Midtown Lunch

First the bad news: My return trip to Express BBQ was not as awesomely tasty as the first. Finding decent pulled pork is a huge thrill for me, however, so that would have been a tough visit to top.

The good news: Express BBQ serves up decent brisket and tasty mac and cheese. Kreuz Market it ain’t, but the brisket is smoky and flavorful like the pork, and a little bit of bbq sauce makes up for the fact that’s a touch on the dry side.

The mac and cheese is solid as well, and the price for either is reasonable, solidifying Express BBQ’s position as a Downtown Lunch destination.

Read more »

As is customary here on Midtown Lunch, every Tuesday we’ll profile a different lunch’er and get their recommendations for places to eat in Downtown NYC. This week, Emily reminds me how badly I want to go to Spain and Singapore and San Francisco and…

Name: Emily

Occupation: Trade Show Coordinator

Where you work: FiDi- Bowling Green

Age: 26

Favorite Kind of Food: I love potato chips, noodles in soup, congee, …there’s just too much to list. I love everything Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian. I will try anything and everything once; maybe except bugs.

Least Favorite Food: I can’t think of any dish or cuisine in particular. I do not like cilantro.

Favorite Lunches Downtown: I usually bring my own lunches, but during the days that I do go out to buy I like the eggplant parm pizza from Grotto Pizzeria, Pret A Manger’s soups and salads, hot buffet from Yip’s especially their string beans and curry chicken, and anything from Sophie’s Cuban.

Read more »

At Midtown Lunch we’re always looking for outstanding dishes, but we also like to get as much food as we can for as little money as possible. Cafe 52 may not serve the best food in the Financial District – not even close – but if you’re looking to stretch a dollar, and maybe your waistline as well, this is the place for you.

Tucked away in the back corner of the United Federation of Teachers building at 52 Broadway, Cafe 52 is unassuming to say the least. But a sign inside the door reveals what might be the best bargain in the area: $4.75 for a sandwich/salad/pasta, a cup of soup, and a garlic knot. That may only sound OK at first, but the portions here are huge. The food isn’t amazing, but it’s pretty good, and you definitely won’t leave hungry…

Read more »

Bereket’s Doner Kebab, courtesy of Always Hungry NY

• Just this side of Houston lives one mean doner kebab [Always Hungry NY]
• The Feed and Fork in the Road give us their top 10 Chinese restaurants. Wish I’d had this last week. [The Feed & Fork in the Road]
• Yvo gives us a look at Paris Bakery’s new $5 bahn mi/green tea waffle combo [The Feisty Foodie]
• The NYC Cravings truck isn’t the only one with Porken [Plantains and Kimchi]
• Ice box cakes have a special place in my heart… and my stomach [Serious Eats NY]