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Crazy lines
Posted: 12:06 pm, May 6th, 2011 in Midtown Eating
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28 Comments
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I agree with you again Broccoli Rob!
I don't understand why folks would stand on line for lunch for 45 minutes, and waste almost a whole lunch hour. I personally don't get lunch breaks at my job, so I try to hit up the trucks when I start a later shift (on the way to work). I understand most people have normal jobs, and actually get to take a lunch (lucky!)...but I can't see wasting a precious lunch break waiting 45 minutes on line.
I waited once for my lunch 30 minutes...I was early to work, and didn't feel like taking a walk instead, so I waited for the Kimchi Taco truck. However, I felt Mexicue tacos were better, and there was no line when I visited that truck. I left perplexed.
Sometimes I see folks lined up down the block for the Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th (not the famous one, but the impostor!) and I shake my head. Why would you wait a half hour for chicken over rice, when there are a zillion Halal carts within a few blocks with absolutely no wait. Is it THAT much better? I don't think so.
I guess folks just want to get outside and don't mind waiting around..it must be an excuse to get out. I personally would prefer to get my lunch, eat, and take a nice long walk. That's if I had a lunch hour.
I find if you hit up the trucks early or late, the lines are shorter. Also, obviously, once the chatter dies down, the lines go on to the next big thing.
Enjoy your lunch breaks! :-)
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The line at Taim Mobile yesterday (Monday) on 46th bt 5th and 6th had to be nearing 50 deep at around 12:15. I was amazed. The food is very good...but not anywhere near that good.
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Sounds like the Whine Truck is parked on your corner! Waah waah waaaaah! If it's not worth waiting in line, don't wait in line. I'd rather they have a booming business than close up shop. The only solution: MORE food trucks! NYC needs to stop complaining and start embracing.
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chowsue: i agree. i think kimchi taco impressed me the least out of all the taco trucks. mexicue is the best i believe but perhaps people are kept away because of the higher prices?
Yet, hordes of people will stay wait 45 minutes + to pay $10 for grilled cheese and tater tots. People just are retarded.
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baconbaconbaconbaconbacon...IT'S BACONNNNN!!!!
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I wonder if the lines get as crazy in other neighborhoods (Flatiron, FiDi, etc). Midtown seems to have the highest concentration of high rise office buildings (with many finance companies), the tenants of which I would guess make up the vast majority of the customer base in the area.
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I only wait that long if it's free or I'm trying something pretty impressive for the first time. Otherwise...I'll come back in a couple of months when all the hype has died down.
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idontknow - in "FiDi", Schnitzel & Things' line was ridiculous, as was Cravings, when they parked by my old office. This was over a year ago (um... probably late 2009 actually) since I quit a while back, but that gives you an idea that yes, there are still places where they get packed
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Don't you know, the longer the line, the more people will want to get in line, because they assume that everyone else is lined up for something good. It's a positive feedback loop. That's why I can get a really excellent gyro or lamb&rice plate in less than 5min at 49th&6th while all the lemmings will wait 10 times longer for the same dish maybe (maybe!) 1.1 times better at 53rd&6th.
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adamross, a feedback loop is a great way to describe this phenomenon. I do the complete opposite though...opting the hell out.
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People aren't used to waiting that long for lunch and don't know how to value their time. And a lot of the new gourmet trucks don't turn out food very quickly. It is also easier to find gourmet trucks due to the hype and twitter presence. Combine all those factors, and you have long lines, trucks that take forever to make food, and overpriced food trucks. For my money, the only new food truck I frequent regularly is Mexicue, which is fast, delicious, and cheap ($6.50 for 2 sliders is a smallish lunch but still satisfying). And Taim has to be the most overrated truck out there. It combines long lines, good but not mind-boggling falafels, and prices that are significantly higher than other just-as-good midtown falafel trucks (Moshe's, Kwik, and Chickpea). Another offender is the Kimchi Truck, which is not popular enough to count as overrated but still gets lines/hype because they are a food truck, but are clearly the least desirable of the lot. If people spent as much time looking for good places around them as trying to keep up with their food trucks, they'd probably be better off.
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I tend to agree with much of what Eric just said. One of the biggest issues is they simply take too much time to produce the order. I once got on line 10 people deep, before Kimchi Truck opened. They finally opened and after I ordered I still waited 15 minutes AFTER my order to get the food! That's crazy. What kind of prep are they not doing?!? I did like the food tho.
I went to Red Hook Lobster the other day. $16 for a small but tasty lobster sammi. I wont do that often...BUT, with about 15 people in front of me on line, and 8 people waiting for their food to come out...I still had my food in hand 10 minutes later.
Big difference -> Better experience. -
Just remember the old saying, "sheeple are dumb"...and you will never suffer.
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"That's why I can get a really excellent gyro or lamb&rice plate in less than 5min at 49th&6th while all the lemmings will wait 10 times longer for the same dish maybe (maybe!) 1.1 times better at 53rd&6th."
Which cart are you thinking of at 49th & 6th? There are two next to each other on the southwest corner -- the one on the left is called something like "Chicken and Rice Twice As Nice -- Don't Tell Mama" and the other has no name.
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Went to try Taim Mobile today. Got an early start and showed up at 11:25. There were already 22 people on line waiting for them to open. Yesterday, I walked past Korilla and Uncle Gussy's at lunchtime, and they both had 30+ people on line. Between the nice weather and the explosion of chatter about the new trucks, this is just absolutely no fun anymore. I can't waste 45 minutes waiting for my lunch. How do all of you people have so much free time?