Midtown Lunch

Luncher Brad checked in recently with this tip about a new Indian cart in Midtown East that looks like it’s related to Mysttik Masala in Astoria…

I work on East 44th and we noticed that a new indian cart popped up by the Hallmark on the corner of 44th and 2nd. I know ML likes carts and cheap indian food, so I figured I’d pass this along. My coworker went today and got Chicken Vindaloo and said it was pretty good. It came with rice and lentils. My coworker is Indian, so I trust his opinion. I’m also attaching the menu. It looks like they only do 2 dishes a day: 1 veg and 1 non-veg. He also got a complimentary masala chai with his meal.

Check out the menu after the jump…

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In November, jenjfen posted news that the beloved Vic’s Bagel Bar (3rd between 36th and 37th) had closed. As reported by a Midtown Luncher, the black trash bags that used to cover the windows have been replaced by paper from Bagel Boss Cafe. Bagel Boss Cafe has another location on 1st ave, down by Stuyvesant Town, that tends to get pretty packed in the mornings. They may not have the fancy mix-ins or smoked meat that Vic’s was known for, but I’m happy to see that there will be no shortage of bagels in the neighborhood. Vic’s is a tough act to follow, but Bagel Boss has been around a while and I imagine they know what they’re doing.

The other day, Del’s Frozen Lemonade made its first appearance in Midtown in their newly refurbished adorable blue-green 1949 Chevorlet van, parked on the Southwest Corner of 52nd and Park. Del’s is a Rhode Island staple that Rhode Islanders keep very dear to their hearts, but Del’s history actually originated in Naples in 1840, when the family patriarch, Great Grandfather DeLucia, made frozen lemonade by first storing the winter’s snow in caves and insulating it with straw, and then mixing the snow with lemon juice and just the right amount of sugar when the lemons were in season in the summertime. Generations of DeLucias have continued the tradition in America, and according to Gothamist, the NYC Truck just got up and running this past May by native Rhode Islander, Cam Crockford. Prices range from $3.50 for a small to $5 for a large. Maybe today is not the best day for it, but once the sun comes back this should make for a great summer treat?

Del’s Frozen Lemonade Truck, 52nd and Park (check Twitter for location)

Fatburger is here! Packed quite nicely at 1:15 PM on opening day, there was brisk business coming in and going out. Plus a full bar for those who want a more liquid lunch. Not a bad first day by any means, but the California burger debate has been rumbling for years now, and we’re just now feeling the aftershocks as if the San Andreas Fault had Chipotle for lunch. After getting a 24-hour Citibike pass to get all the way to 3rd from my office on the westside, I was hungry to bite down into something to invalidate the ride out and the ride back at the same time. Fatburger, prove your worth against the perils of physical exercise!
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If you thought the only way to try a cronut, the new Dominique Ansel pastry taking the city by storm, is either waiting in an absurd line in Soho at 7am or paying someone off, I’m here to tell you there is now a much easier option for Midtown Lunchers. This week, Gregory’s Coffee introduced a fried doughnut comprised of flaky croissant layers, filled with vanilla cream, and then glazed. Of course, for legal reasons, these are not cronuts, but croissant doughnuts. They’ll cost you $4 each, but that’s a dollar cheaper than the real thing and a whole lot less stressful.

Gregory’s Coffee, multiple locations

Last week, Alexa forewarned of Certe’s June sandwich, the Count of Stonington. This baby’s got lobster salad and spicy grano padana frico on vanilla-honey and sea-salted French toast. Yep, I was just as overwhelmed by that description as you- but it didn’t sufficiently prepare for what was to come.

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Just a friendly reminder for those who missed the news last week… Grand Central Terminal turns 100 years old this year, and as part of the celebration a lot of the retailers are rolling back their prices to 1913 levels today only.  You’ll be able to get a 19 cent piece of cheesecake at Grand Central Oyster Bar (dine in only, with the purchase of an entree), a 10 cent bambini scoop of Ciao Bella Gelato (from 1-3pm only), a 5 cent cup of coffee from Financier Patisserie (from Noon to 1pm only) and a bunch more food and non-food deals.  For a complete list, check out their website.

It looks like Diso’s Italian Sandwich Truck (which we told you about this morning) had a crazy first day in Midtown.  Luncher “ahntop” reported in the comments that his sandwich was very good, although he had to wait 45 minutes for it. I got there at 1:30pm, and waited in line for 15 minutes before they announced that they had run out of bread. This ain’t the FiDi Diso’s! Got to come ready if you’re going to do lunch in Midtown. Did get a free piece of prosciutto tho! Guess I’ll have to try again for the sandwich next time…