Midtown Lunch

Crains is reporting that sales are down at a number of Midtown businesses that depend on Lehman Brothers employees. “Business at the Majestic Delicatessen was down 50% Monday, according to [the] owner of the breakfast and lunch spot located… at 7th Avenue and 50th Street.” Also mentioned in the article as being affected: Ben Benson’s (on 52nd & 7th) and countless tailors in the area, who have already seen drops in the number of suits being ordered. In contrast, according two sources, popular bars in the area (like TGI Fridays and Emmett O’Lunney’s) have been full. However, one Midtown Lunch doesn’t seem to be affected- this from a commenter yesterday: “Line out the door at Sapporo at 1:15 today — I kind of thought the Lehman people wouldn’t be around so maybe it would be less crowded… no such luck.”

Photo courtesy of Mushy’s Captures

Silo Cafe has opened in the food court that houses Pampano Taqueria and Sohpie’s Cuban (on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th.)  On first glance it’s just another generic Midtown Deli, but I got this message from a lunch’er the other day:

I know cheap (or even better free) stuff seems to get good mileage on your site, so I thought you’d be interested in hearing that Silo Cafe finally opened in the Pompano food court (50th and Lex). It is probably not much better than your basic (upscaleish) deli at $7.50/lb, except for the udon, bibimbap and sushi bar in the back. My veggie bibimbap was pretty big and also came with miso soup for just $6.50. Chicken and beef are only a dollar more. I’m relatively new to the midtown scene, but to my untrained tastebuds it was also pretty good and they whipped it up for me in about 3 minutes. To top it off, the cashier handed me a coupon for a free breakfast item when I left. You can beat that can you?

Well, you know I’m a sucker for free stuff (and bibimbap), so I headed over the other day to check it out… 

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After this post, the PR people from Rick’s Cabaret were bugging me to come try their lunch.  I never accept free food from the places I write about on Midtown Lunch (and wanted to stay married) so I told them thanks, but no thanks for that strip club lunch.  If I wanted a strip club lunch I would pay for it myself! Of course popular ML commenter Mamacita is not under the same restrictions- so I gladly sent her in my place, to check out the “scenery” at Rick’s Cabaret.  I also knew that most of you would much rather picture her at Rick’s than me. Here is her story…

While there may be many tasty delights to be had at Rick’s Cabaret, I was restrained by Zach’s Midtown Lunch $10 price limit so I will not be telling how it feels to get a lap dance at Rick’s. I will also not be telling you about a little something I coined the “Corporate Massage,” which seemed to involve older, bald, fat (no offense Zach) C.E.O’s and perky bodiced ladies rubbing your back and perhaps calling you daddy (Should that excite you). I will also not digress to tell you about the enhanced lovelies in g-strings dancing upon the stage to AC/DC and Aerosmith. Furthermore, I will not mention how this lunch was the first time I’ve seen a stripper dance to R.E.M. and rub her ample buttocks up and down a mirrored wall.

No, we will not sink so low today. After all, this blog is about lunch- right?  (Well, maybe we’ll sink a little.)  Read more »

With Lehman Brothers on the brink of bankruptcy, even the hot dog stand in front of their office building (on 49th & 7th Avenue) is no fun.  Whispers are overheard, reporters are lurking. Clearly it’s not safe to be lunch’ing in the area. Not at the hot dog stand out front, and certainly not at the normal Lehman Bros hangouts (like Del Frisco’s or Ted’s Montana Steaks.)  So, as a community service to the embattled employees of Lehman Brothers, I’ve compiled a list of places within 2 blocks of the Lehman Brothers building where you will be able to lunch in peace.  With these places there is no chance you’re going to be overheard gossiping about your company in front of anybody who would actually care. Bonus: they’re all under $10.  Which is good, because you guys are probably going to be looking to save some cash right now.  Reporters- please ignore this list, and leave the good people of Lehman Bros alone.

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The New York Times pulls back the curtain on Obika, the mozzarella bar which after “a year of construction and red tape” is finally scheduled to open in the atrium on 56th & Madison on September 22nd.

Thali from Khodiar Lunch Services, in the former newsstand on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th. Photo by Pabo 76

• FIKA is opening another location just south of the Midtown Lunch boundaries [Eater]
• Tafu, on 51st btw. Lex+3rd, is selling Wabi-Sabi cupcakes in honor of their one year anniversary [Blondie and Brownie]
• Why do people still post questions on Chowhound about finding lunch in Midtown?  [Chowhound]
• Another review of Chai, the newish Thai restaurant on 8th Ave. and 55th St. [Superman’s Blog]
• If you are willing to spend $18 on a burger, this off the menu one at Lever House looks pretty damn good [AHT]

Remember this?  And remember how I said if I wanted to stay married, I would not be able to review this lunch spot?  Well, problem solved!  Popular Midtown Lunch commenter “Mamacita” agreed to go in my place, and just finished lunch’ing at the oh so fabulous Rick’s Cabaret (on 33rd btw. B’way+5th)  Naturally crab cakes and strip steak were both consumed… she forwarded along this first impression… “Let’s just say I haven’t seen that much T&A since high school gym, and these were not ‘little’ girls.”  Nice…. full review coming next week…

Every few months I gravitate back to the Bulgogi Cart on 49th btw. 6+7th hoping that it will graduate from decent to excellent. Over the year and a half it’s been operating, I think we can all agree on certain conclusions.  1) Their kalbi is much better than their bulgogi.  2) Keeping your expectations low is a good thing.  Not amazing Korean food, but decent considering it’s from a cart.  3) They don’t give you nearly enough kimchee! 

I haven’t been in a few months, but a lunch’er emailed this report yesterday:

I don’t know if you have already been informed, but I walked over to the Bulgogi cart (49th and 6th) to get lunch today and noticed that the prices have increased! Most of the standard fare which was previously $6 has been increased to $7. So now a number 1 with double meat is $9! That is a bit steep for cart food in my opinion, but you gotta respect the effects of the economy.

But wait, there’s more…   Read more »

A friend of mine spotted Barack Obama in the lobby of the Parker Meridien Hotel late last night.  I wonder if he ate at the Burger Joint?  Or maybe Topaz Thai next door? Either would have been better choices than what he had for lunch today visiting Bill Clinton’s office in Harlem: “a potpourri of Cosi sandwiches, flatbread pizza, salad and chips.” Terrible.