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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I was surprised and kind of disappointed the other day when I went to OBAO intending to order their delicious pad see iew with kalbi, only to find that their menu had changed from the last time I was there. If I had to guess, I’d say my last trip was about six months ago, so I’m unsure when the updated menu made its appearance, but the beef pad see iew on the new menu no longer has any mention of the short rib. Major bummer. But, the good news for Midtown Lunch’ers is that there are still plenty of items $10 and under on the lunch specials menu, and if you dine-in, you get a free, chef-selected starter with your entree.

Anyway, while selecting a new dish, I noticed the four Michelin recommended items (fancy!), one of which was the beef salad Anna enjoyed so much in December. I ordered the recommended Pho Bo.

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The restaurant scene at 49th St and 8th Ave is getting more and more interesting. Following hot on the heels of E&E Grill House, Lillie’s Victorian Bar & Restaurant has recently opened just a few doors down. Although most of the menu is well above the $10 mark, there appears to be a few sandwiches that meet the mark, including a Welsh rarebit sandwich ($10) and a grilled ham & cheese, both served with hand-cut fries. Although we’ve yet to try this new Lillie’s the original version in Union Square has earned a ‘Critics Pick’ designation from New York Magazine, and a solid 4 stars on Yelp so the indicators are promising. Early adopters, please let us know what you think in the comments.

Lillie’s Victorian Bar & Restaurant, 249 W 49th St (btw. B’way+8th Ave). 212-957-4530

Good news for Herald Square area lunchers in need of reliable falafel options. There’s a Crisp that’s opening on 32nd between Broadway and 6th Ave, just a block over from the edge of K-town. I took a quick peek through the glass, and it looks like the restaurant is nearly operational, so expect an opening soon…

Well that didn’t take long. The ambitious South Korean coffee chain, Caffe Benne, is now open for business at 49th St and Broadway. The massive venue boasts plenty of seating, a book nook, gigantic flat screen TVs, pastries, doughnuts, gelato, and pre-packaged sandwiches. Oh, and there’s coffee as well, which on my visit a bit flat, but inoffensive. Check out the drinks menu and a peek at the interior after the jump.

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Last week we told you that a second location of Peter’s Since 1969 had opened on Lex btw. 55+56th (in the old Yummy Yummy space.) Well to celebrate their grand opening, they want to offer you guys a special deal. Just mention Midtown Lunch at the register today or tomorrow until 2pm and get 30% off the purchase of a single meal. Not good enough for you? If you’re willing to have a late lunch, the discount goes up to 50% after 2pm. Their credit card machine isn’t up and running yet, so it’s cash only for now. And there is a limit of one meal per person per day for the discount.  Plus the discount is only good at the new location (NOT the one on 9th Ave.)  But if you’re an eastsider who hasn’t tried Peter’s yet, this might be good incentive.

Peter’s Since 1969, 667 Lexington Ave (btw. 55+56th)

On Friday, Andrea discovered that a brand new truck was set to park in the Financial District. Well, over the weekend the Mike ‘N’ Willie’s truck mentioned on Twitter that they will be arriving somewhere in Midtown today. The menu, which can be viewed on their website (although with no prices listed), is comprised of barbecue sliders and tacos. It sounds pretty similar to the food Mexicue is serving, but one menu item called the Pea-Nocchio (a fried chipotle chickpea patty) sounds intriguing enough to warrant hunting this truck down. According to their Twitter account they’ll be on 40th & 6th today, but you might want to check it or the ML Twitter Tracker before heading out just to be safe. Midtown first timers never seem to end they day where they start it…

If you were sad when ‘wichcraft kicked their grilled Gruyère to the curb, today is your lucky day. Not only is it back starting today as part of their new winter menu, but it’s returning alongside two other old favorites and two new sandwiches. The old favorites are the meatloaf with tomato relish, bacon and aged Cheddar on ciabatta, and the roasted pork coppa with pickled pepper relish and fontina on grilled country bread. The Berkshire pork is being sourced from Iowa’s Berkridge Farms, which raises its animals without ‘roids, hormones, or growth promotants, sub-theraputic antibiotics, or animal by-products in their feed. Now, about those new sandwiches…

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