Midtown Lunch

While wandering past Yakitori Totto – one of Zach’s favorite Midtown lunches of all time – in the sun yesterday, I came across this sign in front of East Japanese (W 55th btw 8th & Broadway). The rest of the banner shows a takeaway container filled with what appears to be tempura and veggies AKA an “un-ignorable and unforgettable restaurant quality to-go lunch with restaurant price!” For $5, I’ll be back to order this Hiru-Bento, but has anybody tried it yet?

Last night I swung by Kyochon at 7:30ish hoping to find it open. It wasn’t. The two ladies outside said they were still finalizing things and they were a bit non-committal about the official opening. There’s a slim chance it will be ready for lunch today, but dinner sounded more likely. So disappointing.

Still I was able to score a copy of the menu…

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Our favorite pizza site, Slice, broke the news late yesterday that Midtown’s going to get a new pizza truck from Eddie’s in New Hyde Park. What we know: pizza will be made on the truck, pies only, special toppings including the beloved clam, Midtown three days a week, late May debut, and Ed Levine likes them. What we don’t know: how they will stack up to Jiannetto’s, Papa Perrone’s, or Vinny Vincenz. I promise to do some ‘research’ at the brick-and-mortar store and report back when we know more. Until then, check out their Twitter, the true sign that they mean mobile business.

According to their blog, the Frites N Meats truck might be coming to Midtown on Wednesday. The burger truck (which features grass fed beef, and crazy toppings) was originally only permitted to park Downtown (on Greenwich and Chambers) but they recently scored a citywide permit and are looking to spread their wings. None of us have tried it, but Chris had good things to say about it on the Downtown section of ML. (And it clearly will be better than La Cense!) They haven’t decided on an exact spot yet (and it might end up being in the Flatiron) but they’re open to suggestions. You can see where they end up by following them on Twitter.

Related:
Your First Look at the Frites N Meats Burger

You might have read on Friday that the new Kyochon (on 5th Ave. btw. 32+33rd) would be opening today… but not for lunch! This was the scene around Noon, as they scramble to get the place ready for their grand opening which apparently will be happening tonight at 6pm. Anybody free for pandemonium Korean fried chicken lunch tomorrow?

Related:
Kyochon Delayed Again

I reported recently on the brotherly rivalry that is pitting cart against cart, Fahima against Kwik Meal, and now Muhammed’s pasta against Muhammed’s pasta. Yes, to confuse matters even more they both have the same first name. Someone dig up Richard Dawson because ladies and gentleman what we have here is a Family Feud!

I can only assume that the Fahima stir-fried noodles are a direct counterpoint to the Kwik Meal Pasta cart that debuted last year. Mohammed Mahbub Rahman, the owner of the Fahima cart, has the same streak of entrepreneurship as his brother. He has impressively taken on serving biriyani along with his lamb and chicken and made a good impression with this street eater. Now it was time to try these noodles and see if they are substantive, unique and, as is our M.O. here on ML, worthy of your hard earned dollars.

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Photo Courtesy of Eating in Translation

Dave Cook from Eating in Translation noticed this new spot going up a few weeks ago (on 38th btw. 5+6th). And according to Lunch’er “Leandro” they are now open and offering 50% off everything this whole week. The menu Dave photographed is a fairly generic Midtown deli menu (Salad, Deli, Tex Mex, Udon, Teriyaki) but for half off it might be worth a looksee! Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments…

Mustang Cafe, 22 W. 38th St. (btw. 5+6th), 212-354-5522

I know this isn’t really Midtown Lunch’ish (fat man no like vegetables!), but for those of you who are interested in cooking and farmers markets and the such I thought you might be interested in this.  A new CSA is launching in Midtown East this spring, and the pick up time is perfect for anybody who works in Midtown and likes to cook.  CSA (for those of you who have never heard of it) stands for community supported agriculture and it’s essentially a chance for you to support sustainable farming by purchasing a share in a farm.

You give the farm money up front, before the growing season, and then every week during the harvest you get a portion of all the crops they grow.  It costs about $20 a week, and it is always a gamble (the more or less that grows, the more or less you get), but based on last year’s bounty this seems like a really good farm.  The delivery/pick up- which will happen every Tuesday from 5-8pm on 47th btw. 2+3rd- starts on the first week  of June, but you have to join by the end of April.  For more info go to http://turtlebaycsa.wordpress.com/