Midtown Lunch

Cer Te’s April Sandwich is Vegetarian: We thought this might be an April fools day joke at first but it looks like it's the real deal. Cer Te's April sandwich of the month is vegetarian. It features parsley & romano crusted fried asparagus and lemon caper whipped potatoes in a chick pea crepe, is $8.95 and is available all month long. (At least it's fried!) 20 W 55th St (btw. 5+6th). 212-397-2020

Free Pret Alert: Tomorrow a new Pret a Manger is opening on at 265 Madison (on 39th and Madison) and to celebrate they're giving away free sandwiches from Noon to 2pm. The catch is you have to stop by this morning to pick up a voucher. Available while supplies last...

Free Coffee Alert: If you're a fan of hipster coffee you should be excited about this news... The Manchester Pub (on 2nd Ave. btw. 48+49th) has just partnered with Coffee Foundry to launch a morning coffee pop up featuring beans from Toby's Estate, a small batch roaster from Brooklyn.  The pop up is open from 7-11am and to celebrate, they're giving out free coffee this entire week.  Freeloading caffeine junkies, prepare to engage.

Tickets Still Available Tonight for Choice Eats: Tonight is one of the biggest food parties of the year and it's not too late to buy tickets. Village Voice's Coice Eats, which features unlimited samplings from over 70 NYC restaurants, begins at 7pm tonight at Baksetball City on Pier 36 downtown.  General Admission tickets are still available tonight at the door. For more information and a list of participating food vendors, click here.

Today is $2 Tuesday at Schnipper’s on Lex: If you've been holding off on trying out the newest Schnipper's Quality Kitchen location on Lex btw. 50+51st today is the day. A bunch of their menu is just $2, including the old fashioned burger, the cheeseburger, their chicken club, crispy sandwich, and chick filet, plus mac & joe, two salads, fries and sweet potato fries.  Each for $2, all day long Want a PBR to wash it all down?  That's $2 after 4pm.

Japanese Restaurant Week Started Yesterday: Japan Week will return March 6-8, bringing Japanese food, exhibits and performances back to Grand Central's Vanderbuilt Hall. In the meantime, Japanese Restaurant Week 2014 begins this week. Restaurants all over the city are participating, including Midtown Lunch favorites Go! Go! Curry! and Sunrise Mart. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Tokyo Station, several restaurants will create food inspired by what was popular in 1914, while others will focus on food from other Japanese regions.

Another Shake Shack Is Coming To Midtown: Hey Midtown, looks like we're getting another Shake Shack! According to the New York Post, the new, large location will open in the fall at 600 Third Avenue (at 40th street). Eater reports it will go into the former Qdoba spot. Now that's a delicious trade for Midtown East!

Free Chocolate Tasting Today and Friday at La Maison du Chocolat: If you're needing something sweet after lunch or on the way home from work today, stop by the Rockefeller Center location of that fancy chocolatier La Maison du Chocolat. Until 6pm, they're hosting a complimentary ganache tasting. And if you miss it today, you can stop by on Friday night between 7pm and 10pm. Free chocolate can definitely help fix these winter blues.

Free Naya Express Alert: This just in from Lunch'er Austin:  The new location of Naya Express (on 56th btw. 5+6th) is having their grand opening today, and to celebrate they're giving away free food.  We're not sure how long this is going to last so freeloaders... engage!

Midtown to Get Manhattan’s First Smashburger: Thanks to Lunch'er Joe for passing along this little tidbit... it looks like Midtown is getting its very own Smashburger in April on 33rd btw. 5+6th. Brooklyn has had Smasburger for a few years, but this will be Manhattan's first location.  Zach wrote about a location in L.A. awhile back if you're interested>>   Lunch'er Joe