Midtown Lunch

Anthony Bourdain described the “utility slice” as the basic NYC pizza aptly and well. Sometimes all you want is just a slice or two of pizza and a can of soda. 2 Bros has since defined this subset by cranking out plain pie after plain pie, with the occasional outlier of pepperoni pies or mushroom pies, and offering pizza at $1. Earlier this year, we saw open pizza wars break out on one block – the revolution of a 75-cent slice. How in 2012 can this be legitimately done? Where are the corners cut? There has to be some kind of clarity shed on the phenomenon of the dollar slice. People love it and line up to get it. We don’t expect greatness for a buck a slice, but compared to the $2 and up slice, it’s a revolution in value. And as with any revolution, there will be winners and losers. Whose slices are Bolsheviks to the deposed Romanovs? Whose crusts lie guillotined and whose comprise the Directoire? Has 2 Bros become the Batista to an up-and-coming Fidel?
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Perhaps clueing in on the successes of the Coolhaus Truck and ‘wichcraft ice cream sandwich kiosk, a new establishment called Smush (40th St. btw. 5th + 6th) is opening soon among the land of gourmet delis near Bryant Park. Fittingly, it calls itself The NY Deli of Desserts, and plans to sell speciality ice cream sandwiches with namesakes borrowed from savory sandwiches. According to their website, they’ll be selling sandwiches such as the “Chocolate Covered Struben”, the “Chocolate Patty Melt”, the “French Chip” and the “Sloppy Mo'”. They also have an option for customers to build their own sandwiches. If you would like to learn more, or if you’re interested in reading about the riveting story of Smush the Penguin from Icey Mount Smushmore, their website is very informative. Obviously the ML team will keep you updated on Smush as we learn more.

Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (We’re actually pretty easy to stalk!)

Veggie tempura at Hannosuke in Los Angeles. Wait, veggie?? Photo by Zach

Rachel made ceviche at home, Blondie and Brownie are excited for The Food Film Festival and Pig Island among other fall food events, Brian’s hot dog tour took him to the original Nathan’s Famous and I photographed a Japanese knife forging demo at Smorgasburg.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Andrea reports on a special weekday New Amsterdam Market all day tomorrow, Zach finds tempura options for everyone to love at Hannosuke in Los Angeles and Jamie suggests taking a look at the Chinese menu at China King in Philadelphia.

If you work anywhere near 45th Street and 6th Ave this is likely the talk of your office right now… around 12:30pm today a Mercedes plowed onto the sidewalk, hitting Mister Khan’s halal cart. Thankfully a fire hydrant stopped the car before it could hit the fruit vendor.

Check that out, after the jump.

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East side lunchers rejoice! Whole Foods, which just might be the best generic deli in Midtown, is opening its East 57th street location tomorrow (btw. 2nd+3rd). If you’re a super-early riser, you’ll be interested to know they’re hosting a bread breaking ceremony at 8:30 a.m., serving breakfast refreshments while supplies last. Doors officially opening at 9 a.m. Although the grocery store is by no means a bargain, and you have to be extremely disciplined with their pay-by-the-pound prepared food options (we know how quickly that can add up!), you’re not going to find a better quality by-the-pound lunch anywhere.

Upon returning from lunch one afternoon, close to the trinity-turned-tetrad of Japanese places on 41st Btw. Mad. + 5th (Cafe Zaiya, Yagura, Mai Cuisine, and Sunrise Mart), I happened upon a sidewalk halal cart called Every Day Fresh Halal Food that appeared to be new. Could it be so? I did a bit of research and I couldn’t surface a thing. I went by to try them out a few days later, and found out they had indeed only been at this location for a short while… and something about their food seemed oddly familiar.

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For their 5th annual celebration, Wafels & Dinges will be parked on 49th and 3rd on Friday to celebrate National Waffle Day. Our favorite big yellow truck will host a series of events that will include wafel-decorating, blindfolded wafel-eating, and a bicycle track stand. The Master himself Thomas DeGeest will preside over the afternoon (12-1pm) and crown the truck’s biggest fans, Miss and Mister Wafel (who will both earn unlimited waffles for a year).

Most importantly for us freeloaders, they’re offering free wafels in exchange for original drawings depicting bicycle-powered waffle carts. And they’ll announce the winner of their Photo Contest, who will receive an all-expense paid trip to Belgium, courtesy of Brussels Airlines, and can be entered by clicking here.

I don’t know if you’ve paid any attention, because I hadn’t until now, but there really are a lot of T.G.I. Friday’s in Midtown. Sadly (or not!), the one in the heart of Times Square (46th & Broadway, just one block north of the temporarily-closed Planet Hollywood) has shuttered, leaving its giant arrow signs hanging. Literally! The tourists are going to be so confused. Here’s hoping for something more exciting! T.G.Indeed.

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 we get to see how the 1% live! Meet Jared, a lawyer who likes Num Pang but whose go-to lunches are a bit pricier than our average find.

Name: Jared

Age: 26

Occupation: Attorney

Where in Midtown do you work? 1350 Broadway, between 35th and 36th street

Favorite Kind of Food: Chinese

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Indian

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Skirt Steak Sandwich from Num Pang (on 41st btw. Lex+3rd) or Chicken Satays at Philippe (on 60th btw. Mad+Park)

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