Midtown Lunch

We got a tip from winedanddined last week with a photo of a mysterious new truck called Domo Taco. According to Twitter, they were trying to set up shop on Friday at 55th and Park but for some reason were forced to leave and promised to tweet when they found a new spot, but there has been radio silence ever since. From what I can gather on their Facebook page, they’re thankfully not serving the now overplayed Korean tacos, but instead turning to Japanese flavors for tortilla inspiration. An order of tater tots topped with bonito flakes and other goodies sounds amazing. Has anybody tried this truck yet? And let’s all bother them on Twitter or Facebook and convince them to give Midtown another try.

We recently reported that the old Mia Dona space on E. 58th St has been transformed into Land of Plenty, an upscale-ish Sichuan joint. A cursory examination of the menu and a perusal of early reviews showed some promise, so I headed over for some Sichuan goodies.

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Last summer we spotted construction on 43rd street for Crave Sandwiches, and now the sandwich (and salad) spot is open for business. The menu is divided into classic and traditional sandwiches — which seems kind of redundant, if you ask me — but all of these substantially-sized sandwiches are under $10.

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Well, it’s a new month (where did January go??), which means it’s Sandwich of the Month time from Cer Te (on 55th btw. 5+6th). This month’s beauty is “The Gobsmacker.” Here’s the kicker: it’s not just a sandwich, it’s a combo consisting of Rich Irish Stew With an Aged Cheddar Grilled Cheese w/Horseradish for $8.95. Stew AND grilled cheese? Let me get my coat! The sandwich debuted on Monday and will be available through the month of February. Early adopters, let us know how it is in the comments!

Certe, 20 W 55th St (btw 5+6th), 212-397-2020

• Fahima Halal has moved to 37th & 6th [Midtown Eating]
• Sushi Stop will open soon, but doesn’t look like a Midtown Lunch [Midtown Eating]
• Has anybody tried JJ Hong Kong Cafe yet? [Midtown Eating]
• The first ML happy hour meetup of 2012 is tonight at 6pm [Connections]

Last month we got excited about a new Mediterranean Truck that started parking on 39th and 6th Avenue. But it’s seemed to disappear. A comment left by luncher stelloid indicates that the truck has not been in that location for a while. We all know the difficulties of parking a food truck in Midtown these days so it doesn’t surprise me that their location didn’t remain stable. Unfortunately they don’t have a Twitter account and I can’t seem to track down a phone number, so we’re just going to have to do things the old fashioned way and keep our eyes peeled. Anybody seen this big blue truck?

Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week Queens cheerleader and World’s Fare editor Joe DiStefano reminisces about the time he spent working in Midtown.

Name: Joe D.

Age: 43

Occupation: Food Writer

Where in Midtown do you Work?: These days I live and work in beautiful Rego Park, Queens, and eat almost exclusively in Queens. For many years I worked at Rockefeller Center.

Favorite Kind of Food: Ethnic soul food, what I like to think of as grandma food. Food that has a very strong connection to culture and conmmunity. Stuff like eating crispy pata–fried pork leg–in a Filipino joint in Woodside’s Little Manila. Come to think of it I do have a strong affinity for pork.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Bad fried food. Bad Thai. It’s almost as if the operators of such places have this idea that “this is what we think you think Thai food is…you don’t know the difference any way. Eat up!” (Insert Mexican, or any other “ethnic” cuisine.)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pulpo salad, Cuban sandwich, and chicken at Margon (on 46th btw. 6+7th). Any thing at Tehuitzingo Deli (on 10th Ave. btw. 47+48th), particularly the pancita de chivo, a sort of goat blood sausage. Gyoza set at Sapporo (on 49th btw. 6+7th). Friekedele at Hallo Berlin.

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I was surprised and kind of disappointed the other day when I went to OBAO intending to order their delicious pad see iew with kalbi, only to find that their menu had changed from the last time I was there. If I had to guess, I’d say my last trip was about six months ago, so I’m unsure when the updated menu made its appearance, but the beef pad see iew on the new menu no longer has any mention of the short rib. Major bummer. But, the good news for Midtown Lunch’ers is that there are still plenty of items $10 and under on the lunch specials menu, and if you dine-in, you get a free, chef-selected starter with your entree.

Anyway, while selecting a new dish, I noticed the four Michelin recommended items (fancy!), one of which was the beef salad Anna enjoyed so much in December. I ordered the recommended Pho Bo.

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The restaurant scene at 49th St and 8th Ave is getting more and more interesting. Following hot on the heels of E&E Grill House, Lillie’s Victorian Bar & Restaurant has recently opened just a few doors down. Although most of the menu is well above the $10 mark, there appears to be a few sandwiches that meet the mark, including a Welsh rarebit sandwich ($10) and a grilled ham & cheese, both served with hand-cut fries. Although we’ve yet to try this new Lillie’s the original version in Union Square has earned a ‘Critics Pick’ designation from New York Magazine, and a solid 4 stars on Yelp so the indicators are promising. Early adopters, please let us know what you think in the comments.

Lillie’s Victorian Bar & Restaurant, 249 W 49th St (btw. B’way+8th Ave). 212-957-4530