Midtown Lunch

Word has come that in addition to the two new Baja Fresh locations, we’re also getting another Chipotle on 7th Ave. btw. 37+38th and another Qdoba on 3rd Ave. and 40th Street.  That will bring the total to almost 20 new burrito chains in less than 3 years!  Don’t get me wrong… I’ll admit to getting excited about Baja Fresh (Is it real Mexican food? Of course not. But it was my goto lunch when I was broke and living in L.A. for two years.)  But overall this trend is kind of worrisome.  The chain-i-fication of Manhattan food has been slowly happening for years now, but the bad economy looks like it’s accelerating the whole process.   With so much real estate open around the city, big chains are the only businesses with the kind of money you need to expand, and survive through this crappy economy. Sure, I want In N Out Burger, Chick Fil A, and Panda Express to open in Midtown. But not at the expense of Blarney Stone, Cafe Cello, and Hing Won.  Can’t we have it both ways?

Thanks to Lunch’er Rebecca for sending along the photo.

Grub Street reports that the final new Chipotle opening in 2008 will be on Madison and 39th, on December 11th- and they’ll be celebrating old school style on December 10th with free burritos from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.  6 p.m. No acoustic bands, no Halloween costumes, and no charity tie-in… just free food, given away to hoardes of freeloaders, just like the old days.  I’m down with that.

My dislike of Chipotle is well documented, but I have also been quoted as saying “Free Chipotle is the only good Chipotle“.  Thanks to Gen from Foodies R Goodies for passing along this information: on Friday from 6 p.m. to closing every single Chipotle in New York City will be giving away free burritos to anybody dressed up… as a burrito (or a taco). We’re not sure about some of the existential issues involved (i.e. how serious does your burrito costume have to be, or will the free burritos include free “$1.75 guacamole”) but we’re guessing they’ll be good sports about it.  Especially if you’re enough of a loser to spend all day at work dressed as a burrito for what amounts to $7.

Foodies R Goodies also reports that there is a new Chipotle opening up on 45th btw. 5+6th… and according to a Chipotle employee it will be opening this Friday- just in time for you to get your free Halloween burrito (provided you are dressed up of course.)  Truthfully, they should try to make as many fans as they can with these free burritos… because once the new Baja Fresh opens in Midtown, it’s all over. (Well, for some of us anyway.)

You know what I say… the only good Chipotle is free Chipotle, and two more Chipotles opening soon in Midtown should mean two opportunities for free burritos.  The first one is on 45th Street btw. 5+6th and is tentatively scheduled to open on Monday July 14th.  Usually free burrito day is the day before the grand opening, but that would be a Sunday and very disappointing.  I’ll confirm as we get closer to the date… but let’s hope July 14th will bring gratis burritos.  Maybe that will make up for their grossly misleading calorie postings.  Signs for the second location have gone up on 50th and Park, but no date has been set for an opening.

In other chain burrito news, if you work on the west side and were jealous of the east side Qdoba alternative- the west side will soon be getting its very own Qdoba on 50th btw. 6+7th.  Huzzah! 

Have you seen a new place set to open up in Midtown?  Email the news, with or without a photo to zach@midtownlunch.com

The law requiring all chain restaurants in New York City to post calorie information goes into effect today.  And while it is still being fought by the New York State Restaurant Association, many have already complied, including Chipotle, which has already posted a “Calorie Range” for all of the items on their menu.  There’s only one issue… somebody’s math sucks, because when you compare the “ranges” posted to the (very difficult to find) nutritional information on the Chipotle website, it doesn’t quite match up.

My rudimentary math skills get put to the test, after the jump… Read more »