Midtown Lunch

When Zach first wrote about Previti Pizza (on 41st btw. Lex+Park) back in December, he mentioned that on Thursdays they served a special roast beef sandwich with garlic butter and potato chips in the sandwich (!?)  Well, Serious Eats: New York tried the sandwich this week (apparently it’s also offered on Tuesday) and reports that it is every bit as good as it sounds.  And, not only is the bread baked in house (and slathered in the garlic butter mentioned previously) but the house made roast beef is also dipped in its own juices.  And what do you know… today is Thursday.  What’s that?  You already ate a roast beef sandwich dipped in its own juices this week.  That’s loser talk!  (Photo courtesy of Adam Kuban)

Related:
Previti Pizza Gets the Slice Seal Of Approval
Newly Opened Previti Pizza Is Serving a Kick Ass Artichoke Slice

It’s official!  Famous chefs handing out free food from a branded truck is now part of the official PR gimmick handbook.  If you didn’t read about this on Grub Street last week, here’s a friendly little reminder.  Tomorrow (Thursday) Laurent Tourondel (of BLT restaurant fame) will take to the streets in a truck handing out free smoked bacon pizettas, spicy sirloin sliders, Corned beef hash egg sandwiches, and virgin bloody marys. It’s some sort of post-hangover thing sponsored by Tabasco.  The truck will be in Midtown from 7 to 9:30am (on 48th btw. 5+6th) before heading Downtown from Noon to 2pm (on Broadway across from the “charging bull sculpture”).

Related:
At Lunch Now: Boulud Says “Shake Shack Has Nothing On My Burger!”

I’ll admit when I walked by A+ Thai’s newspaper-covered windows a few weeks ago, I was surprised. Could it be? Another Thai place? I’ve had my share of under $10 Thai lunch specials (almost all are on 9th Avenue) and while most are reliable if you’re just looking for curry or cheap noodles, there’s no place I’d walk farther than three blocks for – especially on the East Side. So what’s a girl with a Thai craving and great expectations to do? Go hungry, that’s what. Then walk one avenue out of bounds and order the “I Love Pad Thai” and Mega Balls at Midtown’s newest Thai.

Check out the goods after the jump… Read more »

If you’re looking for something to do tonight, Mamacita filled you in on all the St. Paddy’s Day sweets and drinks specials but what celebrating St Paddy’s day at lunch? On a recent Rock Center concourse jaunt, I noticed that Pret a Manger is now stocking new Corned Beef and Pickle Sandwiches made from Niman Ranch Corned Beef. Could be a good choice if you are looking for your corned beef fix without the pub crowds, though the price tag seems a bit steep at $6.89. If you’re willing to brave the hoards of drunken revelers, Blarney Stone on 3rd Ave has a lovely looking corned beef sandwich that Zach calls his “favorite St. Paddy’s Day lunch.”

Pret a Manger (various locations)
Blarney Stone , 710 3rd Ave (btw 44+45th St)

It’s no secret that Midtown brick and mortar businesses don’t like street trucks, and we’ve seen them go to great lengths to chase vendors away.  Obviously we are completely against calling the cops or moving street planters, but how can we be mad about free food!  Yesterday via @aschwartz:

Free dumplings from Oxford Cafe on 52nd and Lex, doing battle with the Rickshaw Truck

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Some of you might have already heard that NYC’s Board of Health voted Tuesday to rate cleanliness in the city’s “25,648 food-service establishments” with a publicly posted letter grade. Grades range from A to D and while personally this news brings back memories of cramming for tests in High School, this isn’t really as controversial as foodies may want to dramatize it as. I was a kid in LA when restaurant grades were first introduced and after a year or two of getting used to it, their influence on the eating habits of the population reverted back to normal. Hell, even Zach made one of his first LA Eats a B-student lunch. Where would you stop eating at if they only got a B or C? I’ve got my eye on you Tads!

• Is it possible HB Burger is offering a green milkshake? [Midtown Eating]
• Longing for a New Orleans muffuletta? Central Grocery will ship it to you [Eating in Other Areas of NYC]
• In an ironic twist an LA restaurant called Hump actually serves whale! [Los Angeles Eating]
• St. Paddy’s day is tomorrow and Lunch’er “Stevenp” really wants some green beer! [Eating in Other Areas of NYC]