Midtown Lunch

Last week I started brainstorming locations for my first ML post. I really wanted to do Kabobeesh,which I hear has incredible kebabs and naan, but their prices were a little more than what I wantedto spend at lunch time. Also their menu is confusing, where fish curry is served “mostly on Mondays”and biryani “mostly on Fridays”. So, there’s that. The final decision came down to the lunch buffet atNew Delhi Indian restaurant, on 40th and Chestnut. I had looked at their website, skimmed the buffetofferings, as well as the traditional dine-in menu, and I was ready to feast. Then, I walked over with twoco-workers on Monday afternoon and realized they were closed on Mondays–a minor oversight on mypart.
Thankfully, right around the corner is Tandoor India, which also offers an $8.95 lunch buffet and this iswhere we landed. The exterior of the restaurant leaves much to be desired, but the quality and quantityof food easily makes up for what the restaurant lacks in aesthetics. We were immediately seated, brought a pitcher of water and ushered up to the buffet.

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Back when I was living in NYC I know I could count on one of the handful of restaurants that specialized in mac and cheese to satisfy the craving. While we may not have that Philly, Misconduct Tavern gets the job done just as well, while offering the added benefit of a lovely draught beer list. Besides the beer list and slightly upscaled put fare, this nautical themed bar has televisions for the sports lover and well prepared cocktails.

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Meal Ticket has reported two big lunching stories, first the Jewish deli formally known at the Kibitz Room is now Schlesinger’s. Though there is a new menu, you will still find staples such as corned beef and pastrami and most importantly, the pickle bar is still there. [Meal Ticket]

Also, Famous Dave’s has opened on 17th and Chestnut with a lunch friendly menu  in the ML price range including rotating bag lunches and sandwiches like the $9 Texas Manhandler, a monster of brisket and sausage.  [Meal Ticket]

Lastly, Luncher Christine and Foobooz points out that Jet Wine bar has started an express lunch with soup, salads, and sandwiches for $10.

As is customary at Philly Lunch, every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Philadelphia. This week, it’s Aubre, who will glady let you eat the foie gras off her plate.

Name: Aubre

Age: 24

Occupation: Coordinator at U Penn

Where in Philly do you Work?: University of Pennsylvania

Favorite Kind of Food: Generally any kind of carb that has cheese incorporated. That being said—sandwiches, bagels, pizza and pasta are some of my biggest weaknesses. I could eat an everything bagel with veggie cream cheese every single day, for the rest of my life, and die a very happy, very fat woman. I love falafel, any kind of curry, Thai and Japanese noodle dishes, SUSHI, burritos, cheeseburgers and hot dogs. I also passionately love brunch. Idea for you—Midtown Brunch. Let it marinate.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Foie gras. 1 out of every 3 times I tell someone this, they’re all “Oooh no, you just haven’t had the right foie gras. There’s NO way you could just outright hate it.” Actually, I could. And I do. No arguments!

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Philly: Since I started working at Penn, it’s been the Magic Carpet truck (corner of Walnut and 34th & another back on Sansom and 36th) . Favorites are the falafel pita sandwich with a side of grape leaves or the Greek salad with falafel on top. Everything here is delicious and fresh and I LOVE their hot sauce and balsamic dressing.

Hummus on 39th and Walnut. A little on the pricey side but portions here are huge. Their shawarma is fantastic and they have a great Greek salad with falafel on top. Their pitas are delicious as well. A little spongy and doughy—perfect for dipping.

The burritos at the Tacos Don Memo truck, on 38th btw Walnut and Chestnut, are amazing. These are tough at lunch time though, because afterwards I feel like I’ve been shot with a tranquilizer dart and have trouble finishing my work for the day.

The lunch combo specials at Sang Kee, on 36th and Chestnut, are another great option in my area. Slightly pricey by ML standards, but a TON of food. Even enough to bring the rest home for dinner. I usually go with the steamed dumplings, beef with eggplant in garlic sauce and brown rice. Their chicken with string beans is excellent, too– one of my favorites in the city. ($9.50 including a drink)

Lemongrass Thai on 36th and Lancaster does a great lunch special. Tulip dumplings, Lemongrass soup & either the Royal Noodles or the Panang Curry. They have a lot of vegetarian options as well. ($8.95)

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Oriental Gourmet is a pretty unfortunate name for a food truck. Up at Temple this truck advertises Chinese food and features an endearing neatly hand written yellow sign of Chinese dishes. But the better bet here is choosing from the list of Vietnamese specialty dishes, for example a platter of char grilled meat  over vermicelli(bún) for $5.

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Photo courtesy of Akira Suwa at the Inquirer

• Yelp has got a new Community Manager. Yay Michelle! [Yelp]
• Some crazy intricate vegan burgers are being served at Sketch [Inquirer]
• A slide show of Grub Street’s favorite Philly Pork Dishes. We do have so many [Grub Street]
• Brick oven pizza opened on 15th and Spring Garden [Meal Ticket]
• Some fair warning about the food at Pho & Cafe Anh Hong. Not all pho is created equal [FoodZings]
• Top Chef Jen is happy to be back working in Philly [Grub Street]

Looks like the new Five Guys on Walnut and 11th is readying itself for its December 22nd opening.

But not so much with Blue Bear, on 11th between Walnut and Locust in the spot formerly occupied by Doc Watson’s. There is not too much going on inside…

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