Archive for the year 2009

Ask the ML Forums: Anybody know where to get a good Italian hero near Rockefeller Center (i.e. not boar's head.)  The best thing I could think of was Murray's Salami in Grand Central Terminal.  Got a better idea?  Luncher nycviarachel is asking in the forums>>

Free Emergency Cupcake Alert (And Waffle Reminder)

This just in… today is the free cupcake day for the newly opened Crumbs on Broadway btw. 52+53rd. They’re only giving away 1000, and the employee I just talked to on the phone said they’re already at #600. Of course, if you don’t make it there, there’s always the free waffle sample from Noon to 1pm at the Wafels and Dinges Truck on 45th btw. 6+7th. Freeloaders engage! (Thanks to Blondie and Brownie for the Crumbs tip.)

Friday is the Last Day for Certe’s Mexican Torta

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I finally got around to trying Certe’s May entry in the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, the Mexican Torta.  “Tanman” and “Wayne” were kind of enough to send their reports earlier in the month, but in keeping with the rules of the Sandwich Challenge I should probably post something… so here it is.  Good sandwich.  Quality meat.  Love the avocado (always a sandwich bonus.)  Liked the bread, salsa and cheese.  All around a good sandwich.  I wouldn’t call it a torta though.  That’s a torta! This was more like a good steak sandwich with avocado.  Though for $8.95 it kind of lacks that wow factor that is required for me to spend this much on a sandwich- although I would definitely recommend trying it at least once. Another solid effort from Certe (on 55th btw. 5+6th).

If you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, I think Friday may be the last day.

Related:
Certe’s Thanksgiving Dip is the Greatest Sandwich Ever Created
Underestimate Certe’s Vegetarian Sandwich at Your Own Risk

Rock Center Lenny’s Is Now Open: Lunch'er Sarah sends word that the new Lenny's in the Rockefeller Center Concourse is now open.  This is great news for all those lazy Rock Center workers who can't bring themselves to walk directly outside to the Lenny's on 48th btw. 5+6th.

Empanada Joe’s to Become Roma Pizza

Roma Pizza

It looks like the short lived Empanada Joe’s (on 8th Ave. btw. 43+44th) is becoming a place called Roma Pizza.  If the look of the sign is any indication, I’m guessing this will be just another generic 8th Ave. New York City fast food pizza place (aka for the tourists.)  I guess only time will tell.

Baja Fresh vs. Chipotle: 1:30pm today via Twitter: "@MidtownLunch  Baja Fresh still packed today, but the line at Chipotle was almost non-existant. The tide is turning."

Subway Roulette is a Great Way to Pick Lunch

Subway Lunch

I’m a big advocate of taking the subway to lunch.  If you have a monthly pass it’s free, and with a little bit of planning you can easily get a delicious lunch in a different neighborhood in under an hour.  If you don’t like to plan do what Peter Cherches from Word of Mouth does- play subway roulette.

“Sometimes I feel like getting out of the neighborhood for lunch, for variety, but some place not too far, maybe three of four stops on the train.  So I go to the subway at Lexington & 53rd and wait for a train.  The two choices are the E and the V.  If the E comes first I hop on and go to lunch on 8th, or more likely 9th Avenue.  If the V comes first I go some place close to 6th Avenue, maybe one of the Korean places on W. 32nd or maybe Szechuan Gourmet.”

Yesterday, the E came so he ended up at Bali Nusa on 9th Ave. (one of my personal favorite out of bounds lunch spots.)  This could be the greatest idea ever.  Do you work near a subway stop with multiple trains?  What would your roulette options look like?

Related:
Subway Lunch: This Could Be the Perfect Week For Banh Mi
You Can Make it to Porchetta and Back in an Hour
Both Shake Shack’s Are Do-Able From Midtown in 60 Mins

Baguette Express Brings Their Kosher Brooklyn Falafel Stand to Midtown

Baguette Express

A new little kosher falafel & sandwich nook has popped up on 37th Street btw. 5+6th.  The owner used to have a small restaurant in Brooklyn, until his customers encouraged him to move to Midtown.  With Olympic Pita (on 38th btw. 5+6th) and Crisp (on 40th btw. B’way+6th) just a few blocks away, and Maoz coming soon to Broadway and 40th, Midtown South is starting to get a little falafel heavy.  But the price is right, and everything is Kosher so who knows?  You can probably never have too much falafel in Midtown.

I couldn’t decide between their baguette sandwiches (pastrami, corned beef, etc.), their schnitzel (fried chicken cutlets) or their falafel. But in the end the falafel won out. (You’ve got to start with the basics.)

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Crisp Wants to Pay You To Eat (and Spy)

Out of a job or looking to subsidize your daily lunch out?  This could be the greatest job offer of all time.  Crisp, the Israeli falafel place with the unique sandwich combinations, is looking for a weekly “anonymous customer” to go into their locations, eat lunch, and report back to the owner.  They will pay you for each visit PLUS reimburse you the cost of lunch.  You might have to visit both locations each week (one on 3rd Ave. btw. 43+44th and one on 40th btw. B’way+6th) but I’m not sure.  Email Rakesh@eatatcrisp.com if you are interested.

Related:
Crisp: Abomination… Or One of the Best Falafel in the City

99 Cent Breakfast: Blondie & Brownie put themselves in the unenviable position of trying the new 99 cent breakfast wrap from the Dunkin Donuts in Rock Center.  The price is right, but no thanks.  (Del Taco breakfast tacos, these are not.)