Midtown Lunch

We’re coming down the home stretch to this year’s Vendy Awards, which are taking place next Saturday on Governor’s Island.  Last week the Dessert Finalists were announced, a few days ago we found out there was a New Jersey category added this year, and just a few minutes ago Grub Street released this year’s Rookie Finalists.  And here they are (you may recognize a few from the streets of Midtown!)

• Korilla BBQ
• Eddie’s Pizza Truck
• Taim Mobile
• Comme Ci Comme Ca
• Eat Here Now Now Eat Here (a new cart beneath the Highline)
• Sunrise Grill (A Jamaican Truck that started in Midtown, but now parks in Washington Heights)

You will able to read more about each of these nominees on the Vendy Award website later today.

Do you eat lunch in Midtown? Do you hate salads, generic delis, and people who eat the same boring lunch every single day?  Midtown Lunch is looking for some new eaters who love to go that extra mile for a decent lunch.  Writing experience a plus, but not as important as your enthusiasm for the mid-day meal.  This is a  freelance position with the potential to develop into more for the right candidate. Interested?  Send an email to editor@midtownlunch.com with a description of yourself, a few paragraphs about why you’re interested in the job, and anything else you think will make us feel like you’re the eater we’re looking for.

Photo courtesy of Lunch’er Daniel T.

If you haven’t had a chance to try the Bob & Jo Korean fusion truck we told you about back in July, today’s your big chance.  They’re parked on 52nd btw. Lex+3rd 51st btw. Park+Lex right now.  Also, Comme Ci Comme is on 36th & Broadway (with grilled tilapia), Bian Dang is on 46th & Vanderbilt, the Red Hook Lobster Pound Truck is on 46th btw. 5+6th, Gorilla Cheese is on 47th & Park (with a shawarma grilled cheese!?), Kimchi Truck is on 46th & Lex, Wafels & Dinges truck is on 49th & 3rd, and Korilla, Coolhaus, Cupcake Stop, and Feed Your Hole are in the Flatiron.  As always check the ML Twitter Tracker before heading out.

Yesterday Zagat Buzz reported that Dell Frisco’s Grille would be opening this weekend in Rock Center, offering “more affordably priced options including wood-oven baked flatbreads, “two-fisted” sandwiches, everything-but-the-kitchen-sink salads and hearty pastas”. Don’t get too excited though… Grub Street posted the menu today and there is still nothing as cheap as the steak tip bar menu loophole at the original restaurant.

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every Friday afternoon our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

So we all know the drill. It was a crappy day at work, your boss was being a real jerk, and when you finally get out of the office, the heat and humidity make it feel like it’s 1,000 degrees. All you want is a cold drink in an air-conditioned place. So you just go to wherever is closest. Well I’m here to urge you to use caution, because sometimes… IT’S A TRAP!!!!!!

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Want to eat a delicious Korean lunch today while supporting a good cause? The law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges is raising money to help print up a rights manual for immigrants, and Pro Korean (on 56th btw. 5+6th) has agreed to donate $1 from every combo lunch box they sell today to help the cause. Last month the guides were printed up in Spanish and Chinese, and with this money they hope to translate them into Korean, Russian, and other languages. Make sure you mention “charity” when you purchase your lunch.

Blondie and Clay have shown us a bit of the sweet and savory sides of Paris Baguette, but on a day like today it’s all about their frozen treats. Read more »

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. Every Friday afternoon our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

A few months after I wrote that McCormick’s was one of the best food happy hours, our long time commenter Adam posted that:

“I went here tonight with a friend. The burger was fantastic for $3.95 (NOTE: Yes, it seems that they raised the price a buck, but it was still damn good). Best $4 burger I’ve ever had, and for $4 I will be back again. The burger was a perfect medium-rare, big, and juicy, and did I mention $4? This could easily become a bad habit. “

There is nothing wrong with a $4 burger, even Blarney Stone can’t beat that. I figured enough time had passed by that I should follow up on McCormick’s burger at the bar special and see what other changes had been made.

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