Midtown Lunch

Some Shake Shack locations are now featuring the Smoke Shack, a $6.25 bacon cheeseburger with cherry pepper relish, bacon from Niman Ranch, and Shack Sauce. The burger is still living on the “Today’s Special” board, so don’t look for it on the large official menu. GrubStreet and A Hamburger Today posted earlier this week that the Smoke Shack is only available at the Madison Square Park and Upper East Side locations, so I hit up the park, because — of course — I had to get my hands on one asap! And, I can confirm this is one tasty burger.
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When’s the last time THE New York Times restaurant review also qualified as a Midtown Lunch? Apparently, Pete Wells has discovered Shake Shack and awarded it one star in today’s dining section. I can’t decide of it’s badass or just bizarre to review it … now. While Mr. Wells was “never let down by the hot dogs,” he was brutal when it came to their fries, calling them “pretty awful,” among other things. But for the main event, the burgers, he found the doneness unpredictable. “Shake Shack wasn’t even consistently inconsistent,” he wrote when two patties in the same sandwich were cooked differently. We are certainly fans of Shake Shack on this blog, but it’s hard to defend the place when Mr. Wells isn’t exactly wrong. Sure, I’ve had inconsistently cooked food from Shake Shack, but when you get a really good Shack burger … it’s just SO GOOD.

But even stranger might have been the companion blog piece comparing seven other NYC burgers to the Shack, including several from Midtown. He bestowed favorable words to both the signature burger from Steak N’ Shake and Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen’s burger while mentioning that Bill’s Bar & Burger was greasy. True. But the fact that Mr. Wells didn’t even address Five Guys or Burger Joint at all is pretty inexcusable.  What do you guys think?

Photo courtesy of Serious Eats: New York

Shake Shack is kicking off their annual 4th of July celebration early with Corn Dogs ($4.50) and their special Blueberry Pie-Oh-My concrete ($6.50). Their Corn Dogs, which feature Vienna dogs dipped in housemade batter, deep-fried w/Corn Relish, only come around a few times a year and they’re serving them at all Shacks (except Madison Sq, sorry Flatiron!) today through Monday. Unfortunately the Corn Dog plus concrete will take you a buck over the ML, but as a pie concrete fan (blend a pie slice with custard), I’d wager it’s worth the splurge.

Shake Shack, 691 8th Ave. (on 44th Street), 646-435-0135

A new month means a new line up of custard flavors at the Shake Shack (on 8th Ave. and 44th). Today’s flavor is Formage Blanc with Raspberry Swirl (I’ll admit I’m intrigued…), tomorrow, Thin Mint, Mud Pie (Fri), with Strawberry Blonde on Monday and Cinnamon Almond Dulce on Tuesday. If you happen to be in the Shack’s vicinity over the weekend they’re doing Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel on Saturdays and Red Velvet on Sundays.

These past few weeks of Lent I’ve been giving recs for fish lunches for those who are observing and eschewing meat. Fried fish sandwiches are always a popular option and the new Shark and Bake sandwich from Trini Paki looks like a good option if you’re able to get there early, but what if you don’t like fish? Enter my go-to meatless option at the Shake Shack: The ‘Shroom Burger.

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A new month means a new line up of custard flavors at the Shake Shack (on 8th Ave. and 44th). Today’s flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip, tomorrow, Coffee & Donuts, with Chocolate Chuckles (Mon), Banana Bread (Tues), and Pineapple Nut Brittle (Wed) rounding out the week. If you happen to be in the Shack’s vicinity over the weekend they’re doing Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel on Saturdays and Afternoon Tea on Sundays. And from now until Sunday, 3/13 you can get the CAR-MALLOW ANTHONY SHAKE, vanilla custard with caramel, marshmallow and malt. ($5.75)

Photo courtesy of speedygo