Midtown Lunch

I haven’t been back to Ambrosia, the generic deli on 45th btw. 5+6th with the Korean food window in the back, since they raised their bi bim bap price to $11 (and there was talk of decline in quality.)  But now that they’re selling gom tang (which is very similar to the sul long tang I had at Gahm Mi Oak a few weeks ago) I think it might time for a revisit.  I can’t imagine it’s better than the K-Town version (and it’s more expensive), but sometimes you just don’t have time to make it down to 32nd Street.  Has anybody had the Korean food at Ambrosia lately?

Postscript: I know I said I would ease up on the Asian soups… and I promise to have a big non-Asian soup post this week!

Related:
Airing of Grievances: Ambrosia’s Bi Bim Bap is No Longer a Midtown Lunch
Ambrosia (aka the best Bi Bim Bap in Midtown?)

Based on our recommendation a few weeks ago, half of the duo that makes up Blondie and Brownie hit up Times Square Hot Bagels (on 44th btw. 7+8th) for a breakfast sandwich. She discovered that for $3.50 you can get a “sizeable breakfast” and they won’t even charge you extra for toasting your bagel (or for egg whites.)

Got multiple reports at the end of the last week that both Grill 44 (on 44th btw. Lex+3rd) and Crisp (on 3rd & 43rd) have been closed by the Department of Health.  The Grill 44 inspection happened awhile ago, so they might already be open again. As for Crisp, there is no report listed yet and considering how clean their other location is, it might just be a permit issue.  We’ll see. UPDATE: The owner of Crisp checks in to say this: “We forgot to file a renewal form with department of consumer affairs. Its an administration issue that fell between the cracks. We are now at the department of consumer affairs office trying to figure the paper work out.”  SECOND UPDATE: They have obtained the proper permit, and Crisp on 3rd Ave. is back open as of now.

NYC Cravings Truck Gets a New Look. Photo courtesy of Ultraclay!

• The Go Go Curry lines weren’t quite as long after 3pm yesterday [NYColor]
• Check out this new chocolate bar inside a jewelry store on Madison Ave. [Wandering Eater]
• Henry Kissinger was spotted at Kolache Mama!?! [NYDN]
• $12 is a little steep, but Galway Hooker’s burger is one of the better in NYC [Me So Hungry]
• Dave Cook tries out a halal cart on 28th and 10th [Eating in Translation]
• The noodle bar at Woorijip disappoints another blogger [Ramen & Friends]
• Looking for vegetarian Korean?  HanGawi is the spot [High Low, Food Drink]

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” posts 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.

You know, all my single friends are always complaining that there isn’t a good place to meet men. They keep hitting these clubs, and fancy bars, when all along burly men were right under their noses at Bravest on 38th. It’s testosterone heavy and the bar maids are sharp tongued and quick to put you in your place, even if that place is a seat at the bar where you get treated like family. Open since 1978 in various incarnations, Bravest has been owned and patronized by New York’s local firemen. From their website:

Its early start was as Suspenders, owned by New York Firefighter Larry Fitzpatrick who died while on duty. It then became the internationally popular Full Moon Saloon whose owner honored and preserved his memory and it still remains a favorite gathering place for New York’s bravest. Today’s Bravest on 38th continues in that same spirit, and is owned by a retired FDNY Fire Marshall.

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Serious Eats New York hits up Mad For Chicken (on 5th Ave. btw. 31+32nd) and determines something that Midtown Lunch’ers confirmed back in May when the switch was first made.  The owner/operators didn’t change, just the name, so the chicken is pretty much exactly the same as it was when it was Bon Chon (except the spicy chicken might be a little spicier?)

The real taste test will happen when Bon Chon and Kyochon finally open their new Midtown locations, and we can have a three way death match!

Related:
Bon Chon Publicly Severs Ties With Mad for Chicken
Bon Chon is So Not a Midtown Lunch… But Damn That is Some Good Chicken

Those of us who love eating street food, but hate taking lunch back to our desks, have a common problem.  Where should we eat?  There are a number of indoor pavilions and outdoor seating areas scattered across Midtown, but sometimes I just wish there was a place right next to the carts to just saddle up and tuck in.  Well thanks to Pratt Grad Student Ali Pulver, now there is.  For her thesis she is developing a couple of tools to make it easier for us to eat on the street.  And after testing out the “Lunch Ledge” and the “Hydrantable” last week, I’ve got to say these could represent the greatest advancements in street food technology since the invention of chicken and lamb over rice!

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