Midtown Lunch

Here’s a bit of Flatiron Lunch news before we lay this week’s review on you…

Now here ye. Now here ye. For one day only, Tuesday, September 17th, Shake Shack in Madison Square Park will serve up a massive line of people Cronut Hole Concrete. Shake Shack’s marketing team described the special concrete as a combination of “Shake Shack’s dense, rich and creamy Butter Caramel frozen custard blended with three delectable Cinnamon Sugar Cronut Holes, and a bonus Cronut Hole on top.” Maybe I am just bitter since I still haven’t tried a cronut (hours to wait in line? Ain’t nobody got time for that. I take that back, apparently, everyone, but me has time for that), but the sound of a pastry in frozen custard seems like a recipe for soggy mess to me. There is a reason we put sturdy items like peanut butter cups and Oreos in our milkshakes. At least that cronut hole on top will probably taste delicious.

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

It we had a Flatiron Mid-Afternoon Snack column, Ralph’s Italian Ice would be featured there. Since we don’t and it is anyone’s guess how many warm afternoons we have left, I had to throw this one in now! I don’t know about you, but I normally associate Italian ice with a hot summer weekend beach day. But I shouldn’t discriminate. Why can’t it be a weekday mid-afternoon pick-me-up? It can.

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Here’s a bit of Flatiron Lunch news before we lay this week’s review on you…

Eataly is celebrating is 3rd Birthday. (Has it really been only 3 years? Crazy. Seems like it has been around much longer.) To celebrate, they are having a tasting party. Individual tasting tickets are $4 each and can be bought today at the 23rd Street entrance. It is unclear how much you will be able to eat for $4, since most of the substantial dishes are 2-4 tickets. But if you are willing to spend a little more to reward yourself for getting through this 4-day work week, I am sure it will be tasty. Still, some of the 1 ticket dishes have potential: olive oil-preserved tuna crostini, fried chickpeas, oyster bar and chocolate foundation with chocolate dips. And can someone please spend the $12 (3 tickets) to try the whole roasted pork shoulder? Pretty please!

While you are at Eataly, there is another Birthday deal to be had – products marked down to $3. Don’t get too distracted by the can of tomatoes (formerly $3.80) and head straight to the Torrone Martino chocolate hazelnut gianduja truffles or the Babbi hazelnut spread both market down from $7.80. At least that would be my strategy. More chocolate hazelnut products, less tomato sauce.

Eataly, 200 5th Avenue at 23rd Street, (212) 229-2560

Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Chal Chilli is a recent addition to the Curry Hill area, but instead of Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi, they have a tag line of “Thai fusion with a blend of south Asian Spices.” I thought Singapura delivered great non-Indian food in the area, so was hopeful for Chal Chilli.

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I recently had a cabbie that had just come back on duty in the Curry Hill area, so I felt compelled to ask the driver where he had eaten. He said “Haandi”. He even said everything was the best when I ask for dish recommendations. So why isn’t this post about Haandi?? Because it was properly covered by Jason in 2010 (with He-Man spotting and all). I thought about going back for a different angle (which still might happen), but in the meantime, I decided to try Chote Nawab which has has been on my list since it opened back in May 2012. And now I am one step closer to total Curry Hill Domination (aka trying every Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi restaurant in the area.)

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

Pongsri already has history with ML. Zach reviewed two noodle (pad Thai and pad see ew) dishes at the the midtown west branch 5 years ago. I decided to hit up the Flatiron location on 23 btw. 6+7th and try some of the other parts of the menu.

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

It’s been a while since we looked at openings and closings in the Flatiron area (read: I have been slacking.) So it is time for a proper round-up.

OPENINGS:

(NSFW?) Museum of Sex opened a restaurant. You heard me correctly. I’m really not sure I would feel comfortable eating at a place with exhibitions titled Universe of Desire, The Sex Lives of Animals, and My Life Ruined by Sex: The Works of William Kent. I haven’t seen a menu yet, but per a previous statement, “It’s going to be eclectic and artful.” M-kay.

Play (Museum of Sex Restaurant), 1 East 27th Street (btwn Fifth and Madison Avenues), (212) 447-PLAY

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

It may just be me, but the sight of signage promoting quail curry on Thursdays got me super excited. (It’s not just me, right?) Where else can you order quail curry in Flatiron or Midtown? (Seriously, is there any place else?) I was excited.

When I went to Lahori Kabab on a Thursday to claim my quail curry, they didn’t have it. Trust me, I was super bummed. They promised me they would have it the next week. When I asked which of the daily specials he preferred, the guy at the counter said his favorite is Friday’s haleem.

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I ran into a Chinese friend and her brother, who is a chef (well, really they are Los Angelenos with Chinese heritage), and they said something about Chinese dinner. Since she lives near 25th Street and 6 Avenue, I was hopeful she would give me a tip for an awesome Chinese restaurant nearby, but when I emailed her to get the details, I was so disappointed to learn the Chinese dinner had come from Chinatown. Not fair. But not surprising.

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Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.

I love it when readers write in to suggest lunch spots I might have neglected, overlooked, or just never walked by. So a huge thank you to Flatiron Lunch’er James for suggesting the cart on the corner of 19th and Park.

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