Midtown Lunch

Free Lobster Roll Alert: Bon Appetit is teaming up with the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck to give out free lobster rolls today all over the city. No catch. Just show up, and get a free lobster roll.  They're starting off Downtown on Broadway btw. Dey + Fulton at Noon but then they'll be in Midtown the rest of the day. 7th btw. 36+37th at 1:30pm, 42nd btw Lex+3rd at 2:30pm, and then 42nd btw. B'way + 6th at 3:30pm.  Freeloaders, prepare to engage.

Famous Halal Guys Going National!?: Huge street meat news out of the New York Times over the weekend about the most popular halal cart in Midtown (and winner of our very first Street Meat Palooza).  The famous Halal Guys cart has signed a franchising deal with Fransmart, the company that helped Qdoba and Five Guys go national. Within a year they hope to be in "Los Angeles, along the East Coast, across Canada and in the Middle East... An early glimpse at what a Halal Guys franchise might look like will come next month when the first shop opens on 14th Street, just off Second Avenue."

Free Pastries at Crumbs Friday: If you're feeling hungry on your way to work tomorrow, stop by one of the eight Crumbs locations in midtown from 7 to 10 a.m. for a free pastry from their new breakfast menu. Those sweets include Berliners, T-Birkes, braids, and an update on croissants, Danish pastries, cinnamon rolls and bear claws. And locations: B'way btw. 37+38th, Lex btw. 43+44th, Park btw. 32+33rd, 42nd & 8th Ave., B'way & 53rd, 42nd btw. 5+6th, and 3rd&53rd. Freeloaders should also note that it's one per person.

Get Your Grasshopper Fix at El Rey del Sabor: All three El Rey del Sabor carts will be serving up crunchy little chapulines (grasshoppers) today. This is your chance to take that brave jump into insect eating that you have been putting off. The cart also recently joined twitter and you can follow them @KingOfTheFlavor to stay up on all their specials.

‘wichcraft Launches New Summer Items: If you're a 'wichcraft fan who always looks forward to their seasonal items, you'll be happy to know that the summer menu took effect yesterday. They have three different open-faced breakfast toast plus two new sandwiches- one with roast beef and another grilled fontina & taleggio- among other things.

Trucks Gather For Choice Streets Tonight: Tonight is the night over 20 food trucks gather on the Intrepid to serve their food to ticket holders on the Intrepid. It's Village Voice's Choice Streets and it's mostly sold out, but there are still some general admission tickets available at the door tonight. Look for a full report on the newest truck offerings tomorrow.

Great Street Meat Returns on May 6: May is shaping up to be a month of street food festivities. On May 6, one day before Choice Streets, the Street Vendor Project will host the Great Street Meat, a celebration of the advocacy work they do all year long for the vendors. The event will feature live music, an open bar, and samples from Vendy Award winning vendors like Cinnamon Snail and Nuchas. More information and tickets can be obtained at the website here.

Tuesday Earth Day Specials at Pizza by Cer Te: Today is Earth Day (who knew!?) and to celebrate Pizza by Cer Te is offering two different specials.  First off, it's a two for tuesday! Starting at Noon you can get two slices of Margherita pizza for just $2 (in store only).  And if that wasn't enough, all customers will receive a large 13” Eco-Friendly Tote with their order. Happy Earth Day indeed!

Free Smashburger Alert: Manhattan's very first Smashburger location, which anhattans-first-smashburger/">we told you about back in January, opens today on 33rd btw. 5+6th Ave and to celebrate they're giving away free classic Smashburgers from 10am to 2pm, and then again from 5-8pm 10am to 8pm.  Limit one per customer. Curious what to expect?  Zach wrote about L.A.'s first location at the beginning of last year. 

It’s Free Cone Day!!!: If you didn't know that today is one of the best American holidays, you know now! It's Ben & Jerry's 35th Annual Free Cone Day and the goal is to give out a million free ice cream scoops. I think this is a cause the Midtown Lunch community to take up. Our Ben & Jerry's can be found in the Rockefeller Center Concourse, on the 4th floor of Macy's 34th Street, and on 44th Street btw 7th+8th. Freeloaders and ice cream lovers, engage!