Last week, we got a tweet from luncher “Michael” and a forum post form luncher “Chowsue” reporting that a truck on 44th and 6th avenue was serving chicken on rice for a measly $3.50. Between my love a good bargain and concern over how it could possibly be so cheap, there was more than a little internal conflict when I headed over to investigate.
Every Friday we go south of the ML boundaries in search of a delicious lunch. Sometimes it’s Murray Hill south or the Flatiron District, sometimes Gramercy and everything in between- but we just like to call it Flatiron Lunch.
New York got its first taste of Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen when the Midtown branch (8th Ave + 41st) opened up a while back, and it seemingly became known for its burgers. Late last year, the second location opened on 23rd at Madison, almost directly across from Shake Shack. I think we all know whose burgers are better, so when I stopped by the Flatiron Schnipper’s this week, I wanted to try something else, maybe something for the token vegetarian in your group who always complains when you hit up the Shack that there’s nothing for them, but fries and deep-fried mushroom sandwiches!
Posted by Blondie at 9:45 am, January 20th, 2012 under Flatiron Lunch, Schnipper's Quality Kitchen.
Earlier this week, Lunch’er “joer” tipped us off that Mia Dona has been transformed into a Sichuan restaurant called Land of Plenty (on 58th btw 2+3rd). I haven’t had a chance to try the food yet, but according to Robert Sietsema’s review in the Village Voice, it’s very authentic (read: SPICY) if a little pricey… although Joe R. says that the lunch items are all around $9. Has anybody been yet? Early adopters, let us know what you think in the comments.
Land of Plenty, 204 E. 58th St. (btw 2+3rd), (212) 308-8788
Australian meat pie company, Pie Face, is making its foray into the US market via a storefront on 53rd and Broadway, just a few feet from Steak ‘n Shake. Although their neighbor has been getting all the shine lately, the pies should be available in the coming weeks. In fact, they’re inviting fans to their January 31st launch party via the Pie Face Facebook page:
Pie Face is but days away from opening it’s first New York store and we want YOU there…. The first 30 people to rsvp will win tickets to the Penthouse launch of Pie Face NYC. Simply email your name and contact details to marketing@pieface.com.au. Please note: You must live in New York to enter.
This post went up yesterday, but most of the comments on it so far are from out-of-towners, so maybe some of those 30 spots are still available? Fingers crossed!
Side note: I wonder if David Letterman is as into meat pies as he is Steak ‘n Shake … will they also make an appearance on his show?
Pie Face, 53rd & Broadway
Angelo Sosa’s Social Eatz (on 53rd btw. 2nd and 3rd) has already gotten a fair amount of coverage on this site (and others), with most of it focused around their famous Bibimbap Burger. I recently took my first trip to the restaurant, fully intending to try it, but the Hanoi Burger caught my eye instead.
The Hanoi Burger consists of ground beef with mint, lemongrass, cilantro and red onion topped with lettuce and served with a chili mayo and a sweet onion jam. No, it doesn’t have a slow-cooked egg oozing all over it like the Bibimbap Burger, but how can this flavor combo go wrong?
We know you guys are a bunch of cheap bastards (after all it takes one to know one), so with that in mind we’re proud to unveil our brand new deals page. We’ve partnered with InBundles to set up a page dedicated to deals specifically for Midtown Lunchers. You can find a permanent link to it on the nav bar at the top of the page (between the “Contact” button and the search box.) It just went live this morning, and we’re kicking things off with a deal for Sergimmo, an Italian salumeria on 9th Ave. btw. 35+36th. You get $15 worth of food and drinks for just $7. We’ve actually never been, and a lot of their menu is over $10. But they do have about 25 different panini that are all $9, and getting half off might be just the motivation we need to go check it out!
Bone chilling weather is finally here and that means soup time! My old go to soup place was Soup Spot (31st btw 7+8th Ave) but since I’m no longer on the west side, I had to find a new place to get soup. I couldn’t think of any place besides Hale & Hearty but I didn’t want to go there. While going through my stack of take-out menus I saw that Mangu (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd) has a “Dominican Hearty Soup”. Last time I was there I had a very good stewed goat so I had high hopes for their soup.
Do you wonder what the ML contributors do when they’re not eating lunch in Midtown? (We’re actually pretty easy to stalk!)
Brownie needs your to like her Cookie Monster iphone cookies on Facebook so she can win a trip to Seattle, Blondie made us proud by stuffing her face in San Francisco, Donny mixed pork cracklings with brussels sprouts, Rachel baked cookies, Brian had the ribeye steak at Red Farm and I was also at Red Farm, where I photographed soup dumplings that ended up in today’s New York Times.
Elsewhere in the ML universe… Jamie checked out the new truck in Philly Delicias truck serving arepas and empanadas, Zach finds seven more reasons to hate lunch in Los Angeles, and Andrea finds another truck selling fancy grilled cheese sandwiches Downtown.
Real Cheap Eats’ Winter 2012 is Now Live: The Real Cheap Eats website has released its Winter 2012 edition, and there are a couple of new additions to the Midtown section- like the Kimchi Bowl from the Kimchi Taco Truck and the Souper Soup at Sarge's Deli (on 3rd btw. 36+37th). There's also plenty of great recs for other areas of NYC, many of them from your favorite Midtown Lunch contributors!
Posted at 1:52 pm, January 18th, 2012 | 0 Comments
