Midtown Lunch

And the Baja Fresh invasion of New York City continues… thanks to Midtown Lunchers “Michelle” & “Mike” for sending along this great news: coming soon signs just went up for a second Baja Fresh on Broadway btw. 40+41st. in the old Zest space. As for the first Baja Fresh location (in the old Zen Burger space on Lex btw. 45+46th), the official signage went up at the end of last week and they had an open house for prospective employees yesterday… so we are clearly just a few weeks away. UPDATE: Eater is reporting that the Lexington location will open the day after Memorial Day, and the Broadway location will open sometime this fall.

A photo of the new signage on Lex is after the jump…

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When the Indian buffet Apna Taj took over the former East Ocean space back in March (on 55th btw. Lex+3rd) I noted that for just 45 cents less (they charge $10.50) they probably weren’t going to siphon off any business from the popular Indian buffet next door, Darbar Grill (which is $10.95).  Clearly they got the message, because they just lowered the price of their all you can buffet to $9.50. As anybody who reads this site regularly knows, I find something very appealing about all you can eat buffets that come in below that $10 threshold (they are dwindling by the day, so to see one drop the price is very exciting.)  Now, I will definitely be trying Apna Taj very soon.

Last month I went to 55th st. looking for some Indian buffet action and Darbar Grill was the obvious choice. Always pretty crowded, a ton of options, 3 (!!!) dessert choices, and of course- the infamous make your own dosa station. Photos of that meal, are after the jump…

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If you don’t mind spending over $10 for a quality steakhouse burger for lunch (or reading about the lengths PR people will go to get publicity) you’ll love this one. A few weeks ago, Benjamin Steakhouse (on 41st btw. Park+Madison) offered bloggers the chance to come in and try their burger side by side with the burgers of their competitors (picked up and delivered by Benjamin Steakhouse, of course.)  Well, three blogs took them up on the offer, and the results are in.  Blackbook was the first to weigh in, allowing the Benjamin Steakhouse PR people to deliver all the burgers to their office.  The winner: one person chose the BLT Burger as the best, the other four… Benjamin Steakhouse!

Josh “Mr Cutlets” Ozersky, from the Feedbag, chose Wolfgang’s as the best, but very nicely explained that Benjamin Steakhouse only lost because it wasn’t cooked medium rare. Finally our good friends over at Wined and Dined, who seem to relish promoting these little PR things- between eating Walgreens Sandwiches and greek salads from the 100% Halal & Healthy cart, also had nothing but nice things to say about the Benjamin Steakhouse burger. The whole thing wasn’t without some controversy (aside from the fact that the challenge was orchestrated entirely by the Benjamin Steakhouse PR team.)  Commenters on the Feedbag seemed to think that Mr. Cutlets might have mistakenly thought the BLT Burger was the Benjamin Steakhouse burger!  Not so says the Feedbag… they just didn’t label the photo properly on the post. Way to try and poke holes in the one post that didn’t choose Benjamin’s Steakhouse.

Here’s an idea… rather than spend all this money on PR people, and free burgers for bloggers- why doesn’t Benjamin Steakhouse offer an under $10 lunch special for the good people of Midtown!  That, we could all totally get behind…

Related:
Benjamin Steakhouse Doesn’t Quite Get “Midtown Lunch”
A.J. Maxwell’s Gives You Good Steak for $10

Photo courtesy of The Feedbag

Last week we posted the news that two of NYC’s Bon Chon Korean fried chicken locations (Koreatown & Flushing) had changed their name to “Mad for Chicken”.  They claim the chicken is exactly the same as before, but Bon Chon wants to make sure that you know it’s not.  From their official website:

Ah yes- the old open a franchise… steal the recipe… decide you don’t want to pay the royalties anymore game.  If this whole thing sounds familiar, it’s because it is.  Shorty’s (on 9th Ave. btw. 41+42nd) did the same thing to Tony Luke’s.  Thankfully for Midtown Lunch’ers one commenter is reporting that the chicken pretty much tastes the same as it always has, but I’m guessing it still takes forever to get your order. Thanks to Lunch’er Paul for passing along this link to the Bon Chon Website.

Related:
BonChon Changes Name to “Mad For Chicken”
Bon Chon is So Not a Midtown Lunch… But Damn That is Some Good Chicken

Last October, I was pretty excited to find soft shelled crabs on the by the pound buffet at Cafe Duke (on 51st btw. 6+7th).  Well, soft shelled crab season started up again last month, and Lunch’er “David” reports seeing them at the 41st and Broadway Cafe Duke yesterday.  I stopped by the 51st Street location today, and they were nowhere to be found.  Please report positive sightings in the comments below (preferably before lunchtime.)

“The Dude abides.”

For those who mourned the loss of Two Boots inside the Rock Center concourse, its replacement is finally opening in the next few weeks on 9th Ave. btw. 44+45th.  Sure, it’s outside the official Midtown Lunch boundaries, and most of you are probably closer to the Grand Central Terminal food court (which still has their Two Boots)- but this is a full Two Boots location, complete with artwork that has become a staple of all the non-food court Two Boots locations. (And as a fan of New Orleans, and the Big Lewbowski I most definitely approve.)

Your first look at the newly painted windows, is after the jump…

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Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week, it’s Andrew an analyst who loves lobster rolls, and is mourning the loss of Mitzy’s Macarons.

Name: Andrew

Age: 22

Occupation: Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 52nd and Lexington

Favorite Kind of Food: Pho, Banh mi, Ramen, Yakitori, Seafood (in particular: Sushi, Sashimi-I love uni, Lobster rolls, crabs, both soft and hard shell, oysters, clams, mussels, pretty much anything that comes from the sea, really), Corned beef and pastrami sandwiches (with hearty mustard), Macarons, Baked goods in general (cookies, breads both sweet and savory, pies, cakes)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I tried Ethiopian food once and didn’t like injera, so I guess there’s that. I’m open to trying anything at least once though

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Tacos and Quesadillas from Pampano Taqueria on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th (love the free chips and salsa, I usually get the chilorio, shrimp, and fish tacos or one of those fillings in quesadilla form), Sophie’s Cuban (either a roast pork sandwich with plantains or the fried fish sandwich with plantains, and with extra green sauce), Fried Coconut Shrimp and French Fries from Gourmet 53  in the food court on 53rd & 3rd (awesome place that almost always has a long line, but they are very efficient about moving the pace and they give samples so that helps too, lunch comes with a free cookie and soda for under $10, and the rest of their food is tasty too.)

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