Midtown Lunch

Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week Queens cheerleader and World’s Fare editor Joe DiStefano reminisces about the time he spent working in Midtown.

Name: Joe D.

Age: 43

Occupation: Food Writer

Where in Midtown do you Work?: These days I live and work in beautiful Rego Park, Queens, and eat almost exclusively in Queens. For many years I worked at Rockefeller Center.

Favorite Kind of Food: Ethnic soul food, what I like to think of as grandma food. Food that has a very strong connection to culture and conmmunity. Stuff like eating crispy pata–fried pork leg–in a Filipino joint in Woodside’s Little Manila. Come to think of it I do have a strong affinity for pork.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Bad fried food. Bad Thai. It’s almost as if the operators of such places have this idea that “this is what we think you think Thai food is…you don’t know the difference any way. Eat up!” (Insert Mexican, or any other “ethnic” cuisine.)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pulpo salad, Cuban sandwich, and chicken at Margon (on 46th btw. 6+7th). Any thing at Tehuitzingo Deli (on 10th Ave. btw. 47+48th), particularly the pancita de chivo, a sort of goat blood sausage. Gyoza set at Sapporo (on 49th btw. 6+7th). Friekedele at Hallo Berlin.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Sara, a student who discovered the joys of Midtown East while interning on the Rachael Ray show.

Name: Sara

Age: 22

Occupation: Student at FDU

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Former intern on the Rachael Ray Show

Favorite Kind of Food: Any Spanish food and/or comfort food

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Can’t think of one (serious.)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Potbelly Sandwich Shop for the Roast beef sandwich with lettuce, tomato & italian seasoning. 696 Deli (on 3rd btw. 43+44th) for their Bacon Egg & Cheese. Sophie’s Cuban for the Ropa Vieja with rice & beans & their empanadas are legit too! Blarney Stone (on 3rd btw. 45+46th) for their Rotisserie Chicken with 2 sides or Hamburger Lunch Special. Mangu Dominican Restaurant’s Sancocho Soup. And McFaddens on 2nd btw. 42+43rd for their Shepherds Pie

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Patrick, a Maxim editor who’s not gay but has a man crush on Uncle Gussy.

Name: Patrick

Age: 35

Occupation: Editor at Maxim

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Midtown East

Favorite Kind of Food: Italian and Chinese

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Overcooked meat. It’s like, what’s the point?

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Fried Oyster Po’ Boy from Grand Central Oyster Bar, Double Cooked Sliced Pork Belly from Szechuan Gourmet (on 39th btw. 5+6th), Cuban sandwich from Margon (on 46th btw. 6+7th).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Sarah, a Bryant Park Corp employee who thinks Subway has a weird smell.

Name: Sarah

Age: 22

Occupation: Operations Assistant

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Bryant Park Corporation (Twitter @34thStNYC, probably know as the “cafeteria” for all you Midtown lunchers. People watching in the park is really amusing, and I’ve seen lunches & lunchers of all types.

Favorite Kind of Food: I love my starchy foods, anything with corn, yams, chestnuts, hash browns, probably because I’m from the Great White North. And the usual Thai and Viet food: Bahn mi, pad thai, summer rolls. For dessert: Laduree macarons. For anytime: oyster and more oysters.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Generally bland overpriced sandwiches you are eating just because you didn’t have breakfast. ( I’m looking at your Pret a Manger; why do you stuff an entire cucumber in your wraps?). Also Subway: is it just me or does every Subway restaurant have this particular weird smell? I’m extremely sad I can’t eat anything of theirs because $5 subs looks like a great deal for lunch.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: For the past few week it has been at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, though the shops just closed for the season this week. They had Vegetarian Oasis food kiosk and Daisy’s Grits, which I had for the first time, kind of taste like congee.  Le Pain Quotidien, great spot for quality food and a great ambiance, you feel relaxed even though you probably don’t have long to scarf down your organic whatever salad. The only downside is that the portions are too small for guys.  Szechuan Gourmet (39th & 6th)has the most authentic Chinese takeout I’ve gotten on this side of the ocean. Korean food in Ktown is generally my answer to the dearth of diverse food choices around here. I love Arirang for their handmade noodles. Bisques at Hale & Hearty, and Oren’s for their coffee and baked goods ( The Donut Plant donuts and Balthazar almond croissants)

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Christine, a food show assistant who wishes she worked in Seoul.

Name: Christine

Age: 22

Occupation: Edit Assistant for a food show, food blogger on the side

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Smack dab in the 30s–an area most lacking in awesome food trucks

Favorite Kind of Food: Dumplings, truffles (both the sweet and savory kinds), peanut butter and jellies, brunch food, anything Korean, bacon, shakeshack burgers, macarons, Ippudo ramen, roasted brussels sprouts, Momofuku pork buns. Any meal involving a combination of the above would make me exceedingly full and happy. It’s hard to believe that I was a vegetarian just a year ago.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Thanksgiving leftovers, Ethiopian injera, lackluster salads with far too little topping. Just say no.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Cafe Zaiya (on 41st btw. Mad+5th) for Japanese comfort food (I may or may not have inhaled a curry pan for breakfast), Nanoosh (on Mad btw. 33+34th) for organic hummus made in-house, Ktown’s Food Gallery 32, Mandoo Bar, E-mo Kimbap, and Woorijip for cheap and delicious eats, currently the Flex donuts pop-up at Zocalo in Grand Central (who says dessert isn’t lunch…), Num Pang (on 41st btw. Lex+3rd) for “Vietnamese” “Cambodian” sandwiches, also the awesome selection of food vendors at Bryant Park/Columbus Circle Xmas Market.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Caryn, a 30 Rock coordinator in charge of ordering catering for her office. Can you help her out with some suggestion?

Name: Caryn

Age: 23

Occupation: Program Coordinator

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 30 Rockefeller Plaza

Favorite Kind of Food: Really good hot, melty gourmet sandwiches with high quality cheese.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi. It’s embarrassing for a foodie, but I just can’t get into it.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Since my lunch break is limited, I typically don’t stray far from the concourse of 30 Rock. But the billion options keep things interesting. For example: ‘Wichcraft‘s Pressed Zucchini, Roasted Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Parmesan Panini deliciously tricks me into believing it’s a healthy option with all the veggies. When I’ve sat at my desk too long and it’s suddenly 3pm and I need to eat something monstrous, Potbelly‘s Meatball Sub is my drug of choice. My co-worker is also addicted to their fresh baked chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. If I’m feeling Mexican, Tri Tip Grill‘s burrito is really fresh and the chicken is juicy. For a lighter day, Hale and Hearty’s Sengalese Chicken with Peanuts soup with a half of Balsamic Chicken is satisfying. The limited-time Holiday Toastie from Pret a Manger (Roasted Turkey, Brie, Cranberry Sauce, Veggie Stuffing) is a festive addition to the lunch rotation. When I’m pretending to diet, I order Just Salad from their online system and pick it up 15 minutes later, which allows me to skip the massive line and avoid making excessive compulsive topping decisions.

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Peg, a quantitative analyst (!?) whose birthday is tomorrow!

Name: Peg

Age: 45 (tomorrow!)

Occupation: Quantitative Analyst

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 55th & 6th

Favorite Kind of Food: Tasty.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Boring.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Jerk chicken at Jamaican Dutchy‘s multimedia experience & food cart. Drunken noodles with pork at Topaz (56th bet 6th & 7th). Original or spicy Menchanko noodle soup at Menchanko Tei (55th bet 5th & 6th); with a side of shrimp or pork gyoza for a splurge. Cheeseburger & fries at The Burger Joint (56th bet 6th & 7th), Five Guys (55th bet 5th & 6th), or Island Burger (9th bet 51st & 52nd). Ma Paul Tofu at Wu Liang Ye (48th bet 5th & 6th). Falafel sandwich at Meze Grill (8th Ave bet 55th & 56th). Korean tacos at Bann Next Door (50th bet 8th & 9th). Korean tacos or superbowl from Korilla – bacon & kimchi fried rice is worth the extra $1. Cuban sandwich at Margon (46th bet 6th & 7th) or Tina’s Cuban (56th bet 5th & 6th). Coffee & panini at Zibetto (6th bet 56th & 57th). A pie at Angelo’s Pizza (57th bet 6th & 7th). Out of price range splurge: unagi rice box at Radiance Tea House (56th bet 6 & 7th), the eel-sashimi combination meal – a total deal! – at Ise (56 bet 5th & 6th), lobster salad BLT or grilled cheese & tomato soup combo at Bouchon Bakery (Columbus Circle).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Alexa, a musician who wishes she lived in Japan.

Name: Alexa

Age: 24

Occupation: Music Publisher and Musician

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Midtown East – 51st and Madison

Favorite Kind of Food: Generally Asian – Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean – as well as Italian and Polish/Eastern European. And Tacos.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salads (usually too boring), Nuts (most things are just better without ‘em)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Schnitzel & Things (the truck, when it’s parked on 51st between Madison and Park): The pork schnitzel platter with spicy Sriracha mayo, accompanied with beet salad and potato salad. Yes, I have a Schnitzel & Things sticker on my electric stapler…it looks good on there. Hing Won (48th Street btw. Rockefeller Plaza and 6th Ave): Cantonese Wonton Noodle Soup with Roast Pork. I’m a noodle soup junkie from when the temperatures start to drop to the most humid days of the summer. Glaze (Lexington Ave btw 54th and 55th Street): Salmon Teriyaki w/ a side of pork gyoza. Every time I go to this restaurant, I’m bound to hear Phoenix playing on their speakers and it makes me even more pumped to eat my salmon teriyaki. And, as a transplant from Seattle, this place tastes like home – it’s the real deal for Seattle teriyaki. Bian Dang (last encountered on 46th and Vanderbilt): Fried chicken over rice!

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Julia, a Mad (Wo)Man who wishes she was eating steak and eggs on a beach in Argentina.

Name: Julia

Age: 23

Occupation: Account Executive

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Ad agency @ 41st and Madison

Favorite Kind of Food: The best kind of food is the free kind. After all, if it’s free, it’s for me! In terms of cuisine, I will never turn down Thai, Caribbean, or anything carby and cheese covered.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Salads that cost $9+. This is wrong.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pork Curry Katsu at Sunrise Mart (on 41st btw. Mad+5th). Ropa Vieja with yellow rice and beans and “green sauce” at Sophie’s at 41st and 3rd. Pork belly sandwich at Num Pang (on 41st btw. Lex+3rd) with a liberal dousing of Sriracha. Giant bibimbap with a runny fried egg at Bibimbap Deli on 41st & Madison. A cream cheese & jelly blueberry bagel from Delmonico’s on Lexington & 41st (Favorited because I always get a heart drawn on my bagel foil).

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Every Tuesday we turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Michelle, a fashion designer who loves curly fries.

Name: Michelle

Age: 24

Occupation: Fashion Designer

Where in Midtown do you Work?: 37th & 8th

Favorite Kind of Food: Hands down, BBQ

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Pasta Salad, no idea why… maybe I think its a waste of pasta haha

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Sour cream apple pie from the Little Pie Company (43rd btw. 9+10th), Bulgoki from Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart (on 46th btw. 5+6th), Lobster BLT from Ed Brown in Foodparc (on 30th btw. 6+7th), Totto Ramen (on 52nd btw. 8+9th), Lamb Burger at the Breslin (on 29th btw. B’way+5th)

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