Midtown Lunch

Got word from a tipster that last Thursday a taco truck was parked on
the SW corner of 40th St. And 5th Ave. Showed up today and not
surprisingly, it’s nowhere to be found. In its place is a coffee and
breakfast truck that confirmed the existence of a mysterious taco truck
that popped up for one day. “I thought our truck was big, but this
thing was the biggest truck I’ve ever seen.” According to the tipster
it “looked like they had steak, chicken, al pastor, cecina, etc.” Plus
there was a counter to stand and eat your tacos at.

Are you kidding me? People we are at defcon 5. Nothing is important
until this giant taco truck is found. Sightings to report? Do it in
the comments, or email zach@midtownlunch.com

As promised, the Pillsbury Doughboy is indeed on Park Ave. btw 50+51st
handing out free pieces of cake as part of a “Campaign For a Sweeter
America.” He even has a secret service man protecting him (cute touch,
nameless marketing firm who was probably paid millions to come up with
this stupid idea.)

That’s the good news. The bad news… the “free cake” (and brownies) is
made from Pillsbury boxed cake mix, and more importantly, is not in the
shape of a giant map of the U.S. I still ate it though… (is being
addicted to free food promotions a valid disease?)

Stuck working in the office today? Put $2 on the Kentucky Derby at the
OTB on 48th btw 5+6th (right next to the still shuttered Hing Won which
put a sign up over their DOH sticker saying “Open on Monday). Go Z
Humor!!! (30-1, but how could I not?)

On Monday, Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) will remind us that it’s less about fried cutlets smothered in Japanese kare, and more about weird number superstitions (and an unhealthy obsession with Hideki Matsui).  Go means 5 (a very lucky number), they opened one year ago Monday (5/5), and to celebrate they’ll be selling their Small to Large sizes for $5 all day Monday (5/5).  Normally a large order is $8.50, so it’s a pretty good deal- and just so you know, ordering anything but the large, for the same price, would be an embarrassment. 

The only way they could make a better Cinco de Mayo lunch is by offering their Grand Slam for $5.  Now that would be truly spectacular.  (Maybe it’ll happen on May 5, 5555).  It’s also worth mentioning, now that baseball season has started up, they give out free toppings any day after Hideki Matsui (Yankees number 55), hits a homerun.  Go team!

Thanks to commenter AL@1PP for the news. Got a tip or recommendation to share? Email it to zach@midtownlunch.com  

As reported yesterday, today is free cone day at Ben & Jerry’s. At the
8th Ave location, the wait time at 12:15 was 10 mins. Have you gotten
your free cone yet? Post the time of day, and how long you had to wait
below…

Coffee and Plain Fro Yo from Forty Carrots
Posted to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Pool by NYCBlondieandBrownie

• Forty Carrots is serving up some damn good frozen yogurt inside Bloomingdales [Blondie & Brownie]
• Andre Mika’s Top 10 Under $10 includes a few Midtown Lunches [Fork New York]
• Even at night, with no crowds, and plenty of time to prepare the food with care, City Burger still disappoints [Food in Mouth]
• The owners of Chevy’s are opening a “Contemporary Mexican” place in Midtown East [AMNY]
• If you’ve ridden the Grand Central escalators at lunchtime in a Skirt, you may be famous [Gothamist]
• Heartland Brewery and Chop’t are both disappointing (big surprise!) [My NY Stories]
• Gyu Kaku is serving up some good Japanese BBQ on the East Side of Midtown [Miss Menu]
• The Rink Bar is Rock Center has its tables out [Eater]

Brown Rice Kimbap from Woorijip (32nd btw. B’way+5th)
posted to the Midtown Lunch Flickr Pool by Pabo76

• West Village Fave Maremma is moving to Midtown [Eater]
• With the normal cook gone, the Bulgogi plate at Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart wasn’t as good [Food In Mouth]
• If you’re going to see the Pope on Saturday in Midtown, here’s some good eats (although Lord knows if they’ll be open) [AMNY]
• Am I going to have to try the Bison Burger at Ted’s Montana Grill? [Cleaned My Plate]
• THe HBO Cafeteria serves subsidized Bulgogi & Kimchi!  Anybody want to take me? [Park Slope Gastronome]
• B&B Are Doing a Treat by Treat rundown of the Treats Truck.  Up first, the cinnamon cookie [Blondie & Brownie]
• The Daisy May’s Cart is back on 50th btw. 6+7th after a 3 week vacation [Eater]

Nanking, the Chinese/Thai restaurant with 5 locations spread across New Jersey, Long Island and Queens, has opened their 6th location on Broadway btw. 50+51st.  While I usually shy away from places that focus on more then one ethnicity, a co-worker of mine swears by the Jackson Heights Nanking, so I will give it a shot.  Apparently that outpost is pretty cheap, and features an all you can eat lunch buffet (hello!?!), but the Midtown location will (naturally) be more expensive, and there is no buffet.  The grand opening was on Friday, and their lunch specials are $10 (and come with rice and soup), so it just qualifies as a Midtown Lunch.

A curious shot of the lunch specials menu, after the jump… Read more »

Um… if you didn’t eat outside today, you’re an idiot.

Tomorrow seems to be a big day for corporate gimmicks, and while in theory I should be anti, I’ll take free stuff (and I’m guessing you will too).  To celebrate their new breakfast menu items, Jamba Juice will be giving away free 12oz servings of stuff from the time they open until 10am (limit one per customer so choose wisely).  Starbucks is being a little more cryptic, saying only that if you go at Noon EST to any U.S. Starbucks location, something big is going to happen and it involves their Venti.  Whatever.  If they’re not giving away something for free, people are going to get hurt…

If there’s not a Starbucks outside your office, then you don’t work in Midtown.  A list of participating Jamba Juice locations, after the jump… Read more »