Midtown Lunch

Midtown Lunch favorite Lazzara’s Pizza (on 38th btw. 6+7th) opened the doors to their second location today. The tiny new location is take out and delivery only, and just out of the Midtown Lunch boundaries (on 9th Ave. btw. 43+44th) but all the food is the same. As of now, it’s much less hectic than the original- but that could definitely change as time goes on. And, even though it’s not on the menu- they do sell single slices. (In fact, I found out today that they’ll sell you a single slice of cheese at the original location as well. They just don’t like to publicize it.) A single slice ends up being $2.40.

Interior shots, and why (a few of) you might care after the jump…  Read more »

This just in from a reader: “Not sure how much longer it’s going to last, but there’s a Mr. Softee truck parked on 53rd between 5th and Madison giving out free ice cream. Apparently sponsored by Maxwell Medical (not sure how ice cream and health go together, but that’s the sign hanging on the truck). I went down at 2:00 and it was there.”

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 Anastasia,  a Lawyer (and baker?) who loves anything at Just Salad and may or may not be a vegan (despite at one time loving the Burger Joint.)

Name: Anastasia

Age: 27

Occupation: Attorney/Baker

Where in Midtown do you Work?: Most expensive stretch of retail rents in the world, with the fewest cheap and good food options (57th and Madison), I guess high retail rents do not equal cheap and good food. Maybe Obika will change that… (Doubtful.  The first mention of prices is not a good sign. -zach)

Favorite Kind of Food: Mexican

Least Favorite Kind of Food: Americanized Chinese, casseroles, chicken (a.k.a. sponge meat)

Favorite Place(s) to Eat Lunch in Midtown: Pescado taco at Pampano Taqueria (3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th); anything at Just Salad; lox and tofu cream cheese on a whole wheat everything bagel at Ess-a-Bagel (3rd btw. 49+50th); quinoa conqueror salad at Uncle Marky’s Organics (53rd btw. 2+3rd); black bean vegan burger at the newly opened Good Health Burgers (on 53rd btw. 2+3rd); grilled cheese and tomato soup at Bouchon Bakery in the Time Warner Center (hold the grilled cheese these days); any slice/salad at Bella Vita (58th btw. 6+7th); anything at FIKA (58th btw. 5+6th); vegetable combo at Indian cart on 54th/53rd and Park; lobster bisque at Soup Man (great deal for a great bisque, a half baguette, a piece of fruit and a piece of chocolate).

“Go-To” Lunch Place You and Your Coworkers Eat at Too Often? Europa Cafe (it’s close and fast, but eating food that has gone through a shredder gets less and less alluring); Hale and Hearty (decent salads, great carrot ginger dressing, and the best side of bread in midtown, after Pret); Chef’s Kitchen (generally, no good excuse for going to this place); Pret (always good, though bland and over-priced); Mangia.

Place(s) you discovered thanks to Midtown Lunch? Certe (amazing lobster bisque and brisket wrap were go-tos when I wasn’t a fish-eating vegan, but now I just stick to the mixed grain salad, also, the desserts here are out of this world); Topaz Thai (on 56th btw. 6+7th); Burger Joint (B.V. – before veganism); La Strada (on 56th btw. Lex+3rd); Men Kui Tei (on 56th btw. 5+6th), Pro Hot Bagel (on 56th btw. 5+6th).

If you could work anywhere (just because of the lunch) where would it be and why? Does Wiley Dufresne’s kitchen count? Mexico City (or anywhere in Mexico, really), or Nice (can’t get enough bouillabaisse)

Is there anything you’d like to ask the Midtown Lunch readers? Where can one find a great CASUAL bar in the 57th/Mad nabe? I am not looking for anything high end (there’s plenty of that around here), just a hole in the wall with affordable beers (sadly, P.J. Carney’s closed).

My favorite happy hour in Midtown is after the jump…  Read more »

Crains is reporting that sales are down at a number of Midtown businesses that depend on Lehman Brothers employees. “Business at the Majestic Delicatessen was down 50% Monday, according to [the] owner of the breakfast and lunch spot located… at 7th Avenue and 50th Street.” Also mentioned in the article as being affected: Ben Benson’s (on 52nd & 7th) and countless tailors in the area, who have already seen drops in the number of suits being ordered. In contrast, according two sources, popular bars in the area (like TGI Fridays and Emmett O’Lunney’s) have been full. However, one Midtown Lunch doesn’t seem to be affected- this from a commenter yesterday: “Line out the door at Sapporo at 1:15 today — I kind of thought the Lehman people wouldn’t be around so maybe it would be less crowded… no such luck.”

Photo courtesy of Mushy’s Captures

Silo Cafe has opened in the food court that houses Pampano Taqueria and Sohpie’s Cuban (on 3rd Ave. btw. 49+50th.)  On first glance it’s just another generic Midtown Deli, but I got this message from a lunch’er the other day:

I know cheap (or even better free) stuff seems to get good mileage on your site, so I thought you’d be interested in hearing that Silo Cafe finally opened in the Pompano food court (50th and Lex). It is probably not much better than your basic (upscaleish) deli at $7.50/lb, except for the udon, bibimbap and sushi bar in the back. My veggie bibimbap was pretty big and also came with miso soup for just $6.50. Chicken and beef are only a dollar more. I’m relatively new to the midtown scene, but to my untrained tastebuds it was also pretty good and they whipped it up for me in about 3 minutes. To top it off, the cashier handed me a coupon for a free breakfast item when I left. You can beat that can you?

Well, you know I’m a sucker for free stuff (and bibimbap), so I headed over the other day to check it out… 

Read more »

After this post, the PR people from Rick’s Cabaret were bugging me to come try their lunch.  I never accept free food from the places I write about on Midtown Lunch (and wanted to stay married) so I told them thanks, but no thanks for that strip club lunch.  If I wanted a strip club lunch I would pay for it myself! Of course popular ML commenter Mamacita is not under the same restrictions- so I gladly sent her in my place, to check out the “scenery” at Rick’s Cabaret.  I also knew that most of you would much rather picture her at Rick’s than me. Here is her story…

While there may be many tasty delights to be had at Rick’s Cabaret, I was restrained by Zach’s Midtown Lunch $10 price limit so I will not be telling how it feels to get a lap dance at Rick’s. I will also not be telling you about a little something I coined the “Corporate Massage,” which seemed to involve older, bald, fat (no offense Zach) C.E.O’s and perky bodiced ladies rubbing your back and perhaps calling you daddy (Should that excite you). I will also not digress to tell you about the enhanced lovelies in g-strings dancing upon the stage to AC/DC and Aerosmith. Furthermore, I will not mention how this lunch was the first time I’ve seen a stripper dance to R.E.M. and rub her ample buttocks up and down a mirrored wall.

No, we will not sink so low today. After all, this blog is about lunch- right?  (Well, maybe we’ll sink a little.)  Read more »

With Lehman Brothers on the brink of bankruptcy, even the hot dog stand in front of their office building (on 49th & 7th Avenue) is no fun.  Whispers are overheard, reporters are lurking. Clearly it’s not safe to be lunch’ing in the area. Not at the hot dog stand out front, and certainly not at the normal Lehman Bros hangouts (like Del Frisco’s or Ted’s Montana Steaks.)  So, as a community service to the embattled employees of Lehman Brothers, I’ve compiled a list of places within 2 blocks of the Lehman Brothers building where you will be able to lunch in peace.  With these places there is no chance you’re going to be overheard gossiping about your company in front of anybody who would actually care. Bonus: they’re all under $10.  Which is good, because you guys are probably going to be looking to save some cash right now.  Reporters- please ignore this list, and leave the good people of Lehman Bros alone.

Read more »

The New York Times pulls back the curtain on Obika, the mozzarella bar which after “a year of construction and red tape” is finally scheduled to open in the atrium on 56th & Madison on September 22nd.

Thali from Khodiar Lunch Services, in the former newsstand on 6th Ave. btw. 37+38th. Photo by Pabo 76

• FIKA is opening another location just south of the Midtown Lunch boundaries [Eater]
• Tafu, on 51st btw. Lex+3rd, is selling Wabi-Sabi cupcakes in honor of their one year anniversary [Blondie and Brownie]
• Why do people still post questions on Chowhound about finding lunch in Midtown?  [Chowhound]
• Another review of Chai, the newish Thai restaurant on 8th Ave. and 55th St. [Superman’s Blog]
• If you are willing to spend $18 on a burger, this off the menu one at Lever House looks pretty damn good [AHT]