Midtown Lunch

Photo courtesy of Lunch’er “Matt”

It’s good to see that a little heat doesn’t stop Midtown Lunchers from coming out for the schnitzel! (Considering it was the Schnitzel & Things truck’s first visit to Midtown, you know there was going to be a crowd.) By Noon one commenter reported that the line was ten deep, at it seemed to remain that way until at least 12:45. (Although 15 minutes seems to the be longest wait time recordeed.) Reports poured in from Midtown Lunchers, and were pretty much universally good. Here’s what Lunch’er Matt had to say (who also emailed the photo above):

Since the Schnitzel Truck made their debut in Midtown today and I promised myself I’d be there day one, today was the day. My partner in crime at the office Melissa and I showed up about 10 minutes after they had opened according to their twitter. There were about 8 people already there with 4 or so in front and the rest waiting for their food. The wait was very short, for everyone so it looks like they have this cooking/serving thing down to a science. Maybe staying away from Midtown for the first few weeks was a good idea. On to the food!

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Weeks and weeks of preparation (played out in other areas of the city) have finally lead us to this moment in time. As promised on Friday, the Schnitzel & Things Truck will finally make it’s way to Midtown today.  They plan on trying to park on 49th Street btw. Park+Madison by 11:30am this morning, but first day parking can always be ruined by unforseen “obstacles”.  Be sure to check their Twitter feed, or the ML Twitter Tracker before heading out. UPDATE: As of 11:15 they’re set up on 48th btw. Park+Lex.

Since their opening two weeks ago the Schnitzel & Things Truck has been moving around daily, with stops in Williamsburg, Dumbo, Downtown Manhattan, and Union Square, using twitter to let their 1000+ followers know where they are going to be.  Eventually they hope to make it to Midtown, and yesterday they got pretty close- parking in Madison Square Park.  As is usually the case for a new vendor parking in a new spot, things didn’t go so smoothly.  I checked in with the owner to find out exactly what happened.

“We got harassed by 4 different dudes as soon as we showed up.. But we weren’t having it man.. Whatever, it was the usual, you know the “I’ve been on this block for 15 years” routine:) and??? You want us to move because??? Take a walk.. They wouldn’t leave us alone, I called the cops on them for harassment:) then they brought their own cops, it was a freaking mess but funny, cuz they couldn’t do anything.. We reasoned with the cops and they didn’t do anything but leave and the guys were left in bewilderment ..

And then came the real threats…

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Blondie and Brownie get a first taste of the Schnitzel & Things Truck, which opened for business this past weekend in Brooklyn.  They sampled both the cod and the pork, and thought the platters (which comes with two sides) were well worth the $9 price tag.  Sadly I saw no mention of veal on the menu or in the post.  Maybe it will be Midtown special! The post did mention that they will occasionally have veal as a special!  (They plan on hitting Midtown in the next two weeks, once all the kinks are working out.)  Follow their twitter, or the Midtown Lunch Twitter Tracker for updates.

Related:
New Schnitzel & Things Truck Launching in Early July

There has been a lot of press (and even more twittering) about the new Schnitzel and Things truck, coming soon to Midtown.  Hell, they even have “merch” for sale– and they haven’t even sold a single bite of schnitzel yet!  Well, Fressagirl is reporting that another truck serving schnitzel quietly hit the scene a month ago on 9th Ave. btw. 32+33rd (just outside the Midtown Lunch boundaries.)  In fairness to Schnitzel & Things, schnitzel is just one of the many items on the Brucha Caterer truck- which is entirely kosher.  (And, as you know from this post, Austrian schnitzel and kosher schnitzel can be two completely different things.)

Of course Midtown has plenty of room for two schnitzel trucks.  And I’m still looking forward to the arrival of veal schnitzel!  In fact, Schnitzel & Things just released the first photo of their truck, which you can check out after the jump…

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It looks like the soon to open Schnitzel & Things Truck took notice of this morning’s wienerschnitzel lovefest.  via Twitter: “A Schnitzel debate huh?? Actually Wiener Schnitzel DOES not have to be veal. Who wants veal? Let us know!” Followed by: “We’ll open with Veal schnitzel as a special! It’ll be more expensive but if it sells, we’ll keep it on permanently”.  I know I don’t speak for everybody when I say this, but “Yes please!”  Also, thanks for the wiener schnitzel lesson.  I always forget that wiener means “from Vienna” and not veal.  Whatever veal schnitzel is called, I want it.

You would think that all the stories of new food carts being intimidated out of their spots would curb the number of new mobile food vendors coming to Midtown, but nope.  The parade marches on.  The latest venture (which the owner claims has been in the works “for a while”) is Schnitzel & Things, a new truck that plans on launching in early July serving an Austrian style schnitzel and side dishes. They will be parking all over the city, but plan on splitting lunch between Midtown & Downtown (“with a focus on Midtown”.)  For those who aren’t familiar with schnitzel it’s a breaded cutlet, and Schnitzel & Things plans on serving versions made from chicken, pork and cod. The menu (which you can see here) also includes bratwurst, Austrian potato salad, sauerkraut, and various other salads and condiments.  The owner is from the Ukraine, but has lived in NYC most of his life.  The inspiration for the truck came from a year spent in Vienna where he was inspired to quit his banking job and come back to New York to cook.

If you can’t wait until early July, you can get Israeli schnitzel at Kosher Deluxe (on 46th btw. 5+6th) or Baguette Express (on 37th btw. 5+6th), and German Schnitzel at Hallo Berlin Express (on 9th btw. 50+51st.)  But for the Austrian version, you’ll have to wait for the truck- which you can follow (naturally) on Twitter.