Midtown Lunch

Sent to the ML Inbox at 2pm: “Schnippers in the NY times building is giving away all items for free.  Place is mobbed.”  Call to the restaurant and confirmed… “It wasn’t a promotion, we were testing the kitchen out” by giving away free food to anyone who walked in.  It lasted until 2pm. That’s interesting… the owner didn’t mention anything to me two days ago when he sent over the menu.  Why would they want to deny Midtown Lunch readers the opportunity to “test out the kitchen”.  Don’t they know how angry we get when we are denied free food?!?  Anybody luck into this one today?  How was it?

Also confirmed over the phone: Schnipper’s will officially be open to the public tomorrow (Friday) at 11 a.m.

The Blarney Stone’s Burger & Fries

This email was sent to the old ML Inbox before the bad news about Five Guys, but it’s still a good question (especially if you’re craving a burger today, and were thinking about hitting up Five Guys).

“I haven’t had a burger since the summer (eating healthier; not salads or crap like that, just chicken instead of beef). I got a ridiculous craving yesterday, but it was miserable outside. I’m trying to decide which great burger I am going to unleash myself on. I’ve narrowed it down to Blarney Stone, City Burger (the black label is so intriguing) and Five Guys. I know you list Five Guys as your Midtown pick, but I just want to be sure that it’s a better option considering I’m both a steak (Black Label burger) and onion ring fanatic. I’ve been to AHT, but they give too many options. Any advice? Sincerely, dougiec”

This is a tough one Doug. My favorite is Five Guys, but I admit it’s a specific kind of burger for a specific kind of burger craving. None of this is new territory… but let’s weigh your options after the jump. After all, you can never have too much burger talk.

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More terrible news coming out of last week’s fire in the building above Menchanko Tei and Five Guys on 55th btw. 5+6th. Everything in Five Guys has water damage (computers, etc.) and they expect to be closed at least a month, but probably more like 6 weeks. Apparently the fire was directly above Five Guys and they were the hardest hit. (Menchanko Tei said last Thursday that they hoped to only be closed for a week.)

The West Village Five Guys Burgers & Fries says that they will happily deliver up to Midtown, but it would have to be a big order (at least 20 burgers) and you would have to offset the cost of a cab as well. Friday burger office party anybody?

Hello!  So, it looks like this is a month old- but it’s new to me!  Now the only question is, am I going for lunch at Go Go Curry (on 38th btw. 7+8th) today or tomorrow…  has anybody tried it yet?

Related:
Go Go Curry Hits a Japanese Kare Grand Slam

Eater is reporting that “Heartland Brewery’s barbecue joint Spanky’s (on 43rd btw. B’way+7th) will close its doors tomorrow after a private farewell party. They’ll replace it in March with HB Burger.” If Heartland Brewery is any indication, H(eartland)B(rewery) Burger will definitely not be a Midtown Lunch (and I’m not just saying that because I still haven’t gotten over the onion ring debacle during my one and only visit to Heartland Brewery.) Not sure if the failure of a big, touristy BBQ joint in Times Square is good news or bad news for Famous Dave’s BBQ, opening soon on 47th btw. 6+7th.

The newer location of Lazzara’s Pizza, located just out of bounds on 9th Ave. btw. 44+45th, has just introduced a recession special from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.: If you purchase a soda, you can get a single slice of pizza for 99 cents (and a second slice for $1.50.) They’re also selling a full 6 slice pie for $8.99 (normally $11.50). Both deals are walk in only, and not available at the original location on 38th btw. 6+7th, but it may be worth the extra walk if you’re as cheap as I am.

Alright… so the time has come.  I know it seems coincidental that this would happen so close to the Walgreens sandwich dare, but this idea was actually inspired more by the amazing entries for the Murray’s Salami Sandwich Challenge. The sandwich ideas you came up with were ten times better than most of the boring sandwich offerings in Midtown. And that’s when it dawned on me.  We CAN do better!  That’s right.  In these economically trying times, lunchers are demanding more for their money, and I think it is time for the restaurants of Midtown to step up to the plate with something inspiring.  The days of coasting on turkey and swiss is over!  So here is what I’m proposing:

A challenge… to every single restaurant in Midtown to come up with a new sandwich.  A bold sandwich. A sandwich that pushes the boundaries of what human beings were meant to ingest.  And you shall call it the “Midtown Lunch Special”.  Add this special sandwich to your menu (temporarily or permanently) and we will post about it on Midtown Lunch.  That’s it. You get free publicity, and more business… we get better sandwiches. Easy enough, right?

Ideas, how you the Midtown Lunch’er can help make this dream a reality, and all your other questions are answered after the jump…

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The sidewalk bentos are back on 49th Street btw. 6+7th. This may have happened a long time ago, but I hadn’t seen anybody out there since the last guy got arrested. The seller is there from Noon to 12:30 p.m. every day with a selection of bentos, sushi, and rice balls from the newly opened Washoku Cafe on 37th btw. Mad+5th. I believe you can call ahead your order, or just stop by and see what extra stuff they have. They’re not as good as the Chiyoda bento boxes that used to be for sale in that same spot, but they’re good enough- especially if you don’t feel like walking all the way down to 41st or 37th.

The New York Times is reporting that Schnipper’s Quality Kitchen, the new venture from the founders of Hale & Hearty Soup, will open this Saturday, January 31st… and according to an email the owner sent me “possibly sooner depending on how the kitchen progresses”. As reported here a few months ago, the restaurant is located on the ground floor of the New York Times Building (on 41st and 8th) and will feature fish tacos, sloppy joe’s, mac and cheese, and a half mac & cheese/half sloppy joe concoction! Also exciting is the news that everything on the menu (except the salads) is under $10. Check out the full menu, after the jump.

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