Midtown Lunch

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

Barbecue beef . . . on a hot dog at Little Brother in Clinton Hill. Photo by Clay.

Brian’s search for the best beer bars in town took him to Chelsea Brewing Company, Donny roasted a pork shoulder, Rachel had a cupcake from Magnolia, Blondie found a Mac n cheese on a pizza, Brownie and Lawman were in Montreal and enjoyed Schwartz’s famous smoked meat sandwich and I took my Food/Work project into the kitchen of Little Brother, Brooklyn’s new BBQ spot.

Elsewhere in the ML universe… Out in LA, Zach checks out this brand new fast food neapolitan pizza joint opened by the owners of Umami Burger. In Philly, Jamie loves a Taiwanese meatball that may be best enjoyed with your eyes closed and Downtown, Andrea scouts out Prince Street Pizza in the old Ray’s Pizza space.

Imagine it’s “one of those days” at the office. You look up and it’s way past lunchtime, and suddenly you realize that sound you keep hearing is your own tummy grumbling. Now what? Now you can order Korilla delivery. Details are thin at this point, but according to this you can email them after lunchtime rush to order delivery. They did clarify that deliveries are available only in midtown and lower, and that orders should be placed an hour in advance.

Crisp on Wheels has also been tweeting lately about delivery in Midtown, usually around where their truck is parked. Could this be the new model for food trucks in 2012? Only time will tell …

With the wonderful lunch I ate at Joy Curry and Tandoor last week still fresh in my mind, I wanted to try 44 Curry House (on 44th btw. Lex+3rd) as well for a little compare contrast. I walk by this place every morning on my way to work and always notice during lunch time a good number of people eating there. Just like the lunch I got at Joy Curry and Tandoor, I went for the 2 veggie combo platter with rice and naan ($8.25). So, how did it compare?

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When they opened in November, Nuchas was offering empanadas for $3.00 each. So, in order to stay in the Midtown Lunch budget, you could get only three. Lately, you can get four! Nuchas has started offering two empanadas, two breakfast pastries or one of each for $5.00 as a daily special. Since the promotion seems to be working for them, it’s been making a somewhat regular appearance. While we can’t guarantee it’ll always be there, I did see it Monday and they were offering it again yesterday. But wait, there’s more.

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Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., New York’s first Steak ‘n Shake will open its doors on Broadway between 53rd and 54th streets, right next to the Ed Sullivan Theater. The exact time is important, of course, because, as we mentioned earlier this week, the Midwestern chain will give their first 150 customers free Steak ‘n Shake meals for a year! (Public service announcement: Weather Channel currently predicts rain, so be prepared.) So what exactly can Midtown Lunchers expect?

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• Any good halal carts in the Flatiron area? [Midtown Eating]
• Both Carnegie John’s and Uncle Gussy’s have raised their prices [Midtown Eating]
• Looking for an Amish Market style grocery/deli south of Grand Central [Midtown Eating]
• STK Out is still not open! [Midtown Eating]

Awwww yeah.

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 it’s Sarah, a Bryant Park Corp employee who thinks Subway has a weird smell.

Name: Sarah

Age: 22

Occupation: Operations Assistant

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Bryant Park Corporation (Twitter @34thStNYC, probably know as the “cafeteria” for all you Midtown lunchers. People watching in the park is really amusing, and I’ve seen lunches & lunchers of all types.

Favorite Kind of Food: I love my starchy foods, anything with corn, yams, chestnuts, hash browns, probably because I’m from the Great White North. And the usual Thai and Viet food: Bahn mi, pad thai, summer rolls. For dessert: Laduree macarons. For anytime: oyster and more oysters.

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Generally bland overpriced sandwiches you are eating just because you didn’t have breakfast. ( I’m looking at your Pret a Manger; why do you stuff an entire cucumber in your wraps?). Also Subway: is it just me or does every Subway restaurant have this particular weird smell? I’m extremely sad I can’t eat anything of theirs because $5 subs looks like a great deal for lunch.

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: For the past few week it has been at the Holiday Shops at Bryant Park, though the shops just closed for the season this week. They had Vegetarian Oasis food kiosk and Daisy’s Grits, which I had for the first time, kind of taste like congee.  Le Pain Quotidien, great spot for quality food and a great ambiance, you feel relaxed even though you probably don’t have long to scarf down your organic whatever salad. The only downside is that the portions are too small for guys.  Szechuan Gourmet (39th & 6th)has the most authentic Chinese takeout I’ve gotten on this side of the ocean. Korean food in Ktown is generally my answer to the dearth of diverse food choices around here. I love Arirang for their handmade noodles. Bisques at Hale & Hearty, and Oren’s for their coffee and baked goods ( The Donut Plant donuts and Balthazar almond croissants)

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You would think that the Korean taco niche has reached capacity by now, but apparently not.  Yesterday Lunch’er Harry tipped us off to this new cart on the corner of 56th and Madison, and we had to see if the new kid on the block could hang with the big boys.

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