Midtown Lunch

Not sure what it is about the holidays, but it seems like every year around this time there is always some kind of big opening or closing- and this year’s bombshell dropped over the weekend…  The Schnitzel & Things Truck has signed a lease for the old Kushi Q space (on 3rd Ave. btw. 45+46th) where they plan to open a brick and mortar store in late February, early March.  This is actually just the latest in what appears to be a new trend among food trucks.  Last week the truck formerly known as NYC Cravings made their big jump to brick and mortar, opening Bian Dang in the new Food Gallery 32.  And, of course, The Dessert Truck, Cupcake Stop, and Calexico have had their brick and mortar locations up and running for awhile.

The plan for the new location is to carry all your favorites from the truck, plus add veal to the menu as a permanent option. There were also be a few new side dishes, and tons of specials- some of which they’ve been tinkering with for the past few months on the truck.  We’re also hearing rumors that for dessert they’ll be selling various goodies from the Treats Truck.  As for Midtown West, and the rest of NYC’s schnitzel fans, don’t worry too much.  The truck will continue to operate just like before.

The Calm Before the Storm

Well, that’s it for 2010. If you didn’t vote for all of the Reader’s Poll categories you have until January 3rd to make it happen. As for us, we’re getting the hell out of here while we still can. Have a happy (Midtown-free) New Year’s Eve, and see you in 2011!

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

As 2010 comes to a close it’s time to take a look back at the saddest losses of the year… our Academy Awards photo montage of death, if you will.  (Feel free to put on Wind Beneath My Wings in the background as you read the rest of this post.)   Some were surprising, some not so much- and for the first time ever, we mourn the loss of more than just restaurants, but an actual reader.  Indian pizza, mall food court bourbon chicken, pizzacones, chinese buns and the rest… we’ll miss you all in one way or another.  Here are the nominees for the saddest loss of 2010:

• Bombay Eats
• DC Fusion Cafe
• K! Pizzacone
• Las Poblanitas
• Mantao Chinese Sandwiches
• Rudy McBagel
• Spoon City
• Sukhadia’s Gokul

Vote for the one you’ll miss the most, after the jump…

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The denizens of Midtown have been eagerly awaiting an update on the return of the Hallo Berlin cart, which closed last October after the sad passing of co-owner, Rolf Babiel. I recently stopped by the express location to inquire about the cart, and ending up sticking around for lunch when I noticed that they are now offering $10 combo lunch specials. But first, some news on the cart – the manager on location was unable to commit to a firm date on the cart’s return, but mentioned that it should be launching sometime next spring. She also mentioned that the cart will be located in its original spot on 54th and 5th Ave. We’ll be sure to keep you updated on news of the cart’s comeback as we get more details.

In the meantime, check out Hallo Berlin Express’ lunch specials after the jump.

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It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Every Friday our man UltraClay, (me!) heads 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. Over the last year, we’ve checked out Indian, Italian, Thai, Seafood and searched out the elusive Korean Taco. Not to mention the fact that the Flatiron has been the epicenter of the food court craze. Here are the nominees for the Best Flatiron Lunches:

• Baorrito
• Bistro Truck
• Chinese Mirch
• Cinnamon
• Desi Truck
• Eataly
• Eisenberg’s
• El Carrito Rojo
• Hill Country Chicken
• Milanes
• New York Bakery

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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

Ultraclay shows you the best way to render lard using his new Christmas present, Blondie recounts her favorite moments of 2010, after telling us how good Brooklyn Mac is in Greenpoint, and Brownie was in CT eating her family’s version of the Feast of the Seven Fishes.  In the rest of the ML Universe, Andrea was in South Dakota dreaming about the day Downtown will get its own branch of Culver’s butterburgers, Jamie was in Philly discovering the smallest hole in the wall Chinese joint of all time, and (in case you missed it) I posted all of the L.A. lunches I ate in 2010 in one gigantic photo.

It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Every week Mamacita “sacrifices” her liver all in the name of our Midtown Happy Hour column. Burgers are eaten, beers are gulped, and shots are downed, all to help you discover the best places best places to drink (and eat) after work here in Midtown. And let’s not forget the photos of hot bartenders! Here are the nominees for best happy hour in Midtown:

• Bull Moose
• Blarney Rock
• Beacon
• Gyu Kaku
• Third Floor Cafe
• Rodeo Bar
• Rudy’s

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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Yesterday a tipster sent over a link to this great thread posted by a pretty pissed off Yelper whose friend was charged $20 for a kebab and Italian sausage sandwich near the Rock Center X-Mas tree. Of course, this shouldn’t be a surprise to Midtown Lunchers. Last year a vendor admitted that often they’ll charge different prices to different people depending on how they look. As much as it makes us laugh to see tourists get ripped (sorry, but you people make every Midtown worker’s life miserable this time of year) we do feel kind of bad. So in the spirit of the holidays, and with New Year’s Eve just a few days away, we thought we’d post a mini guide to not getting ripped off by generic Midtown street food vendors.

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It’s time for the 4th Annual Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll. Your nominations are in, and between now and the end of the year we’ll be asking all of you to vote for the best Midtown Lunches in a whole range of categories. You can only vote once per category (so choose wisely), and official results will be posted after the new year.

Every summer a select group of Midtown Lunchers convene in Bryant Park for a giant chicken and lamb over rice taste off known as Street Meat Palooza.  This year Kwik Gourmet just beat out the “Imposter Halal Cart” (on the SW corner of 53rd and 6th) and XPL for the title.  Don’t agree with the results?  Here’s your chance to sound off.  Here are the nominees for best street meat in Midtown:

• 100% Halal & Healthy
• Kebab Express
• Kwik Meal/Kwik Gourmet
• La Baguette Truck
• SE Corner of 53rd and 6th
• SW Corner of 53rd and 6th
• Trini Paki Boys Cart
• XPL

Vote for your favorite after the jump…

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At long last, Food Gallery 32, the Koreatown food court is open for business. As with most openings of this scale, there’s a lot still being worked out and finishing touches being made, but all things considered, the slow, snow-laden week is probably a good time for them to get started.

I stopped in on Tuesday to finally get a good look at the place, check it out after the jump.

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