Archive for December 2011

Mediterranean Grill Looks to Be A Good New Street Meat Option


Since we announced that a new truck serving kebabs, gyros, and hummus set up on 39th Street a few weeks back, the reports have come in and they have been consistently positive. I finally had an opportunity to test out the truck myself and I have to say the food is fresh, flavorful, and cheap.

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Best Midtown Kati Roll: 2011 Readers’ Poll

It’s time for the 2011 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Remember the days when there was just one kati roll option in Midtown, from a place called Kati Roll.  Their move from 46th to 39th was just the opening the now famous Biryani Cart needed, and the rest is history.  Two people’s choice Vendy Awards later, and now more carts seem to be jumping into the Kati Roll game.  So many that there are enough for an entire kati roll category in this year’s readers’ poll.  Here are the nominees for best kati roll in Midtown…

Vote for your favorite, after the jump…

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Contributor Stalking (The “Brunch & Cupcakes” Edition)

Biscuit Benedict
The Biscuit Benedict from Colonie. Photo by Blondie.

Donny got a behind the scenes look at Leckerlee, Brian goes searching for Santa in his new Christmas video starring The Treats Truck, Blondie had brunch at Colonie in Brooklyn Heights, Brownie explored Montreal’s cupcake options, Rachel whipped up a batch of chicken soup and I photographed last weekend’s Brooklyn Night Bazaar.

Around the ML universe… Zach discovers a food court he actually likes in Culver City, LA, Andrea had Asian fusion that redeems the genre at Hana, Downtown and Jamie found a better falafel option in Philly.

Best Midtown Sweets: 2011 Readers’ Poll

It’s time for the 2011 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

A lot’s changed sweets-wise since last year’s polls; Best Cupcake Robicelli’s can no longer be found, and Best Dessert Truck Wafels & Dinges has to constantly watch out for Alpha. But that doesn’t mean we went without an afternoon sugar fix! Flex Donuts brought some delicious doughnuts twice, Donna Bell’s opened on the West Side, Culture Espresso has your back with doughnuts from Dough and homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven at 3pm, Bouchon expanded to Rock Center, and even K-Town’s dessert front improved with Paris Baguette. Here are the nominees for best afternoon sugar rush:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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Free Bagel Alert: You know what's better than an Ess-a-Bagel w/ cream cheese (on 3rd btw. 50+51st)? A free Ess-a-Bagel with cream cheese. Today's Scoutmob deal is good for 100% off a single bagel w/ cream cheese. Translation: free bagel! You have until the end of the day today to claim the deal...

Best Midtown Lobster Roll: 2011 Readers’ Poll

It’s time for the 2011 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

If you like lobster rolls than 2011 was a banner year for you. These little nuggets of goodness seemed to pop up everywhere this year, and even though almost of all of them are out of the ML price range we seem to forget about price when lobster stuffed hot dog buns are involved. Of course if you’re going to splurge you want to make sure it’s for the best. So here are the nominees for best lobster roll in Midtown:

Vote for your favorite, after the jump…

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Get In On ‘wichcraft’s Special Leg of Lamb Sandwich Before It’s Gone

'wichcraft rock center

I’ll admit that I enjoy a ‘wichcraft sandwich every now and then, even though they are on the spendier end of the ML spectrum. When I heard they were offering a this-week-only special sandwich featuring my favorite meat (lamb!) for $11.02, I had to go check it out to see if it was worth the extra $1 above and beyond the ML price limit. Read more »

Best Fast Food Chinese: 2011 Readers’ Poll

It’s time for the 2011 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

The trifecta of Hing Won, Hop Won and Kar Won has run away with this award since we started doing reader’s poll (and with good reason. If Midtown Lunches ever get a hall of fame, that roast pig will be the first inductee.) But to even the playing field we figured we’d break ’em up this year. If Hing Won is going to take the prize, it’s going to have to do it on its own. And Eastside fans of Hop Won will have a chance to declare their allegiance separately. And now that the secret’s out about Main Noodle House, we could have a bit of a competition on our hands. The nominees for best fast food Chinese in Midtown are:

Vote for your favorite, after the jump…

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Rickshaw Dumpling Kiosk Is Open Times Square

The finishing touches for the Rickshaw Dumpling kiosk in Times Square are happening now, but they are open for business! The menu should be pretty familiar to Midtown Lunch’ers, offering four regular dumpling options: the three varieties that the trucks have for $6.00 (classic pork, chicken & Thai basil and vegetarian edamame), plus Peking duck dumplings ($6.50). Standard sides are $3.00 each (chili sesame noodle salad, miso mini soup, crunchy Asian salad and chillin edamame). After they’ve mastered dumplings at the kiosk, they plan to start offering steamed buns as well.

The kiosk will open for lunch everyday at 11 a.m., but interestingly, an employee I spoke with said they’re also considering breakfast bun options in the future. Now that’s something I can truly get behind!

Rickshaw Dumplings, Broadway btwn 42nd-43rd Streets in Times Square

Best Midtown Pizza: 2011 Readers’ Poll

It’s time for the 2011 Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

It only took 3 years, but pizza finally returned to Rock Center this year while $1 pizza continued its march across the city.  And we still don’t have a consensus best slice in Midtown.  If only Pizza Suprema was a few blocks farther north, maybe it would quality… alas, it isn’t.  So here are your nominees for best pizza in Midtown:

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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