Midtown Lunch

I grew up in the Midwest, in a flyover state not worth visiting or mentioning. And I grew up eating Steak N’ Shake. I indeed have fond memories of the place – I recall post game celebration dinners with my Little League team, and daring friends to eat the little sport peppers from the condiment jar and the like. But then as my taste buds matured, I visited less often, finding the burgers to be overly dry and the fries to be lacking. Since I moved away and grown into what I’ll freely admit, a food snob, I haven’t looked back.

I can understand the excitement that this place drummed up when it first opened. There were those that shared the same nostalgia for the chain, those that were genuinely curious, and those that bought into the hype. Early reviews have been positive – Rachel enjoyed her meal here (it would have been better without the wait), and the hamburger mavens at Serious Eats seemed to love it. But my visit last week was vindication for my dislike of this chain.

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Remember Ambrosia, that generic deli on 45th street that we once said had the best bibimbap in Midtown? Then, there was talk of a decline in quality and they raised their prices out of ML range, so we sort of stopped writing about it. Well, I’d like to bring it back, and here’s why…

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A year ago Kwik Meal rolled into 2011 by adding Kati Rolls to their menu, an item I personally support on a regular basis (and may single handedly make worth their while to keep on the menu). And it looks like they have kicked off 2012 in much the same way, by offering a new batch of daily specials. Every day they’ve got something different, sometimes chicken biryani, other times shrimp … and also goat biryani! I guess goat must be a less expensive meat than lamb, with the special coming in just under $10. Of course, their famous lamb over rice exceeded the Midtown Lunch budget last fall, disappointing street meat lovers all over Midtown, so I’m personally looking forward to see how goat measures up in taste and texture. Unfortunately, by the time I saw this, I had already gotten my lunch, but I’d love to know if anyone’s checked it out yet!  Early adopters, let us know what you think in the comments.

Kwik Meal, SW Corner of 45th and 6th

H Mart Lunchbox. Photo courtesy of Jason Lam.

• H Mart has a tasty banchan lunch box for $4 [Me So Hungry]
• I Guess BV’s Burger has its off days [Tasty Eating]
• Just Salad has a black card that lets you skip the line [Eater]
• Mars 2112 is gone!?!?! [Gothamist]
• PizzArte is worth the splurge [Immaculate Infatuation]
• Tickets are now on sale for Choice Eats [Fork in the Road]

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so it seems only natural to have a happy hour column on the site. Every Friday afternoon 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.

You know, even when you’re drinking solo you’re never really drinking alone. No, I’m not talking about that crazy dude muttering to himself three stools down, I’m talking about your oldest drinking buddy. The one who’s been there with you from dia numero uno. The one that you’ve dragged through the muck and the gutters to the worst dingy, derelict back alley dives. That’s right! I’m talking about your liver. So I’m proposing that in 2012 you make it a New Year’s resolution to take it out to a watering hole with some class, distinction, and pedigree. Here’s to a historic NYC speakeasy and a realistic resolution you’ll be happy to keep. Ladies and gents I give you Bill’s Gay Nineties.

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Last week, we got a tweet from luncher “Michael” and a forum post form luncher “Chowsue” reporting that a truck on 44th and 6th avenue was serving chicken on rice for a measly $3.50. Between my love a good bargain and concern over how it could possibly be so cheap, there was more than a little internal conflict when I headed over to investigate.

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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.

New York got its first taste of Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen when the Midtown branch (8th Ave + 41st) opened up a while back, and it seemingly became known for its burgers. Late last year, the second location opened on 23rd at Madison, almost directly across from Shake Shack. I think we all know whose burgers are better, so when I stopped by the Flatiron Schnipper’s this week, I wanted to try something else, maybe something for the token vegetarian in your group who always complains when you hit up the Shack that there’s nothing for them, but fries and deep-fried mushroom sandwiches!

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Earlier this week, Lunch’er “joer” tipped us off that Mia Dona has been transformed into a Sichuan restaurant called Land of Plenty (on 58th btw 2+3rd).  I haven’t had a chance to try the food yet, but according to Robert Sietsema’s review in the Village Voice, it’s very authentic (read: SPICY) if a little pricey… although Joe R. says that the lunch items are all around $9.  Has anybody been yet?  Early adopters, let us know what you think in the comments.

Land of Plenty, 204 E. 58th St. (btw 2+3rd), (212) 308-8788