Midtown Lunch

Back in the early days of Midtown Lunch, Zach discovered a cart serving Tibetan specialities on 50th and Sixth Avenue. Then it disappeared into the wilds of Queens leaving us completely momo-less. Amazingly, I spotted a seemingly new food cart on 50th between 6th and 7th. It was overshadowed by the large fleet of food trucks, but there it was: Shangri-La Express. The guys at the cart told me they’ve been at this new/old location for about 3 weeks and plan to set up there every day for lunch. No word on whether this is related to the old one, but if the food is good, it doesn’t really matter.

Check out the menu below to see their offerings, including chicken lollipops, sha-balay (Tibetan beef patties), and of course, momos.

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Sometimes a great lunch spot is right under your nose and you don’t even know it. Take Radiance Noodle Bar, for instance. Buried in the basement of 805 3rd Ave. (btw 49th+50th), it’s only a few blocks from my office, but I only found out about it when Luncher Joer recommended I check it out. And I’m glad I did.

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Now that we’re more than half way through November, it seems like a good time to reminder ML’ers that fans of Momofuku‘s annual Thanksgiving croissant should make their way to Milk Bar inside Ma Peche (on 56th btw. 5+6th) ASAP. The stuffing-flavored pastry filled with turkey, cranberry sauce and gravy won’t be around for much longer. I had one for the first time recently, and it was worth every penny of the $4.50 I paid for it.

In August, familiar smiley faces popped up over the storefront at 729 8th Avenue. Just a few months later, the new Pie Face location is open, bringing Aussie savory and sweet pies, sandwiches, sausage rolls and more to 8th avenue between 45th and 46th streets. Usually a new Pie Face location means a free food stunt, and on Friday they had the prize wheel out.  No word on whether it’s still there…

Despite the “meh” comments written about Kitto Asian American Eatery already, I was on my way to check the new place out when its downstairs neighbor (and sister restaurant), Graso Grill, was open for its first day of business, just one day after Kitto opened.

Graso Grill serves up a wide variety of burgers and burritos, as well as deli, chicken, steak, and vegetarian sandwiches. Some of the more interesting burgers off the bat include a kimchi burger, mango burger, and the “Peppy Burger” (something along the lines of what you think a pizza burger would be). The Seamless menu prices seem to be $1 off what they are in-store, but as a grand opening in-store special, Graso Grill is giving away free fries with any burger purchase through the end of this week.

Early adopters, let us know what you think of the more “experimental” burgers in the comments.

Graso Grill, 16 E. 48th Street (btw. Madison & 5th), (212) 759-4848

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.

Last month, Zach emailed me that Bombay Sandwich Co. is opening a small brick and mortar shop primarily for take-out in the Flatiron area. Bombay Sandwich Co. is a regular vendor at Smorgasburg, although I don’t remember seeing them or eating their sandwiches during my previous chow-downs there, but sandwiches with Indian flavors sound like my bag. The menu will be primarily vegan, which we all know works well for Indian food. I plan to try a new sandwich they will be offering, the Chana Malasa. Mmmm. Love spicy stewed chickpeas.

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Something strange is going down in Turtle Bay. No, I’m not talking geopolitical intrigue at the UN. I’m talking about the BonChon on 2nd Ave. (btw. 50th+51st) changing its name to BarKogi. According to the menu, the name is apparently all that’s changed. Luncher Andrew let us know that the food is identical to BonChon, if a dollar or two more expensive. BonChon by any other name still tastes as good, I guess. So we’re not sure exactly what happened, but at least we can still get those delicious wings and drums. Has anybody been to the newly rebranded spot?

Cowgirl Catering, the company behind Gourmet 53, turns 19 years old today and as always they’ll celebrate by rolling back prices to 1994. That means lunch will be $3 from 11:30am to 3pm.  As in years past, they’ll also be handing out free hors d’ouvres to people waiting in line (free coconut shrimp FTW!)  Gourmet 53 is in the basement food court of 875 3rd Ave. (btw. 52nd and 53rd) and the lunch special is cash only.  Good luck!

To celebrate the first snow fall of the year, Luke’s Lobster rolled out their winter menu yesterday.  The lobster grilled cheese they started serving last year is back, and they’ve added a lobster mac n cheese made with Pineland Farms cheese. Hot apple cider is back as well.  The truck is in the shop today but they should be in the Flatiron tomorrow and back in Midtown on Friday near Grand Central.  Check their twitter account before heading out.