Midtown Lunch

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so every week our Happy Hour Correspondent “Mamacita” will post about a different bar in Midtown that fits the Midtown Lunch mentality: unhealthy food, not lame (unless it’s lame in a cool way), and most importantly… cheap.

A while back I reported on Bull Moose Saloon’s new look: An attempt at a hip revamping of an old-man dive bar into a burgundy velvet lounge. At the time I noticed that the work was done on the cheap and the feel was still very much the same despite the new couches and cocktail tables. It turns out there was much, much more going on behind the scenes then just a remodel. Word is the decision to cater to the surrounding nabes sizable LGBT community provoked some manner of internal conflict between the owner and the new partners. A statement on the  Bull Moose website created by the new partners reads:

“We’ve always had one intention from day one – to create a new hub for all walks of life to share memories with one another that would last a lifetime. Unfortunately, New York City is not as progressive as we had assumed. A difficult partner knew full well going into the venture that the transformation of the venue would be open to gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgender and straight individuals alike. To our painful dismay, we were hit with a bottom line only two weeks into the project.”

I walked by Bull Moose Saloon recently and saw banners claiming, “Under New Management.” I assume this is owner Dave Sheeran attempt at distancing himself from the drama of the past months. I called the bar hoping to talk to Dave, but was able to get his son on the phone. I asked about the banners and received a paranoid reply of “Who’s this?” I guess the press and LGBT groups have been on them. He confirmed the Sheeran family still owned the bar he but wouldn’t give details on who the new management was, further confirming my initial assumption. I asked about the conversion into a lounge and he insisted, “This is not a lounge it’s only a bar.” So as the song goes, “Meet the new boss, Same as the old boss.”

After the jump more updates and the sad closing of two old New York bars..

Read more »

If you’ve been curious about the new lunchtime tacos at La Biblioteca, but haven’t been over to try them yet, you’ll want to mark Monday on your calendar.  From 11:30am to 12:30pm (on Monday, Nov. 15th) every single Midtown Luncher who walks in the door at La Biblioteca will get a 3 tacos combo for free.  The orders will be to go only, and they’ll have one pulled roast chicken taco, one grilled mahi mahi taco, and one carne asada taco, so they can give out as many orders as possible.  Limit one order per person, and drinks, guacamole, and sides will be available for an additional charge.

Can’t make it there by 12:30pm?  Everybody who shows up after 12:30pm will get a free order of guacamole.  Freeloaders… this is a big one.  Prepare to engage.

Related:
Your First Look at La Biblioteca’s Tequila Bar Tacos

Every Friday our man UltraClay goes 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.

In all the hoopla over Eataly’s opening, I missed the news that Chock Full o’ Nuts was launching its comeback just down the block. When I finally came across it, I have to admit, I was conflicted. I’m excited at the idea of bringing back more old school luncheonettes like nearby Eisenberg’s and Johny’s. At the same time, there’s plenty examples of poorly executed nostalgia joints that exist more for tourists than local lunchers.

It was the fear of wasting a meal at a tourist trap that kept me away for the last couple of months. Now that I’ve been, I’m totally psyched to have it back. See why after the jump.

Read more »

• I have a dream, that one day the streets will be lined with food carts! Keep the dream alive Wellerfan. [Miscellaneous]
• Have you checked out anything good at the Bryant Park pop up shops? [Midtown Eating]
• Save money by saving cream cheese. [Midtown Eating]
• Happy hour is set for tomorrow at Loreley on the LES [Midtown Connections]

Thanks to Lunch’er “Cardamond” for pointing this one out via Twitter… Piccolo Cafe, the Italian panini and espresso shop in Grammercy, is opening a second location on 40th Street btw. 7+8th (right across from the New York Times Building). Part of us thinks it sounds like another generic deli, but if they really do serve “the best Prosciutto, Mozzarella, Burrata, Gnocchi, as well as delicious panini and desserts”, as touted by their Facebook page, it could be good. Anybody been to the original? How excited should we get about this?

Poseidon Bakery, the truly “old school” Greek spot on 9th ave btw. 44+45th is primarily known for their sweets. I love baklava but I’m rarely craving dessert on my lunch hour. I was a bit more interested in Poseidon’s savory pastries (like their spanakopita) and was curious if they were worth trekking one avenue out of bounds for.
Read more »