Midtown Lunch

Last Wednesday, Lunch’er “Goats” alerted those of you who check the forums that Eata Pita (on Park Ave.+30th) was selling $2 falafal+hummus sandwiches. Sadly, the deal was for one day only, but the people at Eata Pita reassured me that they plan on offering totally unpredictable daily specials to the neighborhood at random.

I was on my way to a lunch meeting so didn’t eat-a-pita, but the prices seem right (lamb gyro platter for $8.45, hummous & tabouli pita is 5.45, etc.) so I’ll be back. This isn’t the first branch of Eata Pita to open in Midtown… those of you who work near Grand Central will probably recognize it from the Grand Central Terminal Food Court.

For those of you who have never been- check out the menu after the jump.

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Fork in the Road just reported that Otarian, a new fast casual Vegan/Vegetarian spot that touts itself as being “low carbon”, will be opening on Bleecker Street April 19th.  What they didn’t mention was that there is a second location opening in Midtown on the same day, on 56th Street and 8th Ave.  You know we don’t usually get super excited about this kind of stuff but one of us we’ll sacrifice ourselves for the good of  the vegetarian Midtown Lunch’ers.

Hello chocolate covered matzoh! Photo courtesy of Mamacita.

Early today we told you about Passover lunches, but what’s a good holiday without some good desserts?! If you’re still in need of something to bring to Seder tonight (or just looking for an afternoon pick me up), here are some sweet options you can choose from.

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The problem with Korean Fried Chicken is that it’s actually so good that you’re willing to go through a lot to get it. I discovered this a couple years ago at Mad For Chicken (a branch of Bon Chon Chicken at the time.) Both patience and the lunch hour were tested as 10, then 20, then 30 minutes went by with neither food served nor drinks refilled. But a year ago, when Zach first posted about the place, it was our only lunchtime option. It cost more than you wanted to spend and often took a lot longer than you really had time for… but oh, that chicken! Crisp, sweet and sticky, it made all the worries of time and work melt away.

That’s why when Kyochon’s ‘coming soon’ sign went up last February, I rejoiced. Korean Fried Chicken without the interminable wait? Yes, please! Or so I thought. If the year-long delay didn’t set me straight, the lines out the door after it opened certainly did. Clearly, waiting for Korean Fried Chicken is just a requirement. It’s the way it is. So, the question becomes, with Kyochon finally here, Mad For Chicken across the street and a Bon Chon a few blocks away (and another opening up on the same block as Kyochon), how do they stack up?

With the alternating hype and dog-piling on Kyochon, a clear, unbiased fried chicken smackdown was in order. I gladly stepped up (arteries be damned.)

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The Jewish holiday of Passover starts tonight at sundown, so all of the Kosher spots in Midtown will be closed from 3/29 until at least 4/5. It’s not too late for a last minute Kosher Midtown Lunch, though… Pick a Pita (on 8th btw. 39+40th) is open today. But Kosher Deluxe, Olympic Pita, and all the Diamond District spots are already closed. Strangely enough Maoz (on 40th & 7th) will stay open through Passover (I thought they were certified Kosher?) On the plus side there are some spots still open with passover lunch’ing options… Sarge’s (on 3rd btw. 36+37th) has matzoh ball soup and matzoh brie, and so does the Cafe Edison (along with a special “passover” menu starting tonight.)  But the 2nd Ave. Deli will be closed.  Have any other good tips for those Midtown Lunch’ers celebrating Passover?  Feel free to put them in the comments…

Related:
Your Last Midtown Lunch Before Passover (aka, the best bread in Midtown)

Photos courtesy of Lunch’er “nomnomnyc”

Thanks to Luncher “nomnomnyc” for posting in the forums about this new taco truck that has shown up near Penn Station (on the corner of 31st and 7th Avenue.) It’s just out of ML bounds and the selection seems to be limited, but given how woefully under-served the area is for Tacos, I’m willing to go the extra block for some carnitas that don’t come from Chipotle.

More photos, the menu, and a brief report is after the jump.

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Photo courtesy of Blondie and Brownie

• Saturday is the best day for doughnuts at Bouchon Bakery [Blondie and Brownie]
• Sakagura has a great $11.50 lunch special [Food Mayhem]
• Midtown has 3 of the top 10 ramen spots in the city [Feed Blog]
• Burger Joint = Non Touristy?  You’re on crack. (It is good though!) [Amateur Gourmet]
• 57 Napoli has a 2 for 1 happy hour drink deal [Wined and Dined]

If you like to eat, chances are you like to drink (read: a lot of you are freakin’ lushes), so I thought maybe it was time to introduce a happy hour column to the site. 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.

In my eternal pursuit of the lofty and elusive goal of finding the finest midtown burger and beer happy hour I have encountered many highs and lows. From the juicy goodness of Muldoons to the blackened hockey pucks of Coppersmith’s. I have tasted both the joy of victory and the agony of defeat. I’ve considered price comparisons and budgetary restrictions. The cheaper the better, the bigger the better, and the cheapskate’s fallback: quantity over quality for that is the ML way. Foods that lift you up above the mediocre and pedestrian, meals that make your coworkers jealous, and in my case, drinks that make your coworkers want to stay in Midtown after office hours.

Ladies and gentlemen there is now a new contender in the ring.

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