We’ve gotten multiple reports that Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th) has been closed by the DOH. According to the DOH website they got a 59 on their last inspection on Sunday, but there’s no record of what for. Hopefully they’ll be back open soon…
We’ve been waiting a mere two and a half years for this event (remember when Eater dropped the news back in February 2011?), and though it might be 90+ degrees outside, that didn’t stop us from checking out Ippudo’s newest Midtown location, Ippudo Westside. Despite a discouraging first official lunch day this past Monday cut short by an emergency in the kitchen, I returned on Tuesday for an experience that proved to more than make up for my lunchless trip on Monday. Ippudo, we’re glad you’re here in Midtown!
The woe betiding the DoHing of Lezzette has lasted over a month (!?!?!) but is thankfully coming to an end soon. Walking by the other day, the insurance shutters were up and the door was open a crack. Sure, the paper is still on the windows, along with the Closed sign, but those are no barrier to food journalism. The guy inside said they’d be re-opening very soon. No re-inspection yet on the Department of Health’s search engine, but we’ll keep you posted!
I spend so much time searching for midtown’s cheapest lunches that I sometimes tend to overlook the quality of the food I eat. Yes, value is important, but occasionally it can be worth dishing out a few extra bucks for that something special. When it comes to Indian, I enjoy street carts and takeout spots like Minar as much as anyone, but let’s not kid ourselves – this is budget Indian food. After treating myself to the lunch buffet at Benares Indian Restaurant last week (56th St. and 8th Ave.), I was reminded how truly awesome good Indian food can be.
Rock Center Restaurant Days is Back: Thanks to Lunchers Adam & Phillip for tipping us off to this one... Through Thursday "a bunch of Rock Center restaurants are cooking on the plaza. $10 steak sandwiches at Del Frisco's Grille and $1 scoops from Ben and Jerry's! Lots of other great stuff too, most at or under $10 (except for a $15 lobster roll)."
Posted at 10:50 am, July 17th, 2013 | 5 Comments
The first time I checked in with Neapolitan Express, the pizza was undercooked and the dough was gummy. They had just launched a few weeks earlier and some of their staff may not have been trained to properly cook the pizza. The second time was at Choice Streets where the pizza seemed to be improving. I stopped by the truck for my third taste last week with my highest expectations yet.
They were parked on Park Avenue just two blocks north of the glut of food trucks on 47th Street. Fortunately for me, there was no line here and the pizza was in my hands in a matter of minutes.
Bento Sushi is new to Midtown East, but not to Manhattan. We’ve covered the Canadian chain over the past few years, enjoying their rice and noodle-based dishes while shrugging at their sushi. Let’s face it, MLers just aren’t the type to go wild over packaged, refrigerated sushi. So how is Bento’s new outpost on 3rd Ave. (btw 43rd+44th)?
Posted by Dan at 11:30 am, July 16th, 2013 under *3rd Ave. btw 43+45th, Japanese, Sushi, Sushi! by Bento Nouveau.
I discovered a new food truck amidst the hungry crowds on 47th Street between Park and Madison on Friday. By the time I arrived around 1pm, the Wing’n It truck was so overwhelmed that I left without any food. First the cashier told me they only had certain items with a long wait for others and then after some questioning, she told me they were completely sold out. This was their second day in Midtown (and the first on this most densely populated food truck street).
Their Facebook page feed says they’ll be back soon and next time I’ll either come early or wait until they get up to speed to handle the crowds. Check out the menu after the jump.
I was so excited to check out Ippudo Westside for it’s first official weekday today. After a weeklong soft opening they had they’re official grand opening this past Saturday, July 13th. Sadly it just wasn’t meant to be today. Assuming it would be crowded as hell today on the first real business day of opening, I got to 321 West 51st at 1:15pm and was super surprised that there was no one to be found. I almost thought I struck gold until I looked closer to see a “Closed” sign. I managed to talk to an employee who said that there was an emergency in the kitchen and technicians had to be called in. The employee said that Ippudo would be closed for at least a couple hours, but would probably be open for dinner tonight.
I guess we’ll try again tomorrow…
Ippudo Westside, 321 West 51st Street (btw. 8th and 9th Avenue)
What once brought kati rolls and an often-panned buffet to Midtown South at the late end of the Brooks Era has been shuttered. Touch of India, which was across from my last job on 37th btw. 7+8th (shout out to my guys on the 11th floor, you know who you are) and didn’t really do much on the Midtown Lunch radar, has closed. If you’re looking for your Indian fix, there’s always Kati House not too far away (on 36th btw. 8+9th).
