Midtown Lunch

When Ma Peche (aka Momofuku Midtown) soft opened with a $10 “Midtown Lunch” menu in the mezzanine of the Chambers Hotel last year, it was possibly the happiest day in Midtown Lunch’s entire life. Not only was Momofuku coming to Midtown (a dream come true), but they were offering lunch at a price that fell in the ML boundaries? (Shocking.) Of course we didn’t expect the actual restaurant menu to follow suit (Midtown hotel restaurant rents are freakin’ expensive, you know) and today Grub Street confirmed what we knew all along would be the case. According to GS Ma Peche might open for lunch as early as next week, and the menu [PDF] is so not a Midtown Lunch. (But damn does it look tasty!) The bun du riz and pork ribs have made the cut, but the banh mi are nowhere to be found.  But there is now photo confirmation of a Milk Bar, and talk of a “Balcony Bar” with a limited menu…. so we’re still holding out that the $10 Midtown Lunch menu will still be available in some form.  No official word yet, but as soon as we know you’ll know. [Milk Bar Photo courtesy of Grub Street]

Related:
Your First Look at Ma Peche’s “Midtown Lunch” Specials

I love tacos. The more interesting the fillings the better, from tender lengua to crunchy oreja, I’ll eat it. Yet working near the Empire State Building, the options are pathetic. Short of Chipotle, we’ve got nothing. So, when I read nonnomnyc’s post in the forums last week about a new Taco Truck near Penn Station, I knew I’d be making the trip in short order. Yesterday, I stopped by El Comioncito’s to give it a try. The truck, run by Ecuadorans, offers all varieties of street meat, but that’s not what I was there for. The Mexican menu is small and you might miss it at first. There are only four types of tacos available, but I’ll take what I can get.

See the tacos after the jump.
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Today I was going to tell you all about the banh mi that Yushi (on 47th btw. Park+Lex) has been serving on Thursdays, but they decided to move them to Wednesdays! No sense in teasing you with something you can’t have until next week. Still want to head to Yushi? Thursdays are still peking duck day. (And there is always the sake ramen.)

Related:
Today is Peking Duck Day at Yushi (and You May Be Surprised to Hear Where The Duck Comes From)

When the weather got nice last spring, this was the scene for Midtown Lunchers near the Empire State Building. We had a nice, out of the way outdoor space to take in the sun and eat lunch. Instead of braving the tourists and homeless in Herald Square, they could relax and get some fresh air in the “public space” behind 325 5th Avenue, the home of K! Pizzacone and future home of the new Bon Chon Chicken.

Then, in the middle of the summer, gates went up and it has been locked down ever since.

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In Kathy YL Chan‘s definitive guide to finding out of bounds sweets (like Doughnut Plant) in Midtown, she gave us good reason to throw money at Oren’s, Joe The Art of Coffee, and Dean & Deluca. But a few days ago, Lunch’er “Mariposa_3676” pointed out that Oren’s (on 3rd+50th) canceled their Doughnut Plant order for the week because no one is buying!  (Passover maybe?) She checked out Joe’s in GCT too, but nothing there either. It was a grim day for square-shaped doughnut fiends, until…

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When Zach discovered the Santouka in Los Angeles, he couldn’t believe that he hadn’t read more about the place while he was still in New York (there is also one at the N.J. branch Mitsuwa.) Always Hungry did a ramen video from there, but didn’t even mention the name Santouka once, and Time Out New York left them off of their list of the Ten Best Bowls of Ramen in NYC (although in fairness I guess it technically isn’t in NYC.) Coincidentally enough, forums diva “Yvo” wrote about Santouka this week on Feisty Foodie, calling the broth amazing.  Why isn’t this place mentioned in the same breath as the East Village ramen royalty more often?  Sure… it’s not Midtown, but we love Mitsuwa, and if you have time for a 2 hour lunch there is a bus from Port Authority that will take you there.

Photo courtesy of Kathy YL Chan

According to the Real Deal, the only US outpost of Demel has served its last sachertorte in The Plaza’s underground retail concourse. Pastry aficionados (like my Austrian born great aunt) will be disappointed, but for most MLers it was a bit too pricey and kind of out of the way. Todd English is still supposed to open a European-style “Food Hall” in the concourse this spring, but the Plaza’s Palm Court is cutting their high tea price by $20. Could this all be a sign that the new food court might (or should) have decent ML friendly options? I’m going with probably not, but one can hope.