Midtown Lunch

You nominated the finalists, argued in comments, and voted for your favorites. And now… it’s time for the results. Here are the winners of the 2011 Midtown Lunch Reader’s Poll, complete with Editor’s Pick for each category chosen by our correspondents.

Best Hamburger: Shake Shack

It was no real surprise that Shake Shack reigned supreme in the Poll for Best Hamburger. If you haven’t tried this quality charred burger in Midtown this year, you’ve probably tried it just about anywhere else as the Danny Meyer empire continues to grow across the country (and the world). And while the Shack prepares to dominate the planet, the two previous winners, Burger Joint and Five Guys trailed head to head just behind. I’d be happy with a burger from any of the nominees, but my preference is for the modest simplicity of Burger Joint‘s classic patty. Brian H’s Pick: Burger Joint [View Results]

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Last month we brought you word that there’s a new waffle (instead of wafel) truck in town called Real Good Truck. Like Wafel and Dinges they’re serving waffles with your typical sweet toppings (think nutella and fresh fruits) but they also have a number of savory items as well like cheddar jalapeno bratwursts and Japanese fried chicken. The best part is, instead of putting the toppings on top of their waffles, the Real Good Truck turns their waffles into sandwiches. Yep, a whole waffle folded in half with stuff inside (sounds like something people come up with when they’re totally drunk).  I finally got to try one of these creations, and according to the owners they’re going to try and park in Midtown today and tomorrow.

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• The sombrero cart on 50th street is now offering chili? [Midtown Eating]
• There’s a Duane Reade sushi chef [Midtown Eating]
• What were your 5 favorite lunches of 2011? [Midtown Eating]
• Do you seriously want to eat outdoors right now? [Midtown Eating]

As soon as Chipotle announced that they would be launching a new Asian fast food concept known as Shophouse, we knew this had to be coming… ML favorite, Pure Thai Shophouse (on 9th btw. 51+52nd) is now calling themselves Pure Thai Cookhouse. A call to the restaurant confirms that Chipotle did indeed set their legal hounds on the Hell’s Kitchen Thai spot forcing them to drop the “Shophouse” moniker. Although it was a sucker punch for this tiny Thai eatery, everything else, including the menu and ownership, is still the same as before.

We’re not big fans of any commitment that curbs lunchtime eating (or increases visits to the gym), but we do recognize that this is the time of the year that many people look to lose a little bit of weight.  So in the spirit of New Year’s resolutions, here are the healthiest lunches in Midtown we can bring ourselves to eat…

Last year, Chickpea (on 45th btw. Mad+Park) filled Midtown’s “I need a healthy lunch, but not salad” void in my book. Baking their falafel allows for protein-rich chickpeas (read: filling) without greasy added-on calories from frying, and their bulgar wheat is a fiber *and* protein-rich whole grain (read: very filling). Basically, if your New Year’s resolution involves a good deal of exercising, you should probably pick this up for lunch to help your body nourish itself. Just watch out for Chickpea’s add-ons; I heard a horror story over the vacation of a simple platter costing upwards of $15! -Blondie

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According to Twitter Coolhaus will be giving away free small scoops of holiday ice cream today with the purchase of hot cocoa, while supplies last. They suggest putting the scoop in the hot chocolate, which sounds like a great way to enjoy ice cream in this ridiculously cold weather! According to this, they’ll be in Midtown at 38th street between 5th & 6th avenues from 11am-5pm, but as always, we suggest you check the ML Twitter Tracker before heading out. Pretty sweet way to start the new year!

It’s only been a little over a month since we penned a love letter to the fantastic soondubu jjigae at BCD Tofu House, so we were shocked to receive a tip that they would be closing down at the end of the year. I called the restaurant just before the new year and was told that they would be closing ‘indefinitely’ for renovations as of December 31st. Turns out the closing is a bit more permanent, according to the photo sent in by tipster Sam K.
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