Midtown Lunch

Remember the good old days (aka one month ago), when the Burger Joint used their twitter account to give us deals to the Burger Joint?  Well this week they’ve decided to offer a discount at a place you might not have known about (I certainly didn’t.) Mention “Twitter Lunch” at the Knave, a little coffee and sandwich spot that opened last year in the Parker Meridien Hotel, and get 50% off any of their sandwiches (regularly priced at $8).  They have three options (Parma Ham and Stracchino Cheese, Smoked Chicken with Pesto Sauce, and Smoked Salmon with Fresh Herbs) and the deal is good all week long (8/17-8/21) from 11:30am to 3pm. The Knave can be found in the passageway between the 57th Street entrance to the hotel, and the lobby. Fancy pants sandwiches for $4? I might have to check this out at some point this week. (Oh, and even though The Knave doesn’t normally do take out, the sandwich deal will be available to go.)

You know how much I love the steakhouse bargain… The Del Frisco’s $10 bar menu steak tips special was the best (until they raised the price!), and A.J. Maxwell’s has got a good one that’s still happening.  Now, we can add Ted’s Montana Grill (on 51st btw. 6+7th) to that list.  Thanks to Lunch’er Adam for passing this one along: “I saw an ad in the subway today for $10 lunches (from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at Ted’s Montana Grill. Choice of fresh cedar plank salmon, pulled BBQ chicken sandwich, bowl of soup and half chopped salad, meatloaf sandwich, or a “delicious duo” (one mini beef burger and one mini bison burger). It’s even available for take out!” Naturally, outside of Manhattan the deal is $8- but whatever.  Beggars can’t be choosers. Early adopters, let us know how it is.  Check out a PDF of the menu here.

The finalists for the 2009 Vendy Awards have been announced, and Midtown Lunchers should recognize at least 3 out of 5 of the nominees!  (I can’t get too excited because I’m a judge this year, and have to be completely impartial.  But that doesn’t mean you can’t jump up and down, and do a dance…)  It looks like the Biryani Cart (on 46th & 6th) will get another chance to take home the top prize (last year they won People’s Choice), King of Falafel “Freddie Zeidaies” will represent Queens, Rickshaw Dumpling Truck has got the hipster trucks covered this year, Jamaican Dutchy (on 51st and 7th) makes their first appearance, and the Country Boys/Martinez Taco Truck will be doing the Red Hook Ball Field vendors proud (last year Rafael Soler got to show off his fantastic pupusas.)

For those who are unfamiliar with the Vendy Awards, it’s pretty much the Oscars of the street food world.  It’s put on by the Street Vendor Project, a non profit organization that advocates for vendors, and each year features 5 nominated vendors in a street food cookoff!  There also is the newly added dessert category (in its second year), which lets vendors like the Dessert Truck and Treats Truck (last year’s People’s Choice Award) show off their wares.  Ticket price includes plates of food from all the vendors, and all the proceeds from the event go to benefit the SVP. Judges pick the winners, but attendees get to vote for their favorites- with the winners receiving the coveted “People’s Choice Award”.

Each of this year’s nominated vendors has their own special video.  Check out the Midtown ones, and more about the event, after the jump…

Read more »

Check out the shrimp! (The food from Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart looks good too.)

• Forget about the cuban… there’s a pernil sandwich at Margon!?! [Fressagirl]
• If you like fancy ass bars, a new one is opening Monday on 48th btw. 5+6th [Strong Buzz]
• This answer my question about dipping fries in milkshakes [Blondie & Brownie]
• The owners hope to open the Midtown Piada in Mid September [Fork in the Road]
• No surprise here… taxi drivers love Tony Dragonas’ cart [Taxi Gourmet]
• You can get a great egg cream from Prime Burger [Vanishing New York]
• Anybody know what happened to this outdoor space on 5th and 32nd [Ultraclay]
• The BLT is back at ‘wichcraft [Blondie & Brownie]
• Man, this doughnut from Bouchon Bakery looks good [Food in Mouth]
• And yes… my kid now eats Tea Smoked Duck [Fork in the Road]

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every week, our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

Rodeo Bar is pretty far outside the ML boundaries (3rd Ave. btw. 26+27th) but when I heard they had free nachos and chicken at happy hour, I knew it was going to be worth the trek. Plus, due to the recession they have extended their happy hour to 9pm! That means that those of us who work in Midtown proper can make it down there and revel in their drink specials, even if we get off work late. Included in the deal are $4 drafts, $7 strawberry or lime margaritas (frozen or on the rocks), daily shot specials and a whiskey shot with a PBR back for $7. The frozen margaritas come out of a big slushy machine —that’s how popular they are, and you can order your drink mixed with half strawberry, half lime.

Read more »

Hi,

I’ve been visiting NYC for several years now and have always wanted to try some of the food carts. Big reason why I never tried is I’m scared if the food is clean or not. I go to NYC for vacation and don’t want to end up in the hospital for food poisoning or something worse. So my question is how safe is it to eat cart food?

Thanks,
Daphnie

My dear sweet Daphnie. Daphnie Daphnie Daphnie. Have you read a single word on this website? Are you seriously asking me this question, as if the answer would be anything other than “of course it’s safe!”  We do an annual event called “Street Meat Palooza” for god’s sake.  It’s like asking Joey Chestnut if it’s safe to eat hot dogs, or Amy Winehouse if it’s safe to shoot up heroin.  Of course it’s safe… well, for most people.

Read more »

At this point everybody should know that Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart (on 46th btw. 5+6th) makes the best (and cheapest) fried fish sandwich in Midtown.  And I’ve even tried their bulgogi beef and lo mein.  But did you know that their fried shrimp are pretty spectacular as well?  As you may or may not know, I’m a big fan of the fried shrimp from a cart.  Little Morrocco (on 39th & 7th) does a nice job, as does the Halal & Seafood Cart (on 39th & 5th), and the 100% Halal Food Cart (on 54th and Park).  But those little jobbies pale in comparison to the monsters being served of the Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart.

Check ’em out after the jump…

Read more »