Midtown Lunch

Fancy Burger Fail: Personally I'm satisfied with our many under $10 hamburger options in Midtown, but if you keep track of the fancy-pants Midtown burger scene you'll probably be interested in Nick Solares' takedown of the 21 Club's burger, which he compares to gyro flavored meatloaf.

Schnitzel Truck Swaps Tuesday & Thursday Spots: Normally the Schnitzel and Things Truck would be parked in Midtown today, but they've decided to switch things up a bit.  Instead of parking on 50th btw. 6+7th today, they'll be Downtown on Water St. & Broad and spend Thursdays on 50th St.  Their Monday spot (on 52nd btw. 6+7th) will stay the same.

Mantao Reopens w/ New Soup Deal: via Twitter: Mantao Chinese Sandwiches has reopened and is now doing a soup/sandwich/shrimp crackers lunch special for $9.95. Also on the ML Twitter Tracker: Schnitzel & Things is on 52nd and Street Sweets is on 50th.

HB Burger & Heartland Brewery Burger Aren’t the Same: Nick Solares is upset to discover that his positive quotes about HB Burger are being used to sell an inferior burger at Heartland Brewery. The beef tastes the same, but it's not as juicy and the roll is completely different.

Attention Gingerbread House Fans: If you like staring at graham cracker walls, studded with jellybeans, there are gingerbread houses designed by well known bakeries being displayed in the Parker Meridien Hotel (on 56th btw. 6+7th). Just what Burger Joint fans need, more people drawn to the Parker Meridien lobby. [via Grub Street]

Five Guys 3rd Ave. Update: A lot of new places like to open around a holiday, because it will be slow and they can work out the kinks... so I was hoping today might be the day for the new Five Guys (on 3rd btw 43+44th.) Nope. According to an employee of the 55th St. location, they're hoping to open Dec. 5th.

Who Wants Veal?: It's the first day of what should be a short and slow week, but the ML Twitter Tracker is still active... Schnitzel Truck is on 52nd with veal, Street Sweets is on 50th, and apparently Crisp is now serving breakfast.

Chicken Soup: In the mood for some chicken soup today?  According to the NY Times, Arirang (on 32nd btw. 5+B'way) makes a fantastic bowl of "Chicken Kar-Jeabe with handmade long noodles and dough flakes" for $9.45. Or, you can get a bunch of office workers together and share the $50 "chicken with vegetables and noodles cooked in a casserole". [via Eater]

Fresh N Fast Burger is Now Open: There's been a lot of talk in the forums about Fresh N Fast Burger lately, the new In N Out rip off on 23rd & Park. It sounds like they're open, so Flatiron Lunchers (and burger lovers with long lunch hours) should be able to head over today. (Although I can't help but think Midtown Lunchers with time would rather just go to the Shake Shack.)

There is a Downside to Massive Cupcake Expansion: You know, aside from drawing the ire of Anthony Bourdain (and those of us who agree with Anthony Bourdain.) Cupcakes Take the Cake is reporting that Crumbs is now posting calorie counts for all their cupcakes (required by law for any food place with more than 15 locations.) Haha... good luck with that!