Midtown Lunch

Have you seen the blog Fancy Fast Food?  It’s this pretty amazing site that takes items from ordinary fast food chains, and turns them into extraordinary looking dishes you could imagine being served at a fancy restaurant. I don’t know how they taste, but they all look pretty amazing.  Greatest hits include the White Castle Sacks they turned into spanish tapas, the Wendy’s Baconator combo turned into a Napoleon, and farfalle made from a Subway $5 footlong.

Want to see them in action?  The dude who runs the site will be doing his thing tonight at Miss Softee’s ice cream truck and filming it.  They’re keeping the actual creation hush hush until it goes down, but Midtown Lunch’ers are all invited to watch, and sample the creations on 47th and 6th around 7:30pm.

Thanks to Lunch’er MikeyMike for passing along this info about the Blarney Stone (on 3rd Ave. btw. 45+46th): “Had a burger there today. Price is now $6 plus $0.75 for cheese. Burger was tasty but I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the onion rings both in quality and quanity. You now have your choice between steak fries or regular fries. New to me is that they now have 3 sliders for $5.”  Sliders?  You don’t say?  Well, I had to stop by and check those out…

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If you enjoy spending your lunch hour watching pole dancing, but don’t want to eat lunch at Rick’s Cabaret– you’re in luck!  Marlo from the “Pole Riders” will be doing her thing today at Noon on the corner of 6th Ave. and 42nd near Bryant Park.  All I know is what I read on this website (thanks Google Alerts!) but from what I can gather these ladies have a pole attached to a pedicab which they ride around NYC using to promote their various pole dancing activities. Not lunch related per se, but thought it was important to let you all know- because nothing is worse than walking by a random poll dancer in Bryant Park without knowing exactly why they’re there.

Related:
Strip Club Lunch: Getting Crabs and Strip Steak at Rick’s Cabaret

Yesterday Lunch’er “Cardy” sent word that Schnitzel Express (on 39th btw. B’way+6th) is now open. Not much has changed about the space since it was City Burger- including the prices, which are a tad bit high. The schnitzel is pretty expensive at $9.98 at pop, although the saving grace might be the number of options. Their menu features 8 different kinds of schnitzel, from classic to Greek (fresh cut garlic), oriental (sesame seeds) to “American” (which is crusted with corn flakes). I’m also intrigued by their “home fries” which are made from a mix of regular and sweet potatoes- but at $4, that would make lunch $14 (waaaaay too much!)

Lunch’er “Cardy” had this to say about his meal: “It was actually a pretty good sandwich – tasty, nice size, good bread – but not really worth $11 unless you care that it’s kosher.”

Schnitzel Express, 1410 Broadway (on 39th btw. B’way+6th), 212-997-7770

When DC Fusion Cafe opened on 7th Ave. btw. 36+37th, I was pretty excited to welcome bourbon chicken back to the Midtown Lunch’ing landscape.  Although I was baffled by their pricing model: $6+ for one meat, one veggie and one starch.  Are you joking?  A true mall food court spot gives you at least the option for two meats (and ideally three!) 

Well, thankfully DC Fusion Cafe has realized the error in their ways and have started offering a special of any two chicken dishes plus a side order for $6.39.  After all bourbon chicken over lo mein is nice, but it’s far better when you can alternate bites with some orange chicken.  Not sure how long this “weekly special” will last, but here’s hoping it’s permanent.

Related:
DC Fusion Cafe Brings Back Manhattan Mall Bourbon Chicken

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’s midtown lunch’er is Dana, who actually sent this profile in a month ago- so she is now a full fledged law student.  But we couldn’t let her leave Midtown without her moment in the sun!  (Plus she sent in two photos, which you know we love. The “risque” one, which she was afraid made her look naked, is after the jump natch.)

Name: Dana

Age: 29

Occupation: Nonprofiteer (for two more weeks)

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 48th & 5th

Favorite Kind of Food: Ramen. Lobster rolls. Japanese pickled things. Dosa. Bacon. Dan dan noodles. Beets. Cured meats in general. Pizza (I’m currently eating my way through the New York Magazine top 20 pizza list). Dumplings (especially soup dumplings). Burgers. Side bar: I was raised as a vegetarian, and then I ate a burger 6 years ago and it was all over. Since then it has been my personal mission to eat as many burgers as possible. Five Guys is my reining Midtown favorite, although I still need to try the black label burger at City Burger (ed note: sorry Dana.  City Burger closed!) Mmmm…burgers.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I’m not sure I understand the question.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pampano Taqueria (on 3rd btw. 49+50th) for the pescado and carne asada tacos (with the combo). Menchanko Tei (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd) for shoyu ramen. Katsuhama for chicken meatball udon soup. Spicy miso soup from Chiyoda Sushi (on 41st btw. Mad+5th) …that soup has changed my life. The prepackaged meats from Murray’s Salami (I love the Magical Animal). Chicken katsu with sauce at Café Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th). Everything at Bombay Bistro’s all-you-can-eat buffet (on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd). And I love the bacon / white bean soup from ‘wichcraft.

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