Midtown Lunch

It seems like new food trucks have been popping up all over midtown these past couple months. Yesterday, on the northwest corner of 51st and Park, I caught sight of an unfamiliar truck, Monkey Brothers Lab. I haven’t had much luck finding a website or any sort of social media page, and they didn’t have a menu up yet when I walked by, but the truck looks to be offering a variety of options – Philly cheese steaks, burgers and fries, tacos and bowls, and empanadas. If anyone was bold enough to check these guys out yesterday, let us know in the comments!

When it comes to coffee, I’m a utilitarian. If all I need is a jolt to sustain me through a long workday, I have no problem choking down a cup of black sludge from the office coffeemaker. But when the summer heat hits, I have to grab an iced coffee on my way to work. For my money, coffee is just better on ice. And at Lucid Cafe (Lex btw. 37th+38th), they’re making it right.

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The 2013 Vendy season is upon us and this morning the finalists for Dessert, (the new category never mind, this is its second year) Market, New Jersey and Rookie were announced. Onto the finalists!

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We’re guessing Clarke’s Standard, PJ Clarke’s new fast casual concept on 54th & Lex, is doing well as the signage is up for their third location, the former Goodburger at 43rd Street & 2nd Avenue. This is their second Midtown East location, but don’t feel left out Midtown Westers. You should be getting your own Clarke’s Standard on 8th Avenue between 57th & 58th Street soon enough. We just heard in the comments that a Columbus Circle location opened a month ago on 8th Ave. btw. 57+58th.

California Roll from Sushi Shop. Photo by Ramen & Friends

• Sushi Shop is the Pret of sushi [Ramen & Friends]
• Sofia’s, the Italian place in the Edison Hotel has lost its lease [JV]
• Shocker: Chopped salads are super popular [NYT]
• A look at all the dishes at Ippudo Midtown [SENY]
• Ippudo Midtown has an exclusive collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery [Eataku]
• Cafe Grumpy may replace Starbucks in Grand Central [Grub St.]
• Buffalo Wild Wings is coming to Times Square [DNAinfo]
• A look at the new summer sandwiches from ‘wichcraft [SENY]
• Where to eat near Times Square [SENY]
• For those of you who don’t mind a splurge, Ma Peche has rolled out a new large format feast [Eater]
• If you care about your co-workers, these guys say to avoid Xi’an Famous Foods [II]

This isn’t a typical Midtown Happy Hour, but it’s still great news for anybody who is a big fan of Kelvin Slush’s booze filled slushies…

It’s easy to forget about The Tap Room in the Whole Foods Columbus Circle. It opened in late 2011 as a bar to have a drink and maybe a bite to eat while in a Whole Foods–a sort-of weird concept, but, given the lack of decent bar options in the area or in the Time Warner Center, not the worst idea. I imagine many shopping companions find themselves stopping by here. Well now they will have a new drink option: Kelvin Natural Slush boozy slushies are on tap.

They’re even served up in special Kelvin branded glasses. They are currently offering an apricot shandy and a white sangria straight from a slush machine, both fruity and delicious. This one was the $5 12 oz version, boozy enough to get you a little buzzed and refreshingly cool after my short walk in the summer heat. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear they are doing styrofoam cup to-go versions, so you are stuck getting brain freeze while watching ESPN.

Whole Foods Columbus Circle, 10 Columbus Cir (btw W Central Park & B’way). 212-823-9600

Brush with the law aside, it’s been a while since we checked in on the 9th Ave Mexican stalwart Ranchito del Agave. Last mentioned food-wise for a lunch buffet, they’ve got a menu full of stuff. $7.95 lunch specials alongside some proper-looking burritos? Worth a shot, doubly so if they’ve got mole poblano and pipian on the menu. If nothing else, something’s gotta offset the Chipotle-centric burrito domination of Midtown Southwest.
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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I love it when readers write in to suggest lunch spots I might have neglected, overlooked, or just never walked by. So a huge thank you to Flatiron Lunch’er James for suggesting the cart on the corner of 19th and Park.

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If you are a coffee fanatic you’ll be excited to hear about this new find from Lunch’er Clues, who sent us this letter the other day…

Dear Editor,

I have been an avid follower and occasional contributor to your site for several years. I thought your coffee fans may be interested in a discovery I made yesterday…

I consider myself somewhere between a coffee geek and snob. I have a burr grinder and Clever Dripper in my office and my co-workers get a kick out of watching me brew my java every morning. I love Midtown Lunch’s coffee reviews and, as a result of the site, frequent Simon Sips, Gregory’s, and JOE the art of coffee.

But yesterday I found a hidden gem! While paying for my lunch at Treehaus, I noticed a very strange looking machine behind the counter next to their espresso maker.

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