Midtown Lunch

Is Your Job Getting in the Way of You Reading Blogs?

What fun is the Tuesday profile, if you can’t see a photo of the luncher!

WTF is up with workplaces that block access to internet sites? I’m getting a number of complaints today from people who can’t see the photos on Midtown Lunch because over the weekend Flickr was blocked by their IT departments. Is this really necessary? Sites like Facebook, or apps like Instant Messenger are going to survive the workplace IT onslaught because so many different kinds of people use them throughout the day from home, etc. But Midtown Lunch depends on the procrastination of office workers, in particular those who are looking for a way to spend their (god forbid) *entire* one hour lunch break.

If you are having issues like this, one reader suggested using this solution posted by Lifehacker (although another reader commented that his IT department has already blocked against that.) If there are any other tech savvy folks who know of ways around this, please post them in the comments. What does your work have against you finding lunch?!? Fight the power! Find ways around it! Hack your office computers! Buy an iPhone! (That’s all I’ve got.)

Posted by Zach Brooks at 4:30 pm, February 24th, 2009 under Lifehacker, Technical Issues.

22 Comments

Free Sub Alert (is complete BS… or is it?): I can't stand Quizno's, but you know how I feel about free food, so if you're into it they're giving away free subs on their website. Freeloaders engage! (And thanks to Lunch'er Jesse for the tip.) UPDATE: According to a commenter, NYC Quiznos are not accepting these coupons. What a load of horseshit. UPDATE #2: Two others have claimed that it works. One on Wall Street, and another who used it in Grand Central. If you try to use it, let us know what happens.

Posted at 3:15 pm, February 24th, 2009 | 18 Comments

Confirmed: Five Guys is Back Open

Photo by occam

The Five Guys (on 55th btw. 5+6th) has been confirmed by lunch’er Daniel, who sent along this photo. Menchanko Tei, which is just to the West and was closed by the same fire last month, is saying they will reopen in March.

Posted by Zach Brooks at 2:00 pm, February 24th, 2009 under Five Guys, Menchanko Tei.

4 Comments

PROFILE: Midtown Lunch’er “Michael”

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 Michael, a PR guy who loves Sinatra but hates generic delis…

Name: Michael

Age: 24

Occupation: Public Relations – Food Blogger – Eating Enthusiast

Where in Midtown do you Work?: The Daily News Building (42nd between 2nd and 3rd Ave)

Favorite Kind of Food: I could spend hours writing my favorites, but some that come to mind are: Italian, Japanese, Kosher/Jewish Deli, and standard American fare (who doesn’t love burgers/fries/dogs/cheese steaks/etc)

Least Favorite Kind of Food: I don’t do Indian… I’ve tried, and just can’t handle it

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: – The Old Bridge Deli (on Lex btw. 40+41st) is my go-to place. I share a similar sentiment as everyone else… I HATE GENERIC NY DELIS. However, I really find their sandwiches to be fresh and original, the hot/cold bar is clean and appears fresh, and the rolly wraps, which have disappeared of late, are one of midtown’s best lunch options. Boi to Go (on 2nd btw. 42+43rd) is a great quick/healthy option. I go for the Chicken/Soft Rice Noodle/Veggie combo. At Carl’s Steaks (on 3rd Ave. btw. 34+35th). I get the Chicken Steak with all the toppings you could imagine. As close as you can come to Philly in NYC. And Oms/B (on 45th btw. Lex+3rd) for Japanese Rice Balls. I will typically dive into anything with tuna or shrimp.

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Pret-a-Manger. It’s good and being located right across the street makes it super-convenient. However, how many chicken/avocado somethings can one person have?

Posted by Zach Brooks at 12:45 pm, February 24th, 2009 under PROFILE: Midtown Lunch'er.

62 Comments

The Polpetini at Naples 45 is Tasty, But Way Too Small & Expensive

Naples 45, which was voted “Best Pizza” in this year’s Midtown Lunch Readers’ Poll, has entered the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge with a “Polpetini” sandwich (which just means mini-meatballs). When I first posted about the sandwich last week, commenters remarked (correctly) that a meatball sub wasn’t exactly “sandwich challenge” material, but a deal is a deal. So last week, I went to check out this “polpetini”, thinking that this better be the best meatball sub ever if they want to impress the Midtown Lunch eating public…

Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:15 am, February 24th, 2009 under Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge, Naples 45.

6 Comments

Your First Look at Flip Burger in Bloomingdales

Sign Translation: “Fuck You Midtown Lunch’ers Between 12-3:30” Photo by Robyn Lee

A Hamburger Today was on hand for opening day of the new Flip Burger inside Bloomingdales (on Lexington btw. 59+60th) yesterday, and their report was less than stellar. I don’t know how fair it is to judge a place on the first day they’re open, but if you’re into burger porn you may want to take a quick look. (Few do it better than Robyn Lee.) I was initially going to give them a chance, despite the prices, but now I don’t feel the need to rush over there. And that douchey sign above is enough to keep me away for now… early adopters/burger aficionados who can’t stay away- feel free to put your opinion in the comments.

Posted by Zach Brooks at 9:45 am, February 24th, 2009 under Flip.

12 Comments

Celebrate Fat Tuesday With a Fried Oyster Po’Boy

If you’ve been reading Midtown Lunch since the beginning, you know that I never pass up a chance to talk about how amazing New Orleans is (for example, my senseless, nothing to do with Midtown, live blogging of Jazzfest). And since today is the final day of Mardi Gras, it’s time for my obligatory “this is where you should eat lunch on Fat Tuesday” post. I suppose you could go to Bourbon Street Bar & Grill for the faux N.O. atmosphere and not authentic at all muffuletta, but if food is what you care about there is really only one choice: the under-appreciated, not mentioned nearly enough, take out window of the Grand Central Oyster Bar (just off the under ground food court in the basement of the Grand Central Terminal).

Sure, the restaurant is super expensive, but the take-out window has got a bunch of sandwiches under $10… including a fried oyster po’boy ($8.25) that doesn’t quite transport you to New Orleans, but gets you pretty damn close. (And is certainly the best option in Midtown.) I had it last year on Fat Tuesday (along with a good buddy of mind originally from Nawlins), and the only other place I’d recommend on a day like today would be the Popeye’s (on 40th btw. 7+8th), which incidentally enough is celebrating its 2 year anniversary today! (Provided you count years from one Fat Tuesday to the next.) Either way it’s going to be a fat tuesday…

Posted by Zach Brooks at 8:00 am, February 24th, 2009 under *Grand Central Terminal, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Popeye's.

7 Comments

Traitor Radio: A Passion for Food blogger (and ML correspondent) Kathy YL Chan appeared on WNYC radio today, and the clip has just been posted to their site. It's kind of shameful to have a Midtown Lunch'er go on the radio to talk about bringing bagged lunches to work, but we love Kathy and appreciated the ML shoutout. Now, to find this magical "spam musubi" she talked about. I wonder if Hawaiian Island Grill has it... or maybe we could get Cafe Zaiya or Oms/b on the case! [WYNC]

Posted at 4:45 pm, February 23rd, 2009 | 3 Comments

Free Foods’ Vegan Chef Explains Why Duck Sandwich?

Matt Kenney, chef of FreeFoods NYC and well known vegan chef, responds to the question of how he could submit a duck sandwich to the Midtown Lunch Sandwich Challenge: “Competitive spirit perhaps — I felt it was important to show our diversity and attention to detail with all of our cuisine, not just that which is vegan. It was a personal challenge as well; creating something that would be publicly judged without ever having tasted it myself. Fortunately, our Chef de Cuisine, Leo Monroy, has an amazing palate.” That sandwich was created by a vegan? That’s freakin’ crazy…