Midtown Lunch » Spoon City

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Was

ultraclay — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:30:04 +0000

Ever since Spoon City (on 33rd btw. Mad+5th) closed up shop, we’ve wondered what new treats were going to be served out of the tiny closet-sized space. Turns out, there will be no more food served there at all. It’s going to be a currency exchange.

Shake Shack Custard Can’t Save Spoon City

The ML Team — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:00:25 +0000

From Lunch’er Steve: “Just walked by Spoon City (on 33rd btw. Mad+5th), the ice cream/soup place across from the Empire State Building. It was all cleaned out. Looks like Shake Shack wins.” Well, we didn’t think there was any chance that Shake Shack would *lose* but it is kind of surprising that more people didn’t get excited about this place. I guess people only like concretes when they have to wait in line for them.

Spoon City’s Hot Chocolate Custard is Actually Custard Hot Chocolate

Brownie — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:30:41 +0000

Those of you who don’t do ice cream when it’s freezing outside may be pleased to hear that Spoon City’s “Custard Hot Chocolate” is not frozen custard at all. When I dropped by the other day after my 99 cent pizza run at K Food Corp, (yes I will go out in the freezing cold for frozen custard) the ladies behind the counter at Spoon City looked at me a little oddly when I asked for some Hot Chocolate Custard. They said they didn’t have any Hot Chocolate Custard, but they did have new Custard Hot Chocolate (in shot form!) Since I was already there, I decided to give it a try.

For $1.75 you get a little espresso cup’s worth of their thick house-made hot chocolate with or without whipped cream. I choose with whipped cream, natch. Apparently they make it there each day with dark chocolate, cinnamon and a “proprietary blend of spices” that one of the ladies behind the counter says she mixes each morning. The cocoa itself was mildly spicy but not “hot” spicy. If you have a relatively low tolerance for sweet beverages, this is not the drink for you. At $2.75, regular size hot chocolate that looked like it was at least 8 oz is only $1 more, but the ladies at Spoon City said that most customers complained that it was too much and they couldn’t finish it.

While City Bakery isn’t in danger of losing hot chocolate customers to Spoon City, if you like your hot chocolate on the sweet and spicy side and enjoy the novelty of doing chocolate shots, this might be the post lunch treat you’re looking for.

Spoon City, 339 5th Ave. (btw. 33+34th), 212-686-1244

Custard Hot Chocolate

The ML Team — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:30:56 +0000

If you’re planning on hitting up the new 99 cent pizza place (on 33rd btw. 5th+Madison) you might want to also swing by Spoon City (on 5th btw. 33+34th). They’re now serving “custard hot chocolate”.

Free Frozen Custard Reminder

Zach Brooks — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:30:29 +0000

Don’t forget, free 4oz servings of frozen custard at Spoon City (on 5th Ave. btw. 33+34th) today from 3-7pm. Freeloaders engage.

Spoon City Brings Shake Shack’ish Custard to Midtown

Zach Brooks — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 14:30:45 +0000

If you love the concretes they serve at the Shake Shack, but don’t have time to make it to the UWS or Madison Square Park on your lunch break, you’ll want to pay attention to this news. Spoon City, a tiny take out soup, sandwich, and ice cream window has just opened on 5th Avenue btw. 33+34th serving the exact same frozen custard they serve at the Shack. They’re not affiliated in any way, but according to the guy behind the counter Spoon City uses the exact same machinery, and the same ingredients vendor that the Shake Shack uses.

Normally I don’t know if I can tell the difference between ice cream and “frozen custard” (which apparently is a Coney Island specialty) but I do know this: the Shacky Road concrete from the Shack Shack is freakin’ amazing, and if this Spoon City can even replicate a bit of that magic here in Midtown, I’m all for it!

In other words, how could I walk all the way over there and not order something…

$4.75 gets you a small concrete, with one free mix-in (I went with chocolate custard + cookie dough.) It’s kind of pricey for ice cream (custard, whatever), but it tasted pretty awesome. I’m not enough of an expert to say if it tastes exactly like the Shack- but it was close enough. In addition to the concretes, they’ll also do milkshakes and floats or just give you custard in a cone. The menu had 15 flavors listed, but I only saw one custard machine and was under the impression I was just limited to vanilla or chocolate… but I guess not. (According to the menu each serving is “made fresh to order”.) There are also over 14 mix ins, which cost $1 each if you want more than just the one that comes free with any order.

In addition to the sweet stuff, they also have a few savory items like sandwiches, and soups from Hale & Hearty… but clearly the custard is where it’s at.

Spoon City, 339 5th Ave. (btw. 33+34th), 212-686-1244