Midtown Lunch » Sophies

Make Sure to Ask for Extra Meat Juice at Sophie’s

Donny T. — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 16:30:27 +0000

So the first time I went to Sophie’s and got the chicken with rice and beans, I thought it wasn’t that great. The chicken was tender but it lacked flavor and so did the rice and beans. I like to give a place a second chance before deciding if I it should go under my “never to go again” list, so the other day I found myself once more at Sophie’s. Earlier in the day I had this huge craving for beef stew and couldn’t think of any place for beef stew except Sophie’s.

Hopefully this would be just what I needed to forget about that chicken…

The beef stew with rice and beans ($9) was just okay. The big chunks of beef were a bit dry and tough to chew, and just like my experience with their chicken the dish was pretty bland overall. The little container of green sauce gave the stew a bit of extra flavor but it wasn’t enough. Just like the chicken, though, the places where the lady had drizzled extra beef stew sauce were really freaking awesome. In fact, I now believe their sauce is the key to making their food taste a hundred times better. It gave everything so much flavor, I will definitely be asking for extra sauce the next time I head back to Sophie’s (which might not be a for awhile.)

Sophie’s Cuban, Available at these three locations:

369 Lexington Ave (btw. 41+42nd) 212-922-3576
805 Third Ave (btw. 49+50th), Lower Level, 212-308-1024
23 East 23rd Street (btw. Mad+Park), 212-260-8884

Sophie’s Baked Chicken Makes Me Long For Salt & Pepper

Donny T. — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:30:31 +0000

Ever since I heard about the fried pork sandwich stuffed with plantains from Sophie’s (this was almost 2 years ago), I’ve been wanting to go and eat it. But like so many places in NYC, I was just too lazy or never had the time. So recently when I found myself walking down Lexington Ave I came upon Sophie’s and decided to was finally time check it out. But while scanning the trays and trays of food in front of me, something happened. I decided to call an audible and get the baked chicken with rice and beans instead ($9)

I’m a huge fan of the baked chicken with rice and beans at Salt & Pepper (on 33rd btw. 6+7th), so Sophie’s was going to have to be on their a-game to win me over.

This baked chicken with rice and beans wasn’t great but it was decent. The skin on the chicken had some great flavors though sadly the great flavors on the skin stayed on the skin. The meat was juicy and tender but sort of bland. Even the rice was lacking flavors. But the pieces of yuca and carrots (they were sitting in the chicken juice tray along with the chicken) that came with the dish were fantastic. It fact they had soaked up so much chicken juice sitting at the bottom of the tray, they had more chicken taste than the chicken itself. The server did scoop some chicken juice into the platter but maybe next time I’ll ask for more. Or I should just get a jar of their green sauce to go.

Thankfully the meal was saved by the cassava with pork (which is basically a croquette stuffed with ground pork). Even sitting out for who knows how long, it was still nice and crispy on the outside. This is what good fried food should be like, crispy, not too greasy, and damn satisfying.

I’ll probably go back because I still need to try the fried pork with plantains sandwich but when the craving for baked chicken hits I’ll probably end up at Salt & Pepper (unless somebody has an even better recommendation! Anybody?)

Sophie’s Cuban, Available at these three locations:

369 Lexington Ave (btw. 41+42nd) 212-922-3576
805 Third Ave (btw. 49+50th), Lower Level, 212-308-1024
23 East 23rd Street (btw. Mad+Park), 212-260-8884

Sophie’s Green Sauce Now Available in Jars

Zach Brooks — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Over on the Downtown/FiDi section of Midtown Lunch, Andrea notices that Sophie’s Cuban has started selling jars of their famous green sauce, and we’re hearing they have them in all the Midtown locations as well.

Sophie’s Still Serving Pernil With a Twist

Zach Brooks — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:30:27 +0000

Remember the fried plantain topped pernil sandwich that Sophie’s Cuban created just for the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge almost 2 years ago? Apparently it’s still around. Serious Eats New York had one the other day and it sounded like they were big fans…

At Lunch Now: Sophie’s Cuban Now Open on 45th

Zach Brooks — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:45:52 +0000

Got a tip that the new branch of Sophie’s Cuban (on 45 btw. 5+6th) had a bit of a soft opening yesterday, and our man Jeremiah just got visual confirmation. They are officially open for business. Online ordering won’t be up and running for a couple of days, and the actual “Grand Opening” isn’t until November 30th (when they promise they’ll do something “special”.) But if you’re looking to change things up from your typical Latin lunch at Margon or Cafe Cello, you’ve now got another option in the area.

Sophie’s Cuban Coming Soon to 45th

Chris H. — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 14:30:12 +0000

Good news for Sophie’s Cuban fans who work in the heart of Midtown. Construction has started on a new Sophie’s outpost at 45th st. between 5th and 6th Ave (next to Goodburger.) We’re hearing that the plan is to open in October, and Sophie’s feels a lot more confident about this spot than the ill fated 41st Street branch that closed almost two years ago. Looks like Margon and Cafe Cello are about to get their toughest competition yet. ¡Viva la Selección!

Today is Oxtail Day at Sophie’s Cuban

Zach Brooks — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:30:38 +0000

Looking for a late lunch? Serious Eats New York recommends the oxtails at Sophie’s Cuban, which are available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. At $11 it’s just over the ML price limit, but like we’ve been saying for years, it’s totally worth it.

Is Sophie’s Cuban Slipping?

Zach Brooks — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:30:21 +0000

Cuban Sandwich from Sophie’s circa 2007

Last week somebody posted about the price hike at Sophie’s Cuban in the forums, and the comments lit up with general complaints about the Peruvian owned Cuban chain. From the sound of things, the once great Latin food mainstay might be losing a step at its remaining few locations…

From mkim1206:

funny you mentioned Sophie’s. I went for the first time yesterday and ordered their cuban sandwich. it was pre made in the fridge. anyway, it was one of the worst thing i ate in a while. The pork was dry as hell and there was no flavor what so ever. I was so disappointed.

But wait… there’s more.

From tyler:

I will second that Sophie’s has gone downhill…I used to go 2-3 times a week for the ML Sandwich challenge entry, as well as oxtails, spicy chicken, pork chops, and their various stews. However, I’ve had more than a couple mediocre meals there in the last few weeks. It’s disappointing, and I hope the owners can take their eyes off of the $$$ and focus a bit more on their food quality again…

From mghu777:

You aren’t the only one. My first cuban from there was slightly above average, but the pickle was paper thin. He made it in front of me though. I just got lunch from there and the rice and beans pre mix tastes really odd. It has a slight minty taste to it that I didn’t notice from the times before. The register girl didn’t even put their famous sauce in the bag till I asked her for it. It’s only one packet. If you ask for extra sauce, it’s a quarter extra. Maybe I just woke up on the hater side of the bed. But I was looking to satisfy my pork fix, but I think it might be an off day for Sophie’s.

Isolated incidents or signs of a restaurant chain trending downwards? We always have Margon to fall back on, but it’d be sad to lose Sophie’s as an always dependable Midtown Lunch’ing option.

Sophie’s Price Hike?

Zach Brooks — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:19:22 +0000

According to this posting in the ML forums, Sophie’s Cuban has raised the prices of its specials from $8.63 to $9.80 with tax. Not a huge increase, but inching ever so close to being disqualified from Midtown Lunch status. I suppose it’s better than them closing more locations.

What’s in the Sophie’s Cuban Green Sauce?

Zach Brooks — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 13:30:49 +0000

Inspired by this post on the Serious Eats: New York forum, I emailed Sophie’s Cuban to find out what exactly is in their green sauce. Their response: “It is a modification of peruvian aji, the only difference is that we are using jalapenos instead of the peruvian chile, which is called rocoto.” Whatever the hell it is, it tastes pretty damn good on their pork and plantain sandwich!