- that isn’t an overpriced novelty restaurant.

Our half-hearted recommendation to Nick, a New Orleans Food P.S.A., and how to become the next Profiled Midtown Lunch’er- after the jump…

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