Midtown Lunch

Midtown Lunch has always prided itself on finding “hidden” gems in our part of the city (after all, you don’t need a blog to tell you where the nearest Cafe Metro is.)  And there are some truly hidden treasures, none more so than the spots that operate out of freight elevator hallways. The most famous one is El Sabroso, the Dominican/Peruvian 6 seater inside the freight hallway on 37th btw. 7+8th.  But there’s also Nick’s Place (on 39th btw. 7+8th), and of course Pick a Pita made a name for themselves in a hallway on 38th btw. 7+8th, before moving out into the open on 8th Avenue.

There’s something fun, and slightly subversive, about eating in a hallway beneath a building, dodging giant dollies full of lord knows what, as you navigate the bustling hallway to get to your lunch.  So, when I read in the ML forums that there was another one of these places on 37th btw. 8+9th, I wasted no time.

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As much as I can’t stand the generic Midtown delis (you know the spot… sandwiches + build your own salads + Snapple) I still find myself drawn into them every once in awhile. Sometimes it’ll be for Korean food, or mandoo (also Korean food), or a bulgogi sandwich (hmmm… I suppose that’s Korean food as well.) Ok, so usually it’s for Korean food. But I’ve also partaken in Mongolian BBQ, a terrible hamburger, and the Rolly Wrap (R.I.P.)  In other words, if a deli is doing something interesting, I won’t hesitate to dive right in.

Such is the case with Fresco on the Go (the takeout arm of the fancier Fresco by Scotto restaurant next door.)

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Last week Piada NYC opened in the basement of the Citycorp building (on 53rd and Lex), becoming the latest place to bring some sort of strange, yuppiefied version of supposedly ethnic food stuffs to Midtown.  Following in the footsteps of Kolache Mama (Czech pastries by way of Texas), Kushi Q (yakitori), and Danku (Dutch croquettes), Piada’s menu is all about the authentic “Italian flatbread sandwich” (?)  There is already a location on the LES, so some of you might have already partaken in the joy of the piada.  For me, Friday in the Citycorp building was a first (a Piada virgin if you will.)

Check out what we ordered, after the jump…

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