Midtown Lunch

You know I’m morally opposed to workplace delivery (everybody should be able to take their full lunch hour!) and totally not down with spending over $10 for lunch…  so technically Seamless Web’s “Delivery Week” (happening October 19-31st) has already got two strikes against it.  On the other hand, $12.09 for an appetizer, entree, and dessert (all delivered to your office) could be too good a deal to pass up (depending on who is participating, and what their menus consist of).  And there’s nothing that says you can’t pick up your food in the lobby of your building, and just keep on walking.  A few Midtown Lunch’ish spots are on the list, like Little Thai Kitchen and Pop Burger, but you can get out of those places normally for under $12.  I’m more interested in seeing the menus being offered by some of the more expensive places… like The Volstead! (Remember when they gave away all that free food to Midtown Lunchers?  That place is goooood.)  You can find a complete list of participating restaurants here.

• Need a sandwich that will survive a trip to the airport [Midtown Eating]
• Bold Claim: The chicken and lamb over rice on 53rd is “bland” [Midtown Eating]
• What’s more shocking?  That deep fried butter exists, or that it’s being covered by NPR [Miscellaneous]
• Another hidden loading dock lunch?!? [Midtown Eating]
• What’s the best Brazilian spot in Midtown? [Midtown Eating]
• Jersey City food trucks are awesome!!!  Or not… [Eating Outside Midtown]

You would think the news that Bon Chon was opening a new location on 38th btw. 7+8th, would light a Korean fried chicken fire under Kyochon’s ass (their new location on 32nd and 5th has been covered in plywood for 8 months now.) And it looks like it did… for a couple of hours anyway. A Friday opening would have been amazing. Now it’s January? WTF

Every Tuesday I turn over the site to a different Midtown Lunch’er for his or her recommendations for the best lunch in Midtown. This week it’s Pat, an intern who just moved to NYC a month ago to work in the north eastern corner of Midtown. Let’s try and help him find some good eats (without rubbing it in too much about the Sox hat.)

Name: Pat

Age: 20

Occupation: Marketing Intern

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Permal Asset Management at 54th and 3rd

Favorite Kind of Food: Sushi

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Indian

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Overall, there’s not much in the area, but I recently found two great go to spots. Sushi Express at the corner of 55th and 2nd. Despite the awful name, the sushi is actually pretty good, and fairly priced (8 bucks for 2 rolls, 12 bucks for 3). Service is great, it’s never crowded. I don’t know too much about sushi but me and my buddy thought it was really good and we go there often. The second is Lenny’s at 2nd and 54th. Although its a chain, the food here is amazing. Ask for the Jimmy T. Two chicken cutlets with melted mozzarella covered in sweet peppers and onions with honey mustard. Sounds like a weird combination but its awesome.

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The Rock Center Concourse has been a hive of activity over the past year, with Tossed, Sbarro’s and Booster Juice closing, Two Boots moving to 9th Ave., and Mendy’s moving to street level. Not much new and exciting has popped up as replacements… until now. The Sacramento Business Journal is reporting that Buckhorn Grill, a “fast-service” restaurant with locations in Northern California will be opening their first franchise in New York City. According to the article, everything on the menu is under $10 and includes items like salads, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. But their signature item is “tri tip”, a triangular roast which gets marinated, grilled and sliced.  Not to be confused with steak tips… see what I’m talking about after the jump…

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In a surprising development, Kashmir Express (the by the pound buffet that lives above the all you can eat Kashmir Buffet on 8th btw. 39+40th) has reopened.  I thought for sure that when they closed back in July that would be the end of this ill conceived take out joint, but they’ve returned like a Pakistani phoenix.  Gone is the strange, and grossly unappetizing by the pound buffet that used to untouched- replaced by a standard take out counter featuring much of the same food available before (but now in proper take out form.)  They also have kati rolls.

Check it out, after the jump.

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