Midtown Lunch

Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

During the late summer last year, the restaurant Resto expanded into a neighboring space and opened The Cannibal (29th btw Park+Lex), a beer shop and butcher that serves small plates at a rustic, masculine communal bar area and a small backyard patio which is open during warmer weather. When I stopped by it was full of men in suits watching ESPN’s coverage of the Australian Open. It’s basically a spot after our own hearts complete with fridges holding about 350 brews, eight taps, a back area butcher’s counter selling homemade charcuterie among other meats, and a menu that includes a Pigs Head Cuban. I decided to leave the Cuban for Clay to try, and went with another delicious sounding sandwich just at the ML ceiling, their Grilled Cheese. But this wasn’t an ordinary cheesy sandwich.

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Back in September, we were dismayed to learn that lamb prices had risen so much that Kwik Meal’s famous lamb on rice could no longer be considered a Midtown Lunch. Thankfully, the price of lamb has gone down, putting Kwik Meal back in the game once again. While the prices aren’t what they were prior to the hike, lamb on rice is now $9 and the lamb on pita is $8.  Thanks to Lunch’er midtownCustomer for tipping us off in the forums!

Kwik Meal, SW Corner of 45th and 6th

When I wrote about the Main Noodle House’s Roast Pork Wonton soup the inevitable question came up: was it better that the same soup at ML standby and perpetual Reader’s Poll Chinese Food winner Hing Won (on 48th btw. 5+6th)? Clearly this had to be put to the test. Read more »

While walking on 50th street between 6th and 7th avenues, I couldn’t help but stop at the Desi Food Truck, because according to a menu sign taped to the window haleem, the soup Clay liked so much last year and an Indian rarity in New York, has returned! Also advertised on the window was Puri Bhaji. Sounds like lunch to me…

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$6 for a whole chicken? Too bad we can’t get this in Midtown! Photo by Brownie.

Chris showed Serious Eats readers Singapore’s 12 must try dishes, Brian drank beer and ate sausage at Jimmy’s No 43, Blondie surveyed the sweets in San Francisco, Brownie got thrifty with a $6 whole rotisserie chicken from Brancaccio’s, Rachel had grilled fish taco night and I photographed the kitchen at Do or Dine in Bed-Stuy.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Zach hits up a truck in Los Angeles that serves Rochester garbage plates (!!!), Jamie got chicken and waffles from a truck in Philly and Andrea found a SoHo Dominican spot where the truck drivers and delivery guys go.

Next time you’re heading over to the Grand Central Food Concourse for some Flex Donuts or to check out the new Tri Tip, you should make a plan to eat your lunch there. A few months ago, they unveiled the EAT exhibit by photographer Jim Dow; it’s in both middle seating areas and scheduled to run through June. The exhibit highlights some of the photos from his book, American Studies and includes some beautiful shots of–one of our favorite things–food carts. Be sure to check out one of my favorites, a shot of the El Oriental cart in Buenos Aires.