Midtown Lunch

Cafe Duke Survives Transformer Fire: If you're an aficionado of the chocolate-covered baconery/generic deli juggernaut Cafe Duke, you may want to have a backup plan for today's lunch you'll be excited to hear that it's business as usual today. A transformer fire on its sidewalk yesterday prompted an evacuation of the Time-Life building in which the hotbed of pop-up bulgogi tacos sits. No word yet on the future of the deli, but we're guessing they're not going to be open for awhile. Amazingly enough The Duke made it through unscathed!

Pizza by Cer Te’s January Pie is…: ...perfect for those of you who have no interest in New Year's resolutions. It's called “The Philly” and features shredded sautéed grass-fed sirloin, caramelized onions, and a five cheese fondue. They start serving it today.

New Schnipper’s Opens Today in Midtown East: If you are a fan of burgers and work in Midtown East and you're stuck at work today here's a little bit of good news...the new location of Schnipper's, on Lexington btw. 50+51st that we told you about back in March, opens today. The menu is mostly the same, although there is a new burger only available at this location: the Schnippers Old Fashioned, an American cheeseburger with griddled onion and a classic pink sauce (which won last year's Burger Bash at the New York Wine & Food Festival.)

Treehaus is Coming to the Westside: If you're a Westsider who has been jealous of those who work close to Treehaus, here's some good news: you're getting one of your own! According to the New York Post, a large second location will be opening in the spring in an apartment building at 460 W. 42nd street (btw. 9th and 10th avenues).

Last Chance to Nominate Your Favorite Lunch: Today is the last day to nominate your favorite lunch spot in Midtown before we tally the results and start putting together the Readers' Poll.  If you don't nominate, you can't complain when your favorite doesn't make it into the poll.  Do it.  Do it.  Post your nominations in the comments of this post>>

Free Tea & Biscuits Alert: Apparently a Downton Abbey truck (oh joy!) is spending the week in New York handing out free tea and biscuits, and for the next 3 days they'll be parked in Midtown.  Today they're on 6th Ave. btw. 40+41st until 7pm, tomorrow they're on 50th btw. 6+7th from 11am to 7pm, and Thursday they'll be on 41st btw. 7+8th from Noon to 8pm.

Wafels & Dinges’ Herald Square Cabana is doing Free Wafels on Black Friday: Stuck in the tourist/shopper hell that is Macy's on the real American holiday of Black Friday? Wafels & Dinges wants to ease your burden. They're doing free wafels between 11 AM-12 PM and 4 PM-5PM this Friday to celebrate the opening of the Wafel Cabana (which is probably about 10,000 times better than the Copacabana).

Wafels & Dinges Now Permanently Available in Herald Square: The permanent kiosk of Wafels & Dinges we told you about last month opened this past Saturday and they are now serving all the usual sweet and savory dinges, including their play on chicken and waffles and their spekuloos milkshake (which has only been available in their East Village stroefront until now). The stand will be open seven days a week from 7am-10pm. And they'll soon be joined by Nuchas.

Free Falafel Alert: Pitopia (on B'way and 37th) turns two years old today and to celebrate they're giving away coupons for free falafel today.  To claim yours just send an email to falafelfree@gmail.com or click the sign up link on their facebook page and they'll email you the coupon.  Freeloaders, engage.

Totto Ramen Opens New Location, Dinner Only So Far: It has been so long since we last talked about Totto Ramen's expansion, I almost forgot it was happening. But, Eater reports that the new location of Totto Ramen quietly opened last week. Unfortunately for ML'ers, they're only open for dinner so far, but if we hear if that changes, we'll let you know. The new restaurant sits on 51st and 10th avenue, just a block from the original.